Meet French photo rules for ANTS, visas, and Campus France
France uses three photo tracks applicants mix up: 35×45 mm light-grey or light-blue identity photos for passport/ID, white-background Schengen visa prints, and a smaller 26×32 mm Campus France upload.
Passport and national ID (CNI) photos are 35×45 mm. Face height from chin to the crown of the skull—excluding hair volume—should be 32–36 mm. Ears must be visible; hair must not cover the face.
For passport and CNI, the background is a plain light colour—light grey or light blue. Pure white is refused for these identity documents. Schengen visa photos for France usually switch to white or very light grey and ask for two prints.
You normally submit one paper photo for passport/CNI, taken by an authorised photographer or approved booth. Staff scan it at the desk. The 22-digit e-photo code is for online driving-licence and some residence flows—not a substitute for the paper passport photo.
Campus France “Études en France” uploads are a separate crop: about 26×32 mm on a white background, often under 50 KB. Do not upload an uncropped 35×45 passport file into that portal.
| Specification | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| Passport / CNI | 35 × 45 mm, light grey or light blue (not white) |
| Face height | 32–36 mm chin to crown (excluding hair) |
| Schengen visa | 35 × 45 mm, white/very light grey, usually 2 prints |
| Campus France portal | About 26 × 32 mm, white background, small JPEG/PNG |
| e-photo code | 22 characters for some ANTS / residence online steps |
Always confirm the latest rules on the official government site before you submit.
Cream or textured walls, wrong head size after a selfie, and beauty filters cause most delays.
- Find an authorised photographer or ANTS-approved booth for identity photos.
- Head coverings—including religious ones—are refused on French identity photos.
- If you wear glasses, use thin frames with no tint and no glare; many student-visa checklists ban glasses entirely.
- Keep earrings small so facial landmarks stay visible.
Make your passport photo now
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Can I print my own passport photo at home?
Will a home-printed photo be accepted?
What size should I print?
- • Correct track: identity vs visa vs Campus France
- • 35 × 45 mm for passport/CNI
- • Light grey/blue background for identity (not white)
- • Ears visible, face uncovered
- • Neutral expression, mouth closed
- • One paper photo for many passport/CNI desks
- • Campus France: 26 × 32 mm white background
- • No religious head covering on identity photos
- • White background on a passport/CNI photo
- • Uploading 35×45 mm into Campus France’s 26×32 mm slot
- • Hair covering ears or face on an identity photo
- • Religious head covering on ANTS identity rules
- • Treating an e-photo code as a passport photo substitute
What size is a French passport photo?
35×45 mm with face height 32–36 mm and ears visible. Background is light grey or light blue—not white.
Why was my white-background photo refused?
White is refused for passport/CNI. It is common for Schengen visa prints and Campus France uploads instead.
How many photos for passport/CNI?
Usually one paper photo from an authorised source.
What is Campus France’s photo size?
About 26×32 mm on white, often under 50 KB—different from passport size.
Can I wear a hijab on a French ID photo?
No. French identity photo rules ban head coverings, including religious ones.
What is the 22-digit e-photo code?
A code from an approved capture used in some online licence or residence steps. It does not replace the passport paper photo.
Are glasses allowed?
Sometimes for identity photos if thin and glare-free; many student-visa lists ban them—read your checklist.
Where do I find authorised photographers?
ANTS publishes a locator for habilitated photographers and approved booths.
Also see EU / Schengen 35×45 mm photo standards →