France · id
French ID card (CNI) photo
The carte nationale d'identité photo follows the same AFNOR standard as the French passport: 35×45 mm, face 32–36 mm from chin to crown, light grey or light blue background, never white, with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
- Size
- 35×45 mm
- Digital file
- 413×531 px JPEG
- Background
- light grey or blue
- Head height
- 70–80%
- Price
- €5.99 · once
Select country and document
Step 1/3
Popular: · ·
- Head size62.4% · 50–69%
- Eye line61.2% · 56–69%
- Backgroundwhite · σ 6
- Lightingeven
- Resolution1832px
MEETS SPEC · ESTIMATED
Checked against the official specification, with the source cited on every document.
Worth knowing: CNI photos follow the photographer and booth-only regime: there is no self-upload, and home prints aren't accepted. If you're preparing photos for a titre de séjour, a foreign visa from France, or a student card, those flows do accept compliant self-made photos and our full service applies.
How our France ID Card (CNI) photo tool works
Add a photo you already have and we measure it against the official France ID Card (CNI) specification (35×45 mm, 413×531 px, light grey or blue background), then produce the exact files you need. Checking is free; you pay €5.99 only if you want the files.
Add your photo
A selfie or any recent photo of yourself, straight from your phone.
See every measurement
Ten checks run against the official spec and show you the numbers.
Fix what's off
Drag to reposition and zoom to resize, or retake the photo if something can't be fixed.
Download your files
Exact digital file, print-ready sheet and compliance report.
What is a France ID Card (CNI) photo?
The carte nationale d'identité photo shares the French passport's AFNOR standard: 35×45 mm, face 32–36 mm, light grey or light blue background, never white, with a neutral expression, taken within the last six months by a professional photographer or approved booth.
One compliant booth session covers passport and CNI alike, and can issue the e-photo code for online pre-demandes. The CNIe is valid up to fifteen years for adults, which is part of why the photo standard is enforced so hard at issue.
Like the passport, CNI photos must come from a professional photographer or an approved booth; self-printed photos are rejected. Use the free check to verify your setup meets the geometry before the booth, and the full service for documents that accept self-made photos.
France ID Card (CNI) photo requirements
| Size | 35×45 mm · 413×531 px @300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Digital file | 413×531px JPEG |
| Background | light grey or blue |
| Head height | 70–80% of frame height |
| Digital upload | not accepted (printed photos only) |
| Background editing | not permitted, so we leave yours as it is |
- The carte nationale d'identité uses the same regime as the passport: photographer or approved booth only (AFNOR), no self-printed photos, no self-upload.
- 35×45 mm, face 32–36 mm, light grey or light blue background, never white.
Source: official requirements · verified 2026-07
France ID Card (CNI) photos that pass the checks
Thin frames, no glare, eyes fully visible 
Even light, plain background, neutral expression 
Infant alone in frame, eyes open, plain sheet 
Religious head covering with the full face visible 
Hair back, forehead and both ears clear
France ID Card (CNI) photos that don't pass
Head tilted, hard shadow on the background 
Taken too far away, head too small in the frame 
Someone else's hand in the frame 
Patterned wall and furniture behind
Illustrative examples created for this guide. They are not customer photos, and not decisions by any authority.
What you get for €5.99
- High-resolution file in the exact spec (413×531px)
- Printable compliance report with everything we measured
- Print-ready 10×15 cm sheet with 4 copies and cut lines
one-time payment, no subscription
Photos that pass
- Exact dimensions: 413×531px
- Plain light grey or blue background, evenly lit
- Head filling 70–80% of the frame
- Taken in the last 6 months, neutral expression
Photos that get rejected
- Edited, filtered or AI-retouched photos
- Shadows on the face or background
- Busy walls, gradients or the wrong background colour
- Head too large, too small, or off-centre
- Glare on glasses or tinted lenses
- Old photos, or photos of printed photos
Why use PassportClerk for your France ID Card (CNI) photo
- Convenience
- Make it at home from a photo you already have, without booking a studio or queueing for a booth. You get a print-ready sheet cut to the exact size, plus a digital copy to keep.
- Built from the official specification
- Every measurement on this page comes from the official France ID Card (CNI) requirements, and the source is linked, dated and re-checked.
- Works from any phone
- Nothing to install. A recent phone camera and a plain wall are enough.
- You see the numbers
- Head height, eye line, background and resolution are all measured and shown to you before you pay.
- Private, then deleted
- We only receive your photo if you buy, and everything is deleted within 48 hours.
If the files we produce don't match the specification on this page, we'll fix them or refund you. The decision on any application always rests with the issuing authority.
Frequently asked questions
Are CNI and passport photos the same?
Yes. One AFNOR standard covers both: 35×45 mm, face 32–36 mm, grey or blue background. A booth session that produces a compliant photo covers both applications.
Why is white background banned in France?
The standard requires contrast between the head and the backdrop for automated processing, and overexposed white backgrounds defeat it. Light grey or light blue is required; our checker measures the actual shade.
Can I smile?
No. Keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, looking straight at the lens. Glasses should ideally come off; if worn, no thick frames, no glare, eyes fully visible.
How recent must the photo be?
Less than six months old and a true likeness. A booth photo from a previous application that no longer matches your appearance will be refused.
How we handle compliance
- We check your photo against the official rules. We never retouch your face, and we only normalize the background where the destination country permits it.
- Every requirement is cited from official government sources, with the verification date shown on the page.
- What you get is a report of measurements, not a guarantee. Final acceptance always rests with the issuing authority.
official requirements · verified 2026-07