France ID Card Photo: CNI 35x45 mm Rules, No White Background (2026)
France CNI photo rules: 35x45 mm format, white background not allowed, and practical guidance for a compliant Carte Nationale d Identite photo.
Overview
France requires a biometric-style photo for the Carte Nationale d’Identité (CNI). The crop, head size, and background colour rules are strict — and the wrong background is a common reason for rejection.
Use this guide to get the size right, keep your lighting clean, and choose a compliant background colour before you submit.
Official Specifications
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Document | National ID |
| Size | 35 × 45 mm |
| Background | Light / neutral |
| Head height | 32–36 mm |
| Note | Light blue or light gray; white background is not allowed. |
French ID photos are typically 35×45 mm with the head centred and sized to the official guidance. The background should be a light blue or light grey tone — pure white is not allowed for French biometric photos.
Background Requirements
Pick a uniform light blue or light grey background. Avoid strong colour casts, patterns, and any shadow behind your head.
Avoid “white wall” photos
Many phone portraits are taken against a white wall, but France commonly rejects pure white backgrounds. Use a light grey/blue wall or background removal to match the requirement.
Clothing and Appearance
Keep a neutral, front-facing portrait with your full face visible. Avoid glare, heavy makeup shine, and anything that hides facial features.
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed.
- Eyes: Open and visible (no hair covering).
- Headwear: Only if worn daily for religious reasons, and facial features must remain visible.
How to Make It with Passlens
Passlens includes the France ID preset and makes it easy to export a print-ready file.
- Open Passlens and select France National ID.
- Upload your photo (sharp, front-facing).
- Use Auto fit and fine-tune rotation/zoom if needed.
- Set the background to a compliant light grey/blue tone.
- Export at 300/600 DPI for printing.