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A visa application filed with a France mission uses the common Schengen visa photo: 35 x 45 mm, head 32–36 mm from chin to crown, plain light grey background, neutral expression with the mouth closed, taken within the last 6 months. The standard is shared by all 29 Schengen states, so one compliant photo works at any of their consulates.
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Not sure whether your photo will pass? See Why ID photos get rejected.
French Visa Photo requirements
| Photo size | 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels (print) | 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI · 827 x 1063 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height | 32–36 mm from chin to crown — official published figure. |
| Background | Any plain light color or light gray or gray. |
| Glasses | Allowed if there is no glare, no tint, and the frames do not cover the eyes. |
| Editing | Keep edits minimal; most authorities reject retouched photos even where no explicit rule is published. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on. |
| Official source | Official photo requirements ↗ |
Good to know
France applies the Schengen standard for short-stay visas, which is worth noting because the domestic French photo d'identité rules are stricter in two ways — white backgrounds are forbidden and head coverings are not allowed. For a Schengen visa application to a French consulate, the Schengen rules govern; a plain light grey background is the safe choice under either.
Because the standard is common to the whole Schengen area, the photo you make here for one member state's consulate is equally valid at another's — useful if your itinerary changes and the main destination, and therefore the responsible consulate, changes with it.
Most Schengen missions now outsource visa intake to a commercial visa centre, which will often offer to take the photo for a fee. Bringing a compliant print avoids that charge; the specification they work to is the published one linked above.
How to make it in 3 steps
- Take or choose a photo. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even light with no shadows, camera at eye level about 2 m away, head and shoulders in frame with space around your head.
- Crop with the head guides. The maker opens preset to the 35 x 45 mm standard with the official 32–36 mm head range marked. Drag and zoom until the crown of your head and your chin sit on the guides, then run the built-in photo check.
- Download. Save the single photo (for online uploads) or the 4 x 6 in print sheet, and print it at any photo shop, pharmacy photo kiosk or at home for the price of a regular photo print.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a French Visa Photo?
35 x 45 mm — 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI. The head must measure 32–36 mm from chin to the top of the head.
What background color does a French Visa Photo need?
Any plain light color or light gray or gray.
Can I take a French Visa Photo at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight, have someone take a sharp, front-facing photo from about 2 m away, then crop it to the exact 35 x 45 mm standard with the free maker — the head guides show you the official head-height range.
Is this French Visa Photo maker really free and private?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no watermark and no signup. Unlike photo-booth apps and paid services, your photo is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
Where can I print my French Visa Photo?
Download the 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) sheet and print it as an ordinary borderless 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) photo at actual size (100%, no scaling) at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo kiosk, an online print service or on a home printer, then cut along the guide lines. You pay only for an ordinary photo print, not a photo-booth service fee. Local examples: Photomaton, photographe habilité. More detail: Printing passport photos in France.
Does a French visa photo forbid a white background like a French ID photo?
The Schengen visa standard asks for a plain light background, and French domestic ID photo rules explicitly forbid white. Light grey satisfies both, so use light grey rather than white for anything filed with a French mission.
How many photos do I need for a Schengen visa application?
Usually one or two identical prints depending on the mission and the visa centre. One 4 x 6 inch sheet from this tool holds six 35 x 45 mm photos, so spares cost nothing.