French Visa Photo Requirements, Size & Specifications(2026)

France visa photos must be exactly 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. This applies to both Schengen short-stay visas and long-stay visas (visas de long séjour). Your face from chin to crown must occupy 70 to 80 percent of the photo height, which corresponds to 32–36 mm. For online submissions via the France-Visas portal, upload a JPEG file under 4 MB.

The France-Visas portal does not publish a fixed minimum pixel count, but a resolution of at least 600 × 800 pixels is recommended to pass quality checks. Aim for 900 × 1200 pixels or higher for best results, ensuring the JPEG file stays under 4 MB.

The photo must be 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm high. In inches, that is approximately 1.38 inches wide by 1.77 inches high. This is a standard portrait format used across most of Europe — do not use the 2 × 2 inch square format required for US visas.

The background must be plain light grey — not white, not off-white, and not any other colour. This is one of the most common mistakes by applicants from countries where white backgrounds are standard (such as the US or Canada). The grey must be uniform with no shadows, textures, or patterns.

No. Glasses are not permitted in French visa or passport photos under current biometric standards. This applies to all frames — clear, tinted, prescription, or medical — with no exceptions. Remove glasses before taking the photo.

No. You must maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed and lips together. Eyes must be fully open and looking directly at the camera. Smiling, frowning, raised eyebrows, and any other expression will be detected by biometric processing software and will result in rejection.

The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must accurately reflect your current appearance. French consulates and visa application centres may reject photos that appear significantly out of date or that do not match your current look.

No. The same 35 × 45 mm specification applies to all French visa categories, including Schengen short-stay tourist visas (type C), long-stay visas (type D), and student visas. Always check the specific documentation list on France-Visas for your visa category, as some categories may require additional documentation.

The France-Visas portal accepts JPEG files under 4 MB. The photo must maintain the 35 × 45 mm proportions and meet all biometric requirements: light grey background, neutral expression, no glasses, face occupying 70–80% of the frame. The portal runs automated quality checks on upload.

No. Any form of digital retouching or editing is strictly prohibited under French photo standards. This includes skin smoothing, blemish removal, background replacement, brightness or contrast adjustments, and any filter effects. The file submitted must be the original, unaltered digital capture from the camera.

Wear everyday clothing that clearly contrasts with the light grey background. Avoid light grey or pale tops that may blend with the background. Do not wear uniforms, costumes, or anything that obscures the face or neck. Modest religious dress is permitted if your full face remains visible.

Yes, provided the covering is worn daily for religious reasons and your full face from chin to crown remains clearly visible. The covering must be plain material with no patterns, must not cast shadows on the face or background, and both side edges of the face must be fully visible.

Children of all ages, including newborns, must have their own separate photo. No other person, hand, toy, or object should be visible in the frame. For very young infants who cannot support their head, lay them on a light grey sheet and photograph from above. The neutral expression requirement is applied with some flexibility for very young infants.

Yes. French visa photos comply with the ISO/IEC 19794-5 biometric standard adopted across the Schengen Area. This means the specifications are consistent with other Schengen countries in terms of size, face proportion, and technical requirements, though individual countries may differ on background colour — France requires light grey.

For paper submissions, glossy or semi-gloss photo paper is standard and generally preferred. Avoid matte finishes, which can reduce image quality. For digital submissions via the France-Visas portal, paper finish is irrelevant as only the JPEG file is submitted.

Yes, provided the photo meets all requirements: plain light grey background, neutral expression, no glasses, face occupying 70–80% of the frame, JPEG format under 4 MB. Use a second person to take the photo rather than a selfie for better framing. Modern smartphones with good cameras can produce compliant photos in good lighting conditions.