FranceFrance Schengen Visa Photo Requirements: 35-40 mm Wide, Face 70-80 %, Light Background, Under 6 Months
France visa photo: 35-40 mm wide, under 6 months old, face 70-80 % of the photo, plain light background, neutral expression, no tinted glasses.
Key points
5 points- France-Visas publishes an ISO/IEC photo leaflet for visa applicants.
- The photo is no more than 6 months old and 35-40 mm wide.
- The head and top of the shoulders fill the frame so that the face takes up 70-80 % of the photo.
- Plain light-coloured background, even lighting, neutral expression, mouth closed.
- Glasses are allowed only with clear lenses, no reflections and frames not covering the eyes.
France-Visas, the official French visa portal, publishes a leaflet with the visa photograph requirements based on the ISO/IEC standard. These are the rules for a photo for a French Schengen visa.
Size and framing
- No more than 6 months old.
- 35-40 mm wide.
- A close-up of the head and top of the shoulders, so that the face takes up 70-80 % of the photograph.
- Sharp, high quality, no ink marks or creases, printed on high-quality paper.
Background, light and pose
- A plain light-coloured background.
- Even lighting: no shadows, no flash reflections on the face, no red eye.
- Natural skin tones and colour-neutral.
- Face square to the camera, head not tilted, both edges of the face visible.
- Eyes open and clearly visible, no hair across them.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed.
- You alone in the photo: no chair back, toys or other people.
Glasses and head coverings
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Glasses | Eyes clearly shown, no flash reflection, no tinted lenses, frames not covering any part of the eyes; heavy frames best avoided |
| Head covering | Not permitted, except for religious reasons; the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be visible |
FranceSchengen Visa · requirements
Photo taken at the visa centre
In some countries the photo is also taken at the visa centre. On its page for Morocco, France-Visas says your photograph is taken and fingerprints collected in the biometric booths, while the standard list still asks for two recent, unretouched photos on a light background; children under 12 are exempt from biometrics and an ICAO-standard photo of the child is scanned. The Visa Code sets the same fingerprint exemption for children under 12.
Need a photo with the face at 70-80 % on a light background? Make it on our France Schengen visa photo page.
05Questions
5 answers01What size is a France visa photo?
France-Visas asks for a photo 35-40 mm wide, with the face taking up 70-80 % of the photograph.
02How old can the photo be?
No more than 6 months old.
03What background is required?
A plain light-coloured background with even lighting and no shadows.
04Can I wear glasses in a France visa photo?
Only if the eyes are clearly shown: no tinted lenses, no flash reflection, and frames not covering the eyes.
05Can I smile?
No. The leaflet asks for a neutral expression with the mouth closed.
06Official sources
- France-Visas — ISO/IEC visa photograph requirements (leaflet)
france-visas.gouv.fr - France-Visas — Applying for a visa in Morocco
france-visas.gouv.fr - EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code), consolidated text
eur-lex.europa.eu
Author: Yevhen Kravchenko. Published . Checked against official sources on .
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