You can’t make a France ID card (carte nationale d’identité, CNI) photo online — not with IDPhotoBy, and not with any self-service tool. France’s Ministry of the Interior requires the photo used for a national identity card to be taken by an approved professional photographer or in an approved photo booth (a booth running a system approved by the ministry). Because no application channel accepts a self-made, uploaded or software-cropped photo, IDPhotoBy does not prepare photos for a France ID card.
This page covers the official rule, the CNI photo requirements, how the approved route works, and where IDPhotoBy can help instead.
The French government is specific about who takes the photo — and the same official page covers both a passport and a national identity card. The public-service page for identity-document photos — published by the DILA (Prime Minister’s office) for the Ministry of the Interior — states:
« La photo doit être prise par un professionnel habilité ou dans une cabine utilisant un système agréé par le ministère de l’intérieur. »
“The photo must be taken by an approved professional or in a booth using a system approved by the Ministry of the Interior.”
The same page names the identity card directly when it explains how many photos an application needs:
« Pour une demande de carte d’identité ou de passeport, il n’y a qu’une seule photo à fournir. »
“For an identity-card or passport application, only one photo must be provided.”
A non-compliant photo is rejected outright:
« Si la photo ne respecte pas les caractéristiques, elle sera rejetée et le titre d’identité ne sera pas délivré. »
“If the photo does not meet the requirements, it will be rejected and the identity document will not be issued.”
What about applying online? It doesn’t change the photo rule. An approved photographer or a photo booth using a system approved by the Ministry of the Interior takes the photo, and you bring the printed photo to your in-person appointment — no channel accepts a self-service, uploaded or background-changed photo.
This is the same photographer/booth rule that applies to a French passport. If you’re applying for a passport instead, see our France passport photo guide, which covers the same official source.
For reference, here are the official CNI photo requirements from service-public.fr. An approved photographer or approved booth produces a photo to this specification:
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Number of photos | 1 |
| Face size | 32–36 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the skull, excluding hair (70–80% of the photo) |
| Background | Plain, light-coloured (for example light blue or light grey); a white background is not allowed |
| Colour | A colour photo is strongly recommended |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months, and a true likeness |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible, looking straight at the lens |
| Head | Bare and straight, facing the camera; hair must not cover the face; no shadow on the face or in the background |
| Glasses | Optional; a thin frame that does not hide the eyes, with lenses that are not tinted, coloured or reflective |
All of the values above are official French requirements as published on service-public.fr (fiche F10619, verified 11 March 2026). The same photo specification applies to a French passport, since both documents are covered by the same official page.
To get an accepted France ID card photo:
- Go to an approved photographer or an approved photo booth. The photo must come from a professional or booth approved by the Ministry of the Interior — that is the only accepted source.
- Find one near you with the official ANTS tool. service-public.fr links to the national agency’s finder to “find the contact details of approved photographers and approved booths.”
- Bring the printed photo to your appointment. The photographer or booth gives you a conforming print of your photo, which you bring to your in-person town-hall (mairie) appointment.
A couple of generic things help at any photographer or booth: keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed, and remove hats or headbands so your head is bare. The photographer or booth handles the sizing, the light-coloured background and the print so the photo meets the specification.
IDPhotoBy prepares document photos online only where the issuing authority accepts a self-prepared, uploaded photo. A France ID card isn’t one of those — and neither is a French passport, which follows the same rule. There is nothing for us to prepare for a France ID card today.
If you’re preparing a different document whose authority does accept an uploaded photo, IDPhotoBy can help — see the documents we support.
See the documents IDPhotoBy supports →
Requirements can change — check the official service-public.fr requirements for identity-document photos before you apply, and treat the official application portal (ANTS) as the final authority.
