Online ID photo in France: choose the right format

Phone, file, print or code: first identify exactly what the French application form asks you to provide.

Direct answer

An online application does not automatically require an ePhoto. Use an ePhoto service when the form asks for an “ePhoto number” or “digital photo-signature”. If it asks for a file or a printed photo, provide that exact format instead.

In this guide5 sections

Official sources checked on .

01 · Choose

ePhoto code, digital file or print: follow the exact instruction.

A procedure completed online does not always ask for an ePhoto. The application form and its official supporting-document list determine the required format.

A cropped file or screenshot does not create an ePhoto code. The amount paid does not change the type of item delivered.

French ID card · Passport

Photo presented at the town hall

A Studio ePhoto code does not replace the printed photograph requested for an in-person application.

Read the French photo rules
Digital file

JPEG or PNG

Upload an image only if the receiving authority explicitly accepts a file. Follow its dimensions, format and maximum size.

ePhoto

Photo, signature and code

The number lets the official online service retrieve the photo and signature prepared by the provider.

Paper

Physical print

Use a booth or photographer when a sheet of photos or a print must be handed over.

Before ordering

If the form asks for a number, a saved image cannot replace it. If it asks for a file or a print, do not order an ePhoto code instead.

02 · Take the photo

Take an ID photo with a compatible phone.

The journey runs in a recent compatible browser, with no app and no password-based account. A helper using the rear camera can provide more distance and reduce close-up selfie distortion.

Step 1

Choose the procedure

Select the driving licence, ANEF or other procedure and check the required format before taking the photo.

Step 2

Position the phone

Place the lens at eye level, allow enough distance and clean the lens.

Step 3

Take the picture

Face the camera with your head straight and a neutral expression. Try again if the image is dark or blurred.

Step 4

Follow the technical checks

The site checks framing, face presence and certain detectable defects. These checks do not replace later human review.

Step 5

Add the signature

The signature is prepared with the photo when the procedure requires a digital photo-signature.

Step 6

Review before paying

The prepared preview and the total price of €5.99 including VAT are shown before payment.

Step 7

Wait for human review

After payment, a person reviews the photo before anything is sent to the ePhoto code provider.

Camera access

Allow camera access in the browser. Use the built-in capture rather than a screenshot or a copy sent through a messaging app, which may lose detail.

03 · Prepare

Prepare a sharp, natural-looking image.

Cropping cannot repair blur, a hidden face or uneven lighting.

Before the shot

Prepare the camera and lighting

Clean the lens, disable filters, portrait mode and beauty retouching, place the light in front of the face and use a plain light-coloured background other than white.

During the shot

Keep the face clear

Hold the phone at eye level, keep the head straight, close the mouth, use a neutral expression and keep the eyes and facial outline visible.

Common error

Too close or tilted

Move back and keep the phone parallel to the face.

Common error

Backlight, shadow or blur

Light the face from the front, move away from the wall and retake the image directly in the site.

Appearance

Glasses and hair

Glasses are optional. If worn, the eyes must remain visible without tinted lenses or glare. Hair must not cover the eyes or facial outline.

Appearance

Make-up and filters

Make-up must not transform the appearance or hide facial features. Disable beauty filters and automatic skin smoothing.

The full French ID photo guide illustrates compliant framing and the most common mistakes.

04 · Comply

The essential ID photo rules in France.

Service-Public lists the following requirements for French identity documents.

Recency

Less than 6 months old

The photo must still look like you.

Photo size

35 × 45 mm

This is the size of the regulatory photograph.

Face size

32 to 36 mm

Measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

Background

Plain and light-coloured

A white background is not accepted.

Pose

Head straight

Look directly at the camera.

Expression

Neutral

Keep the mouth closed and the eyes visible.

Remember

These rules describe the image. Your own application then determines whether you need a code, a digital file or a print. The 35 × 45 mm specification does not mean that you should print a digital file at home.

05 · Receive

What the €5.99 price includes.

Studio ePhoto prepares the photo and signature for an ePhoto code request. It does not provide paper prints or a freely printable file.

One free retake is available when a French authority documents a refusal, provided it is reported within 30 days and within two years of delivery, subject to the full terms and conditions.

Included

Preparation and checks

The service includes guided capture, technical checks, a preview, photo and signature preparation, human review before provider submission, and order tracking without an account.

Not supplied

Prints, printable file or application filing

No sheet of paper photos, no file intended for unrestricted printing and no filing of your administrative application are included.

After delivery

Photo retake or unrecognised code

A photo that must be retaken and a code rejected by an online service are different issues. Check every character and the procedure selected before reporting the problem.

Total displayed price

€5.99 including VAT, with no subscription. The prepared preview is shown before payment, and human review takes place after payment and before provider submission.

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to the questions that matter.

01Can I upload a photo that is already on my phone?

No. The current Studio ePhoto journey takes a live photo in a compatible browser and does not import an existing image. Prepare the background and lighting before opening the camera.

02What should I do if the camera does not open?

Check the browser’s camera permission and reload the page. If the problem continues, try an up-to-date compatible browser or another phone. Do not continue if the camera shows a black, blurred or frozen image.

03Who should supervise the journey for a child?

A legal representative or authorised adult must supervise the journey. The adult may hold the phone and follow the instructions, but only the child being photographed may appear in the picture.

04Can I photograph a baby or child with a phone?

Taking the photo at home lets you choose a calm moment and try again. Use a plain light-coloured background, avoid shadows and keep the adult’s hands outside the frame. Requirements depend on the document, so check its supporting-document list first.

05Where will I receive the ePhoto code?

After payment, human review and the provider’s response, the code appears on the tracking page and is sent to the email address entered for the order.

06Can the same ePhoto code be used for several applications?

No. France Titres states that an ePhoto code is intended for one application. Keep it until your application has been confirmed.

ePhoto guidance

Prepare your photo and signature, then submit your application through the official portal.