French Visitor Visa Photo Requirements and Size
Preparing a photo for your French visitor visa application requires careful attention to official rules. Use this guide to get your picture ready correctly.
Official Size and Dimensions
When you apply for a short-stay visa for French Guiana, your photo must measure 35x45 mm, which is about 1.38x1.77 inches[1]. This precise dimension is a strict requirement set by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs[2]. You must pay close attention to this specification because wrong dimensions are a frequent cause of rejection.
The size of your head within the frame is equally important for official compliance. Your head height, measured precisely from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must fall between 32 and 36 mm[1]. Getting these measurements right helps your application move forward without delay.
Background and Lighting
Your photo must feature an ICAO-compliant neutral photo background[1]. The official instruction gives no named color for this background[1], but it should be plain and free of patterns or objects.
When you take the picture at home, try to stand a little away from the wall to avoid casting dark shadows behind you. Face a bright window to capture even, natural light across your face. Keep your face evenly lit with no heavy shadows, dark spots, or bright glares that could hide your features.
Expression, Glasses, and Headwear
You must maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed when the camera captures your image[1]. Do not smile, frown, smirk, or open your mouth in any way. Look directly into the camera lens with your eyes wide open and fully visible.
Glasses are allowed only under conditional rules[1]. If you wear prescription glasses, they must not feature tinted lenses or heavy frames that obstruct your eyes. Headwear is permitted for religious or medical reasons only[1], and it must not cast a shadow or hide any part of your face from the chin to the forehead.
Children and Age Rules
Applicants over 12 generally provide biometrics in person at an appointment[3].
Even with this in-person biometric step, a valid photo must still be present in the application dossier[3]. If you are photographing a baby or a young child, try to lay them on a plain neutral sheet or support them carefully while keeping your hands out of the frame. Make sure the child's eyes are open and looking forward if possible.
Submission and File Details
For a French visitor visa, two recent ICAO photos are requested by the authorities[1]. Submission methods can include both physical prints and digital formats depending on the stage of your application process[2].
The photo may be scanned or captured at your appointment[1].
Taking Your Photo at Home
You can easily take your visa photo at home before your scheduled appointment date. Ask a trusted friend or family member to take the picture using a standard digital camera or smartphone. Keep the camera lens at your exact eye level, positioned about one to one and a half meters away from your face.
Stand straight and look into the lens. You can use the tool above to crop the photo to 35×45 mm[1].
Printing and Common Refusal Reasons
If you need physical prints, you can use the tool above to arrange your cropped photo onto a standard 4x6-inch template sheet. You can then print this sheet at any local retail photo kiosk just like an ordinary picture. Once printed, cut the photos carefully along the crop lines using clean scissors.
Common reasons photos get refused include smiling, poor lighting, incorrect head measurements, and glasses with tinted lenses. Check all of these details carefully against the official rules before you submit your application to avoid processing delays.
Frequently asked questions
What size does a French visitor visa photo need to be?
The official size is 35x45 mm, which equals 1.38x1.77 inches[1].
Can I wear glasses in my visa photo?
Glasses are allowed only under conditional rules, and they must not obscure your eyes or cast shadows[1].
What should the background look like?
The background must be an ICAO-compliant neutral photo background, and the official instruction gives no named color[1].
How many photos do I need to submit?
Two recent ICAO photos are requested for the application dossier[1].
Do children need to provide photos?
Yes, a photo must still be present in the application dossier, though applicants over 12 generally provide biometrics in person[3].