What the French identity card is
The Carte Nationale d'Identité, or CNI, is the official document that proves your identity and your French citizenship. You can use it to travel within the European Union and to other countries that accept it, and to open a bank account, vote or access public services. The card is the size of a bank card, 85.6 × 54 mm, made of durable plastic, and it has a microchip that stores biometric data: a digital photo and the fingerprints of the holder. Holograms, watermarks and a QR code protect it against counterfeiting. Because the photo is stored on the chip, the photo you supply has to be clear, recent and taken to the standard format.
The CNI photo size explained
The photo for the card is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high (3.5 × 4.5 cm). In our template the head measures about 34.5 mm from the chin to the top of the head, and there is about 3 mm of space between the top edge and the hair. That leaves your face large and centred, with the shoulders just visible. Printed at 600 DPI, the photo stays sharp even at this small size. If you crop a phone photo by hand, it is easy to make the face too small or cut off the top of the hair, and a badly cropped photo can be refused. Our tool does the crop for you and measures the head against the template.
Background, light and expression
Use a plain, light background, light grey in our template, with no shadows, objects or patterns behind you. White walls often turn grey and uneven in a phone photo, so the AI replaces the background with an even tone. Face the camera straight on, keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, and make sure your hair does not cover your eyes or the outline of your face. Light should fall evenly on both sides of the face: daylight from a window in front of you works best. The official rules are on the French interior ministry page on which photo to provide; read it before your appointment.
How to apply for the card
You must be a French citizen; applicants under 18 need parental consent. Prepare the application form, a recent photo that meets the official standards, proof of identity such as a birth certificate or your old card, and proof of residence such as a utility bill or rental agreement. Book an appointment at your local police station or municipal office, as some places take walk-ins but booking is safer. At the appointment you hand in your file and your fingerprints are collected. There is usually no fee for the card, but check with your local authority. Processing can take several weeks, and you are told when the card is ready to collect. Details are on service-public.fr and the interior ministry procedures page.
Validity, renewal and a lost card
The card is valid for 15 years for adults and 10 years for minors. To renew it, follow the same steps, bring your old card and a new photo: an old print you used years ago no longer shows your current face. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the police and apply for a replacement as soon as possible, with a fresh photo in the same format.
Using the same photo for other French documents
The 35×45 mm format is also used for the French passport, so one session with our maker can cover both applications. For a stay in the country as a foreign visitor, see the France visa photo page, and for health insurance see the Carte Vitale photo page.
Digital photo or printed photo
Our maker gives you both formats from one session. The digital photo file is suitable where an online submission of a photo is accepted, so you can keep it ready on your phone or computer. If your office asks for a paper photo, print the file at 600 DPI on glossy or matte photo paper and cut it along the guide lines. Check the printed photo before your appointment: the colours should be natural, the photo sharp, and the background even, with no lines or marks across your face. Keep a spare photo in case the first one is damaged.
Photos of children
Children need the same 35×45 mm format as adults, and their card is valid for 10 years. Take the photo with the child looking straight at the camera, mouth closed and eyes open, with no toys or other people in the photo. Several quick shots in good daylight usually give one usable photo; upload the best one and the online check will tell you whether it passes.
CNI photo checklist
- Correct size: 35×45 mm, head about 34.5 mm tall.
- Plain light grey background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred, hair off the face.
- Recent colour photo, sharp, with no filters or retouching of features.
- Printed at 600 DPI on photo paper if you need a paper copy.
