Titre de séjour photos must be 35×45mm with a white background and no glasses — the same ANTS biometric standard used for French passports and the Carte Nationale d'Identité. You need two identical photos for most applications, and you'll need fresh ones at every renewal. France does not carry photos forward between titre de séjour applications.
Titre de Séjour Photo Specifications
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Size | 35×45mm |
| Background | White |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
| Glasses | Not permitted |
| Head coverings | Religious reasons only |
| Quantity | Typically 2 identical photos |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months |
The biometric standard is consistent across French government documents. A photo that works for a French passport works for a titre de séjour. The key word is "consistent" — if you've been living in France long enough to need a residence permit renewal, don't assume last year's passport photos will do.
Get a compliant passport photo online
Types of French Titre de Séjour and Their Photo Rules
France issues several categories of residence permit, each with different validity periods and fees. All require the same photo standard.
Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS). Issued with an approved long-stay visa, typically 1 year. Photos required at activation via OFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration).
Carte de séjour temporaire. Annual renewals. Common categories include salarié (employee), étudiant (student), visiteur, and vie privée et familiale (private and family life).
Carte de séjour pluriannuelle. Multi-year cards (2–4 years) for established residents. Fewer renewals, but photos still required at each renewal.
Carte de résident. 10-year card for long-established residents. Photos required at initial issuance and at the 10-year renewal.
Carte de résident permanent. Indefinite validity for some long-term residents and recognised refugees. Photos required at issuance and if the card is replaced.
The Application Process: Where Photos Are Submitted
Titre de séjour applications are processed at the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture of your département. Procedures have been moving partially online — the ANEF portal (Administration Numérique pour les Étrangers en France) now handles many application types — but physical document submission at the Préfecture or via La Poste remains the norm for most permit types.
In-person submission. Two printed 35×45mm photos are typically required. They must be identical, recent (within 6 months), and meet the biometric standard. The Préfecture officer will check them on the spot.
Online via ANEF. Some application types allow digital photo upload. The same specifications apply — the upload portal performs an automated biometric check. Use a certified photomaton's digital output file or a professional photographer's compliant digital photo.
OFII convocation. When you activate a VLS-TS visa through OFII, bring your photos to the OFII appointment. Two identical photos, same biometric standard.
Titre de Séjour Fees, Processing Times, and Récépissé
Fees vary significantly by permit type:
- Première délivrance (first card): €225–269 depending on category
- Renouvellement (renewal): €225 in most cases
- Remplacement (replacement for loss/theft): €25
These are stamp duty fees paid via tax stamps (timbres fiscaux), available online or at tabacs. The photo is part of the application package, but the cost of the photos is separate from the administrative fees.
Processing time is notoriously variable. Simple renewals with complete documentation: 2–4 months. Complex applications or incomplete dossiers: 6 months or more. The récépissé (receipt) issued while waiting authorises continued residence and work in France. Photograph this document — you'll show it often.
Titre de Séjour Photo Requirements at Renewal
This catches many people out. When you renew your titre de séjour, France requires fresh photos — they don't reuse images from previous applications. If your appearance has changed significantly since your last renewal (you've grown a beard, changed hairstyle significantly, lost weight), the new photo is your current record.
Two identical photos for most renewals. Bring originals, not photocopies.
Getting Titre de Séjour Photos in France
Certified photomaton. La Poste locations, supermarkets (Carrefour, Leclerc), pharmacies, and train stations typically have certified machines. Use the "titres d'identité" option. Cost: €5–7 for a strip of four photos.
Professional photographer. Ask for photos conformes au standard ANTS. Useful if you have specific needs (covering a religious observance, accommodating disability, needing a specific digital format for ANEF). Cost: €10–20.
For foreign nationals. If your home country uses different photo standards (e.g., some countries use different sizes or allow coloured backgrounds), don't bring photos from home. France requires the French standard. Photos taken outside France for other countries' documents are almost never compliant.
Common Reasons for Photo Rejection
Photos older than 6 months. A photo from your previous renewal won't be accepted for the current one. Get new photos before every application.
Wrong background. White is the French standard. Dark backgrounds, coloured backgrounds, grey, or off-white all cause rejection.
Two non-identical photos. Both photos in the pair must be from the same photomaton session. Mixing photos from different sessions — even if they look similar — is grounds for rejection.
Photo too dark or too bright. Poor exposure causes automated biometric checks to fail.
Head position. Looking slightly to the side, chin tilted, or head not centred will fail the biometric check. The photomaton handles this automatically if you follow its guidance screen.
Before your Préfecture appointment, verify your photos with the passportsize-photo.online checker — it validates against French biometric standards and flags issues before you're sitting in front of an officer.
Expression and Appearance Rules for Titre de Séjour Photos
- Neutral expression — mouth closed, no smile, no frown
- Eyes open — both eyes fully visible, looking directly at the camera
- No glasses — France bans all eyewear from identity document photos, including clear prescription lenses; this applies to all French documents without exception
- Hair away from face — forehead and both eyes clearly visible
- Head coverings — permitted for religious reasons only; full face from chin to forehead must remain visible
- Clean, even lighting — no shadows on face or background
- Recent photo — taken within the last 6 months; France requires fresh photos at every titre de séjour renewal
French Document Photo Comparison
| Document | Size | Background | Glasses | Smile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titre de Séjour | 35×45mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| French Passport | 35×45mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Carte d'Identité (CNI) | 35×45mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Permis de Conduire | 35×45mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Carte Vitale | 35×45mm | White | Not allowed | Not allowed |
France uses a unified photo standard across all identity documents. One compliant photo session — or one e-photo code from a certified photomaton — covers the titre de séjour and every other French document. If you already have recent passport photos that meet the French standard, they work for your titre de séjour without modification.
Quick Checklist for Titre de Séjour Photo Submission
- Size: 35×45mm (two identical prints)
- Background: white
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed
- No glasses (any type)
- Photo taken within 6 months
- Timbres fiscaux purchased (online or at tabac)
- Préfecture or ANEF appointment booked
- Complete dossier assembled (passport, proof of address, photos, fee)
Also see: France passport photo background requirements | French Carte d'Identité photo requirements | Full France photo guide
