App available in France lets you take ID photos at home
This mobile app makes it easier to take official photos for passports, driving licences, and other administrative documents, even if you are out of the country
The new app makes in much easier and cheaper to take a photo for official purposes than in a photo booth
Fabrique Imagique / Shutterstock
It is now easier to take an official photo for administrative purposes, thanks to an app that works on iPhone and Android.
The photo is often the final missing piece needed for various applications, when you have all the other paperwork ready to go.
This usually requires finding a photo booth, or a professional photographer certified by the French state.
In some cases, you might be able to take the photo yourself, but this must follow strict guidelines and can be rejected.
The ‘Smartphone ID’ app offers a middle ground, allowing you to take a photo of yourself using a smartphone, but adding a verification process to avoid problems down the line.
App uses AI and human interaction
The photo is first checked by an AI system, which will modify the background, lighting and size to adapt to the official regulations.
A human will then check its compliance, and you will receive the photos by email or in the post.
You can select the document you require (passport, driving licence, residence permit, etc).
The app will adapt the photo to fit the specific regulations.
A member of the Connexion team successfully used the app to exchange a UK driving licence for a French one.
When applying for a driving licence on the ANTS website, you need to add a photo with an electronic signature.
You will receive a code to enter online, which will allow the administration to locate the image.
The company also claims to offer lower prices than competitors: €4.99 for a driving licence photo, for example, compared to €8 in a Photomaton booth.
The app works for official photos in countries including the US, UK and Canada.
It can be particularly useful for renewing a UK passport from France, as the ephotos provided by French photo booths are not accepted.
Founder Emile Ménétrey created the company after a friend of his was involved in an accident, resulting in reduced mobility, and was told the only way to get a passport photo was to contact a professional photographer.
If you would rather go to a photo booth, you can locate one on stores.photomaton.fr using the interactive map, which allows you to enter your location and the type of photo you need.
Related articles
Why it is a good idea to carry ID when travelling on French trains
Why are France’s new identity cards translated into English?
What is the best way to renew my British passport from France?
