Make and use an e-photo

The e-photo must be taken by a professional photographer or in a photo booth officially validated by the ANTS (National Agency for Secure Documents).

Good to know: A photo booth is a booth with an automatic camera. You have to sit inside, close the curtain and do what is written on the screen. The photo and signature are taken directly in the cabin.
You can find photo booths in shopping malls, train stations, metro stations… They are suitable for people with reduced mobility.
On the official photo booths for taking an e-photo, there is a blue logo: "Approved ANTS SERVICES ONLINE".

To find a professional photographer or photo booth near you, click here. You can write your address or use geolocation on the mobile phone.

Good to know: In a photo booth, an e-photo costs 8€.
With a professional photographer, the price is between 8 and 15€.

Here are some rules for taking a good quality e-photo that will be accepted:

• Face must be clear (no hair in front of face), ears visible, chin up, eyes and face always facing the camera.
• Sit up straight, look ahead and keep a neutral face (avoid smiling, closing your eyes or opening your mouth).
• If you have glasses, they must not hide your face too much: tinted glasses and sunglasses are prohibited. You don't have to wear your glasses in the photo.
• Beanies, hats, caps, scarves, hair accessories are prohibited.
• In a photo booth, remember to close the curtain well to have good light.

After the photo, it is necessary to sign on a tablet or touch screen with a special pen.

At the end, you will receive a photo-signature board with a code of 22 alphanumeric characters (with letters and numbers ). You need this code to complete the forms.

Good to know: An e-photo code can be used for a single online procedure and is valid for 6 months.

You can use your e-photo to ask for example:

• A residence permit :

> To read: the Refugees.info sheet: "Obtaining your residence permit"

• Driving license production

> To read: the Refugees.info sheet “Requesting a driving license”

Good to know: The transfer of information (photo + signature) from the photo booth or the professional photographer to the ANTS site can take 24 to 48 hours. It is therefore advisable to wait 2 days after the e-photo to make the request on the site.
With the classic passport photo, the processing time of your application will be longer.