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France Identity Card 2025: renewal, France Identity, photo, price

Official guide to French CNI ✓ France Identity digital ✓ €25 EUR
Last updated: | Next revision: August 1, 2025
✓ Official sources: All links go directly to French organizations. France Identity used by 3 million French citizens - get your digital identity today! France leading digital transformation in Europe 2025!
🔍 Popular searches: town hall appointment identity card • renew cni price • france identity digital • franceconnect • digital health card • americans in paris • tech visa france

Complete guide for French identity card 2025. National identity card, France Identity digital, prices and renewal process. Particularly popular among American expats in Paris and the French Tech. Compare with other EU countries: Germany (€37 EUR), Spain (€12 EUR), Italy (€22 EUR), Belgium (€20-100 EUR).

#1 Choice
📸 Instant photo!
100% approved – 3 min online
🏠Back to home 📝Information
Renewal and requirements
💶Price
€25 EUR total
💻France Identity
Digital identity
🏖️Paris Expats
USA → France guide
🌎Foreigners
Residence permit info
CNI Delays
3-4 weeks
Frequently asked questions 🔗Official links
🔵 Start here! 📅 Make appointment at town hall (Service-public.fr)
🆕 New in 2025: Digital health card integrated in France Identity! France first in Europe for complete digital identity ✨
💡 Insider tip: Avoid town halls in central Paris. Try Neuilly, Versailles or Saint-Cloud for less waiting.
"France Identity changed my life in France! Taxes, social security, everything from my phone. Revolutionary!" – Jennifer, developer from Silicon Valley

ℹ️ National Identity Card France 2025

The CNI is the official identity document issued by town halls. It's used for identification in France and travel within EU/Schengen. Now with France Identity integration for digital identity!

🎯 Main features

  • EU/Schengen travel (30+ countries)
  • Identification in France
  • Integrated electronic chip
  • France Identity compatible

📋 Specifications

  • Validity: 10 years (adults)
  • ICAO biometric photo
  • Security chip
  • Delivery: 3-4 weeks

🆕 Digital France 2025

📍 Where to renew?

💶 Price and fees 2025

🆔
€25 EUR
CNI renewal
💻
Free
France Identity
📸
~€8 EUR
Photo (Rostrio)

💰 Total cost calculator

French CNI cost calculation 2025
Item Price Required?
CNI renewal (loss/theft) €25 EUR
Biometric photo (Rostrio) €8 EUR
Transport to town hall €5-30 EUR ⚠️
France Identity activation €0 EUR 🎯
TOTAL (minimum) €33 EUR ≈ $36
💡 Money saving tip: Renewal FREE at normal expiration. Large families = possible reductions.

🌍 European comparison 2025

France
€25 EUR
✅ France Identity
✅ FranceConnect
⏱️ 3-4 weeks
Germany
€37 EUR
✅ eID function
⚠️ More expensive
⏱️ Express available
Spain
€12 EUR
✅ Cl@ve integrated
✅ Immediate delivery
⏱️ On the spot
Italy
€22 EUR
✅ Electronic CIE
⚠️ 6 working days
⏱️ No express
🏆 France stands out: Best digital system, France Identity European leader, competitive price!

📸 Biometric photo CNI

#1 Recommendation
Officially approved – 100% accepted at town hall!

⚡ Faster and easier with Rostrio

✨ Benefits

  • 100% approved at town hall
  • Ready in 3 minutes
  • Automatic quality control
  • AI-verified by experts

💳 Payment

  • Secure card payment
  • PayPal available
  • No subscription
  • Money-back guarantee
📸 Order your photo → Only €8 EUR
"Perfect service! Photo uploaded at 10:00, approved by town hall at 10:03. Magic!"
– Pierre, Engineer at BNP Paribas Paris
📋 Photo requirements (automatically verified by Rostrio):
• Neutral expression, looking straight ahead • White/light background • No glasses (if possible) • No hat/head covering • Format 35x45mm

💻 France Identity - French digital identity 2025

🆕 NEW: Digital health card in France Identity!

📱 How France Identity works:

  1. Download the France Identity app on your smartphone
  2. Scan your new CNI with the electronic chip
  3. Activate your digital identity at town hall or at home
  4. Access 1400+ services online public services
  5. Digitally sign your official documents

🎯 What can you do?

  • Online procedures with all administrations
  • Digital signature of documents
  • Consult your personal data
  • Payment of taxes and duties
  • Digital car registration since June 2025

⚡ Benefits vs paper

  • More secure - strong authentication
  • On mobile - always with you
  • Faster - no queues
  • Free - no fees
  • Universal - all administrations
🌍 International comparison: France leader in European digital identity. France Identity more advanced than BankID (Sweden), DigiD (Netherlands) or SPID (Italy).

🚀 How to get France Identity (4 steps)

1️⃣
CNI with chip
New card required
2️⃣
Download app
On App Store/Play Store
3️⃣
Scan CNI
Via phone NFC
4️⃣
Activate
At town hall or home

💫 Services with France Identity

🏛️ Administration:
  • Online taxes
  • Social security
  • Municipal services
🏥 Health:
  • Digital health card
  • Medical record
  • Electronic prescriptions
🚗 Transport:
  • Digital car registration
  • SNCF control (pilot)
  • Driving license (soon)
📋 Employment:
  • Job center
  • Work contracts
  • Pay slips
📱 Download France Identity 🔐 FranceConnect

🌎 Foreigners and residence permit

⚠️ Important for foreigners

The CNI is ONLY for French citizens. Foreigners receive a residence permit after obtaining a long-stay visa.

📋 Residence permit - Resident card

Document for foreigners with legal residence in France for more than 3 months.

📑 Requirements

  • Validated long-stay visa
  • Valid passport
  • Biometric photo
  • Supporting documents per status

💰 Costs

  • First card: €225 EUR
  • Renewal: €225 EUR
  • Student: €75 EUR
  • Appointment: ANEF
💡 Tip: Submit your application 2 months before visa expiration. Delays in Paris and Lyon are long - plan ahead!

More information: France-Visas - Official portal

🏖️ Paris Expats & Americans in France

🚀 Paris Tech Scene - Guide for Americans

🏢 Top Tech Companies

🎯 Datadog - Monitoring
💳 Lydia - Fintech
🎮 Ubisoft - Gaming
🚗 BlaBlaCar - Mobility
🛍️ Vinted - Marketplace
🎯 Criteo - AdTech

💰 Tech Salaries 2025

  • Junior Developer: €35,000-45,000/year
  • Senior Developer: €55,000-75,000/year
  • Tech Lead: €70,000-90,000/year
  • + Stock options & benefits
≈ $3,200-$8,200 USD/month

🎯 Why Americans love Paris

🏥 Healthcare: Universal social security
🏖️ Vacation: 5 weeks minimum
🌍 Location: Hub for Europe
💸 Tech Visa: Simplified procedure
🎓 Education: International schools
🍷 Lifestyle: French art de vivre

📋 Tech Visa / Talent Passport

1. Income 💰
Minimum €53,836.50/year (2x minimum wage). Prove employment contract.
2. Tech Company 💻
Innovative startup or recognized company. French Tech label = bonus.
3. Degree 🎓
Master's or equivalent. Bachelor + 5 years experience accepted.
4. Process 📋
2-3 weeks. 4-year renewable card.

🏘️ Best neighborhoods for expats in Paris

🌟 Le Marais
Trendy, central, €2,500/month studio
🏛️ Saint-Germain
Chic, cafes, €2,800/month studio
🌳 Neuilly
Families, quiet, €2,000/month 2BR
🎨 Montmartre
Artists, views, €1,800/month studio

💡 Tax advantage - Impatriate regime

As a qualified expat, pay only 30% tax on salary + impatriation premium exempt for 8 years. Save thousands of euros per year!

⚡ CNI Delays - 3-4 weeks

Bad news! No express service for identity cards in France - fixed delay of 3-4 weeks for everyone.

⏰ Process

  • Town hall appointment required
  • Fingerprinting: 15 min
  • Manufacturing: 2-3 weeks
  • Town hall delivery: 1 week

📋 What to bring

  • Old card or declaration
  • Recent biometric photo
  • Proof of address
  • €25 EUR (card accepted)
⚠️ Important: Unlike passports, NO express service exists for CNI. Plan your travels accordingly!

Track your application: ANTS - Track my application

Frequently asked questions

How to make an appointment for CNI?
Go to your town hall website or via service-public.fr. In Paris, use the paris.fr website. Tip: Morning slots are less in demand.
Where to get biometric photo fastest?
Upload your photo to Rostrio.com for automatic verification according to French standards. Ready in 3 minutes, 100% approved.
How much does CNI renewal cost in total?
CNI renewal (loss/theft): €25 EUR
Photo (Rostrio): ~€8 EUR
Transport to town hall: €5-30 EUR
France Identity: Free
TOTAL: €38-63 EUR (≈ $42-69)
Can Americans/foreigners get a French CNI?
No - CNI is only for French citizens. Americans must first obtain French nationality. Alternative: Talent Passport allows residence and work in France, then obtain residence permit.
What's the difference between France Identity and FranceConnect?
France Identity: Mobile app for digital identity, electronic signature, official documents.
FranceConnect: Single sign-on system for online services.
Digital health card: Integrated in France Identity since March 2025.
How long to get the CNI?
CNI: 3-4 weeks delivery (no express)
France Identity: Immediate activation after receiving CNI
Residence permit: 2-4 months from application
Talent Passport: 2-3 weeks
Can I use CNI to travel outside EU?
No - CNI is only valid for EU/Schengen (30+ countries). For USA, Asia, Africa, etc. you need a French passport. Note: CNI not valid for UK post-Brexit.
What if I lose my CNI abroad?
Contact the nearest French consulate immediately. They can issue a travel document to return to France. Tip: Keep a photo of your CNI in the cloud before traveling.

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