France Passport – Biometric Features, Verification & KYC Guide (2025)

The French Passport (Passeport Français) is an official travel and identity document issued by the French Ministry of the Interior to French citizens. It is a biometric, ICAO-compliant passport widely accepted for international travel and global KYC identity verification.

What Is the French Passport?

The biometric French passport has been issued since 2009, containing an embedded chip that stores the holder’s personal data and biometric photo. It is valid for both domestic identification and international travel, and is commonly accepted for KYC/AML compliance in global financial systems.

Key Features of the French Passport

Cover: Burgundy-red with the French coat of arms and “Union européenne / République française / Passeport”
Biometric symbol at the bottom of the cover
Languages: French and English
Chip: Stores biometric photo, signature, and identification data

Biographic Page Includes:

Passport number (9 characters, usually starting with a letter)
Full name (Nom, Prénom(s))
Nationality: Française / French
Date of birth (Date de naissance)
Sex (Sexe)
Place of birth (Lieu de naissance)
Date of issue (Délivré le)
Date of expiry (Valable jusqu’au)
Issuing authority (Autorité)
Holder’s digital photo
Signature
Machine-readable zone (MRZ)

Validity

10 years for adults (aged 18+)
5 years for minors
Must be renewed upon expiry, damage, or changes in personal data

KYC Use of the French Passport

The French passport is globally accepted for Know Your Customer (KYC) and identity verification purposes on platforms such as:

Banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, HSBC, etc.)
Fintech platforms (Revolut, Wise, Payoneer, N26)
Crypto exchanges (Binance, Kraken, eToro, etc.)
Travel, visa, or legal identity checks
Government portals and eID services

✅ How to verify:

Upload a clear image of the biographic page
Ensure visibility of:
- Passport number
- Name, date of birth, and place of birth
- Photo and MRZ
Some services may request:
- Selfie with the passport
- Video verification
- Proof of address (e.g., French utility bill or national ID)

Lost or Expired Passport

To renew or replace:

Apply through a local French town hall (mairie) or embassy/consulate abroad
Required documents:
- Expired/damaged passport
- French national ID (if available)
- Birth certificate (if ID unavailable)
- Photo (ICAO-compliant)
Fee: ~86 EUR (adult)
Processing time: 2–4 weeks

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