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The DVLA asks for a passport-style photograph for a driving licence application: 45 mm tall by 35 mm wide, in colour, taken within the last month, against a plain light background, with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. If you are applying online and already hold a UK passport, you can usually authorise the DVLA to reuse your passport photo instead of supplying a new one.
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Not sure whether your photo will pass? See Why ID photos get rejected.
UK Driving Licence Photo requirements
| Photo size | 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels (print) | 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI · 827 x 1063 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height | 29–34 mm from chin to crown — typical ICAO guidance (not separately published for this document). |
| Background | Any plain light color or light gray. |
| Glasses | Allowed if there is no glare, no tint, and the frames do not cover the eyes. |
| Editing | Keep edits minimal; most authorities reject retouched photos even where no explicit rule is published. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera straight on. |
| Official source | Official photo requirements ↗ |
Good to know
"Passport-style" is the DVLA's own wording, so the UK passport framing applies: head and shoulders centred, nothing covering the face, no shadows on the face or the background.
Check the online route before printing anything. Applying for a first provisional licence online lets you reuse your passport photo and signature, which skips the photo entirely.
How to make it in 3 steps
- Take or choose a photo. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even light with no shadows, camera at eye level about 2 m away, head and shoulders in frame with space around your head.
- Crop with the head guides. The maker opens preset to the 35 x 45 mm standard with the official 29–34 mm head range marked. Drag and zoom until the crown of your head and your chin sit on the guides, then run the built-in photo check.
- Download. Save the single photo (for online uploads) or the 4 x 6 in print sheet, and print it at any photo shop, pharmacy photo kiosk or at home for the price of a regular photo print.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a UK Driving Licence Photo?
35 x 45 mm — 413 x 531 px at 300 DPI. The head must measure 29–34 mm from chin to the top of the head.
What background color does a UK Driving Licence Photo need?
Any plain light color or light gray.
Can I take a UK Driving Licence Photo at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand in front of a plain light wall in even daylight, have someone take a sharp, front-facing photo from about 2 m away, then crop it to the exact 35 x 45 mm standard with the free maker — the head guides show you the official head-height range.
Is this UK Driving Licence Photo maker really free and private?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no watermark and no signup. Unlike photo-booth apps and paid services, your photo is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
Where can I print my UK Driving Licence Photo?
Download the 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) sheet and print it as an ordinary borderless 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) photo at actual size (100%, no scaling) at a photo shop, a pharmacy photo kiosk, an online print service or on a home printer, then cut along the guide lines. You pay only for an ordinary photo print, not a photo-booth service fee. More detail: Printing passport photos in the United Kingdom.
What size photo do I need for a UK driving licence?
45 mm tall by 35 mm wide — the same passport-style format as a UK passport photo, in colour, on a plain light background with a neutral expression and mouth closed.
Can I use my passport photo for my driving licence?
Often yes. When applying online, the DVLA can reuse the photo and signature from a valid UK passport, which removes the need for a new photograph. If you apply on paper you must supply a new passport-style photo.