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Tip: for a physical application, print the 4×6″ sheet at a photo lab or pharmacy and cut along the lines. For online applications, use the digital file.
Select your country / document
Each country has its own size and head proportions — switching reloads the exact spec.
UK Driving Licence (DVLA) spec
| Photo size | 45 × 35 mm (print) |
| Head height | 29–34 mm (crown to chin — per the passport photo rules) |
| Background | Plain cream or light grey |
| Digital upload | Postal applications need 2 identical printed photos (don't trim them). Online licence services accept your passport photo or a new digital upload; in Northern Ireland you can use a photo code from a participating booth. |
Source: GOV.UK — passport photo requirements (referenced by DVLA); nidirect (Northern Ireland) · verified 2026-10-09
UK Driving Licence (DVLA) photo — requirements & how to
UK photocard driving licences use a passport-type photo: 45 mm high × 35 mm wide, taken within the last month, on a plain cream or light grey background. For postal applications include two identical printed photos — and don't trim them. Online renewals can reuse your passport photo or take a fresh digital upload.
Key rules for Driving licence
- A 'passport type' photo: 45 mm high × 35 mm wide, taken within the last month
- Plain cream or light grey background; colour, not black and white
- Face forward, eyes open, nothing covering the face; no sunglasses or tinted glasses
- No hat except for medical or religious reasons; sharp focus, no shadows or red eye
- Don't cut the photos to size — the licensing authority punches them
- You must be alone in the photo
How to make your Driving licence photo here
- Upload a straight-on photo (plain light background, even lighting, no glasses).
- Check the blue guide — chin to crown must fit the head guide. Use “Auto-fit head” first.
- Watch the live checks: head size, centering, resolution, background.
- Click Generate and download the digital size and/or the 4×6″ print sheet.
FAQ
What size photo do I need for a UK driving licence?
45 mm high × 35 mm wide — a standard 'passport type' photo in colour, taken within the last month.
Can I use my passport photo for a UK driving licence?
Yes — DVLA accepts a recent passport-type photo, and online services can reuse your passport photo directly.
What background should a UK licence photo have?
Plain cream or light grey. Avoid pure white if possible, and make sure there are no shadows.