When you apply for a UK driving licence — whether it is your first licence, a renewal, or a replacement after a change of name or address — DVLA requires a recent photograph. The photo requirements are almost identical to passport photo requirements, with a few differences worth knowing before you take the shot.

Photo dimensions

DVLA driving licence photos must be 45mm tall and 35mm wide — exactly the same dimensions as a UK passport photo. At 300 DPI, this is 413 pixels wide and 531 pixels tall.

If you are applying online via the GOV.UK service, you upload a digital photo. If you are applying by post using a D1 form, you submit two printed photographs. Both methods accept photos taken at home, provided they meet the requirements.

Background

The background must be plain and light-coloured — cream or light grey. Exactly as with passport photos, the background should be free from texture, patterns, and shadows. There must be no shadow behind the head.

Stand at least one metre away from the background so your shadow does not fall on the wall behind you. A plain magnolia or light grey wall works well. If your walls are a stronger colour, hang a plain sheet behind you.

Expression and pose

Face directly forward, looking straight at the camera. Your expression must be neutral — mouth closed, no smile — and your eyes must be open and clearly visible. No hair should fall across the face or obscure the eyes.

Your head must not be tilted. Both shoulders should be visible in the frame and should be level. The camera must be at eye level — a camera positioned above or below the eyes will cause a slight angle that DVLA may reject.

Glasses

DVLA follows the same guidance as HMPO on glasses: they should not be worn in the photo. Since the requirement for biometric documents moved away from permitting glasses, applications submitted with glasses tend to be either rejected or queried. Remove glasses before taking the photo.

Applying online

If you are renewing your licence online, GOV.UK will prompt you to take or upload a photo as part of the application process. You will need:

  • A smartphone or webcam to take the photo during the application
  • Or a photo file (JPEG or PNG) that you have taken beforehand

The online service has a built-in photo checker that assesses the image before you proceed. It checks for basic issues such as whether a face is clearly visible, whether the background is appropriate, and whether the image is sharp. Even if the checker accepts the photo, it is worth reviewing the requirements above manually before submitting.

Applying by post (D1 form)

If you are applying by post using the D1 application form, you need to supply two printed photographs. These must be:

  • 45mm × 35mm
  • Printed on plain white photographic or matte paper
  • Clear, sharp, and in colour
  • Without a border
  • Without creases or damage

Do not write on the front of the photos. You may print or write lightly on the back in pencil. Attach the photos to the D1 form as instructed — do not use adhesive tape that covers the front of the photos, and do not staple them.

When do you need to update your driving licence photo?

Driving licence photos in the UK must be renewed every ten years, even if your licence itself is still valid. DVLA sends renewal reminders approximately three months before the photo expiry date, which is printed on the front of your photocard licence.

You must also update your photo if your appearance changes significantly — for example, if you change your hair dramatically, grow or remove a beard, or your general appearance has shifted noticeably from the photo on your current licence. There is no strict rule about what constitutes "significant change", but if the photo no longer looks like you, it is worth updating it to avoid complications at border crossings or police checks.

What happens if DVLA rejects the photo?

If DVLA rejects your photo, your application is returned with a letter explaining the reason. You will need to take a new photo and resubmit. Unlike passport applications, DVLA does not charge a separate fee for the resubmission — but it does add time to the process.

To minimise the risk of rejection, check each requirement carefully before submitting. The most common reasons for DVLA photo rejection are the same as for passport photos: glasses present, shadows on the face or background, expression too smiley, and incorrect print scale.

Printing a driving licence photo at home

The process for printing a driving licence photo at home is identical to printing a passport photo. Use the same dimensions (45mm × 35mm), the same paper (standard 80 gsm bond), and the same print setting ("Actual size"). Our free photo tool supports the UK driving licence size under the UK country preset. Upload your photo, select the size, choose A4 paper, and download the 300 DPI PDF.