Photo sizes › United Kingdom
🇬🇧 UK Driving Licence Photo
35 × 45 mm · head 29–34 mm · light grey background. Upload a selfie below and IDShot builds a compliant photo in your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.
Drop a photo here
A plain wall, even light, head and shoulders. A phone selfie is fine.
or click to browse · you can also paste with ⌘V
Official requirements
| Printed size | 35 × 45 mm · 1.38 × 1.77 in |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 827 × 1063 px at 600 DPI |
| Head height (chin → crown) | 29–34 mm · IDShot targets 31.5 mm |
| Background | Light grey, plain and shadow-free |
| Colour | Colour photo, natural skin tones |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open, facing the camera |
| Issuing authority | DVLA ↗ |
Requirements change. Always confirm against the issuing authority before you submit.
Good to know
- Same rules as the UK passport photo: 35 × 45 mm, plain light background.
How to take the photo at home
Find a plain wall
Light grey, cream or white, with nothing hanging on it. Stand about 50 cm in front of it so you do not cast a shadow.
Face the light
Daylight from a window in front of you is ideal. Overhead lights alone create shadows under the eyes and nose.
Shoot from 2 m away
Ask someone to stand back and zoom in slightly, at your eye level. Selfies at arm's length distort the nose.
Neutral face
Mouth closed, eyes open, no smiling, no hat. Take off glasses — most authorities no longer accept them.
UK Driving Licence Photo FAQ
What size is a uk driving licence photo?
35 × 45 mm — 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At the recommended 600 DPI that is 827 × 1063 pixels. The head must measure 29–34 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
What background colour is required?
Light grey (light grey or cream or white are accepted), plain and free of shadows. IDShot replaces whatever is behind you with the correct colour automatically.
Can I take a driving licence photo at home with my phone?
Yes. Stand about half a metre in front of a plain, light wall with daylight on your face, keep a neutral expression, and have someone photograph you from around two metres away at eye level. IDShot then handles the cropping, the head height and the background.
How much does it cost?
Building the photo and seeing the full preview is free. Removing the watermark and downloading the print-ready file is a one-time $4.90 — after that you can make as many photos, for any country, as you like.