Provisional Driving Licence Photo
Apply online if you can
Online, DVLA can use your UK passport photo or a new digital one. For paper applications the printed photo must be unaltered by computer software and printed to a professional standard — so we only crop and resize your photo, and you should print it at a photo lab.
Source: GOV.UK — Passport photo requirementsYou can apply for your first provisional driving licence from 15 years and 9 months old. Online it costs £34 and by post £43. Online is easier for the photo too: DVLA can use your UK passport photo, or you can upload a new one. By post, you need a printed passport-style photo.
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Online: passport photo or a new one
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If you have a UK passport, the online service can use its photo — you don't need a new one. If you want a new photo, you can upload a digital one. SnapID checks it against the passport photo rules and crops it to size without editing it.
By post: a printed photo
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Paper applications need a printed passport-style photo: 45 mm high × 35 mm wide, head 29–34 mm, plain cream or light grey background, taken in the last month. The official guidance says the photo must be unaltered by computer software and printed to a professional standard on photo paper.
Unedited, cropped only
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Because DVLA and HM Passport Office don't accept edited photos, we default this order to crop-only: your photo is resized and framed, but the background and your face aren't changed. Take it against a plain light grey or cream wall.
Printing it properly
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For a paper application, print the 4×6 sheet at a photo lab or kiosk (Boots, Asda, Snappy Snaps and others) on photo paper at actual size — not on a home printer on plain paper.
Changing the photo later
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Your licence photo has to be updated every 10 years. You can do that online too, again using your passport photo or a new one.
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Upload Photo – Free CheckProvisional Driving Licence Photo – Complete Guide
Online: passport photo or a new one: If you have a UK passport, the online service can use its photo — you don't need a new one. If you want a new photo, you can upload a digital one. SnapID checks it against the passport photo rules and crops it to size without editing it. By post: a printed photo: Paper applications need a printed passport-style photo: 45 mm high × 35 mm wide, head 29–34 mm, plain cream or light grey background, taken in the last month. The official guidance says the photo must be unaltered by computer software and printed to a professional standard on photo paper. Unedited, cropped only: Because DVLA and HM Passport Office don't accept edited photos, we default this order to crop-only: your photo is resized and framed, but the background and your face aren't changed. Take it against a plain light grey or cream wall. Printing it properly: For a paper application, print...
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a photo for a provisional licence online?
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If you have a UK passport, DVLA can use its photo. Otherwise you can upload a new digital photo during the application.
What size photo for a provisional licence by post?
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45 mm high × 35 mm wide, the same as a UK passport photo, with the head 29–34 mm from chin to crown.
Can I take my provisional licence photo at home?
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For the online application, yes — upload a clear photo against a plain light background. For a paper application, the printed photo must be unaltered and printed to a professional standard, so print it at a photo lab.
How much is a provisional driving licence?
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£34 online and £43 by post.
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