Quick answer
What is the photo size for a driving licence on Sarathi?
Parivahan's Sarathi guidelines ask for a recent colour photo 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, preferably 420 × 525 pixels, saved as a JPG of 10–20 KB on a light, preferably white, background. The signature should be 256 × 64 pixels and 10–20 KB.
For learner's and driving licence applications on Parivahan Sarathi, the photo is a recent colour picture 35 mm wide × 45 mm high, preferably 420 × 525 pixels, saved as a JPG of 10–20 KB on a light, preferably white, background. The signature is 256 × 64 pixels, also 10–20 KB. Some states take your photo and biometrics at the RTO instead.
These rules come from Sarathi's "Photo and Signature Scan & Upload Process" guidelines and the Parivahan and Sarathi FAQs, published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Driving licence photo requirements
| Dimensions | Width 35 mm (at least 420 pixels) × height 45 mm (at least 525 pixels) |
|---|---|
| Preferred pixel size | 420 × 525 pixels |
| File | JPG, between 10 KB and 20 KB, never more than 20 KB |
| Age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Colour | Colour, passport size |
| Background | Light-coloured, preferably white |
| Pose | Look straight at the camera with a relaxed face |
| Glasses | Allowed if there are no reflections and your eyes are clearly visible |
| Headwear | Caps, hats and dark glasses are not accepted. Religious headwear is allowed if it does not cover your face |
Sarathi warns that if the face in your photo is unclear, the application may be rejected. You may be able to re-upload a clearer photo by contacting the approving authority, but only before scrutiny of your application is complete.
20 KB or 50 KB?
The central Form 2 for learner's and driving licences says a photo uploaded for an online application should be "not more than 50 KB". Sarathi's own guidelines are stricter, at 10–20 KB. A JPG of 10–20 KB meets both.
Signature requirements
| How to sign | On white paper with a black pen, by the applicant only |
|---|---|
| Pixel size | 256 × 64 pixels (width × height), preferred |
| File | JPG, between 10 KB and 20 KB, never more than 20 KB |
| Thumb impression | For applicants who cannot read or write: right thumb for women, left thumb for men |
Scanning and saving the files
Sarathi asks for a camera or scanner resolution of at least 300 dpi in true colour. Crop the scan to the edge of the photo or signature, use the upload editor to crop to the final size, and save as a .jpg file, such as image01.jpg. If the file is over 20 KB, lower the scanner's DPI or number of colours, or crop and resize it in an image editor.
Resize after you crop
A photo maker gives you a sharp 35 × 45 mm crop on a white background, but a high-resolution file can be larger than Sarathi's limit. Resize the final image to 420 × 525 pixels and save it as a JPG, checking that it is between 10 KB and 20 KB before you upload.
Where to upload, and when the RTO takes your photo
Parivahan's FAQ says to go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, choose your state, open Upload Document and pick Upload Photograph and Signature. It adds that the service is available "as per states customization", so not every state uses it.
Sarathi's learner's licence FAQ explains that "scrutiny" means visiting the RTO for physical verification of documents and to submit biometrics, and that a visit to the RTO is needed after the online steps. Where your state captures the photo at the RTO, you may not see a photo upload step at all.
Sample photos
How to prepare your driving licence photo and signature
- Take a recent photo on white. Use a light, preferably white, background and look straight at the camera with a relaxed face. Remove caps, hats and dark glasses.
- Crop and resize the photo. Crop to 35 mm wide × 45 mm high and resize to 420 × 525 pixels. Save it as a JPG of 10–20 KB. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
- Prepare the signature. Sign on white paper with a black pen, scan it at 300 dpi, crop it to 256 × 64 pixels and save it as a JPG of 10–20 KB.
- Upload on Sarathi. Choose your state on sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, then use Upload Document and Upload Photograph and Signature, if your state offers it.
- Visit the RTO. Go to the RTO when asked, for document verification and biometrics.
Driving licence photo FAQ
Sarathi's guidelines ask for a passport-size colour photo 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, at least 420 × 525 pixels, with 420 × 525 pixels preferred, saved as a JPG of 10–20 KB.
Sign on white paper with a black pen, scan it and crop it to 256 × 64 pixels (width × height), as a JPG of 10–20 KB. For applicants who cannot read or write, the guidelines ask for a thumb impression instead: the right thumb for women and the left thumb for men.
Sarathi publishes one set of photo and signature guidelines for its online applications, and its learner's licence FAQ explains how to upload a photo and signature that show as pending in your application. So prepare the same files for a learner's licence.
It depends on your state. Parivahan says the upload service is available "as per states customization", and Sarathi's FAQ says you visit the RTO after the online steps for biometrics and document verification. Follow the steps your state's Sarathi page shows.
Yes, if there are no reflections and your eyes are clearly visible. Dark glasses, caps and hats are not accepted. Religious headwear is allowed if it does not cover your face.
Sarathi suggests cropping the photo to its edges, resizing it to the pixel size and saving it again as a JPG, or lowering the scanner's DPI and colour settings. Free tools such as MS Paint can do this, the guidelines say.
Official sources
- Sarathi (MoRTH): Photo and Signature Scan & Upload Process (PDF)
- Parivahan Sewa: How can I upload photo and signature?
- Sarathi: FAQ (Learner Licence) (PDF)
- Parivahan: CMVR Form 2, application for learner's or driving licence (PDF)
- Parivahan Sarathi: choose your state
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.