Get an NSW licence photo in 35×45 mm in seconds. Take a selfie at home, and our AI photo maker crops it to the photo kit size, sets a plain light background and checks the photo against the official rules.
4.28 average from 598 ratings
The NSW photo kit asks for a passport-style photo: 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, sharp, with a plain light background. The AI check validates your photo against each parameter below.
The NSW photo kit is the official form and set of photo guidelines for a New South Wales driver licence. Its photo kit form page sits in the RMS section on renewing a licence when you are out of NSW. You print the photo kit form (PDF), follow its guidelines and attach a driver licence photo that meets the rules below, so your NSW licence carries a current photo of you. The card is more than a permit to drive: it is a widely accepted form of identification for travel, banking and age checks, so a clear, accurate photo is worth the extra minute.
The photo must be 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, the same size as an Australian passport photo. Your head should be centred and fill 70–80% of the frame, which is roughly 32–36 mm from chin to crown on a 45 mm print, with a small gap of about 3 mm above the hair. A driver licence photo that is cropped too tight, too loose or off-centre does not meet these rules, so our photo maker measures the head and crops the picture to the exact size for you.
The background must be plain and light-coloured: white, light grey or light blue, with no pattern, objects or other people behind you. The photo must be in focus, clear and of high quality, with no shadows on the face or the wall and no reflections. For a printed photo we prepare the file at 600 DPI, so the photo stays sharp at 35×45 mm.
The photo kit guidelines let you take the photo yourself or use a professional photographer who knows the requirements. A phone photo works well if the light is even and the camera is at eye level. Upload it to our online photo tool and the AI crops it to 35×45 mm, cleans the background and checks it in seconds. You can download the digital photo and print it at home or at a photo shop.
Light makes the biggest difference to a home photo. Stand facing a window during the day, so soft daylight falls evenly on both sides of your face, and keep a step or two between you and the wall to stop a shadow forming behind your head. Turn off the flash and overhead lamps, which create hot spots and dark patches under the eyes. If one side of your face looks darker, hold a sheet of white paper or open a door on that side to bounce some light back. Take a few photos and pick the sharpest one with your eyes fully open.
When you print, choose a print size that keeps the photo at exactly 35×45 mm, or print a sheet with several photos and cut one out along the edges. Use glossy or matte photo paper, not plain office paper, and check that the colours look natural and the face is not too dark.
To get a licence in New South Wales you need to be a resident of NSW and show proof of identity and residency; a learner licence is available from 16 years old. Typical documents are a passport or birth certificate for identity and a utility bill or bank statement for residency, plus any previous licence. You complete the application online through Service NSW or in person at a Service NSW Centre, pay the fee for your licence type and submit the form, documents and photo, online or in person. A full licence may also need a driving test of your skills and knowledge of the road rules.
Fees depend on the licence type and duration, and you can pay them online or at the centre. Once the application is processed and approved, the card arrives by mail or is collected from the centre. Licences must be renewed every few years, depending on the licence type, so check the expiry date and renew on time to avoid penalties. If your licence is lost or stolen, report it and apply for a replacement through Service NSW.
Our photo maker gives you two versions of the same licence photo. The digital file is ready to upload wherever an online form asks for a photo, and the print layout lets you produce paper licence photos at the right size for the kit. Both come from one picture, so you only need to take the photo once. If the AI check flags a problem, such as a shadow behind your head or a slight tilt, you see it before you print, and you can take a new photo straight away or use the optional retouch.
The 35×45 mm format is used for several documents, but each one has its own rules, so pick the right one before you make a photo. For a passport use our passport photo page, and drivers in another state can use the Queensland licence photo page. There are also pages for a visa photo and the adult proof of age card. Each one shows the size, the background and the photo checks for that document.
If you hold an overseas or international licence, you may be able to drive in NSW for a limited time. Check the current rules for international driving permits before you rely on them, and apply for a local licence when they say you must.
The photo rules on this page come from the NSW photo kit guidelines and the official forms linked above. If anything is unclear, read the Service NSW photo requirements online before you print.
Hold the phone at arm's length, camera at eye level, or ask someone to take the photo. We crop and straighten it.
Look into the lens with a neutral face and your mouth closed. Take off hats and tinted glasses.
Face a window for even daylight and avoid flash. The AI replaces the background with a plain light one.
Make your NSW driver licence photo now
A 35×45 mm digital photo, checked online in seconds.
Our online AI check catches these photo mistakes before you download or print.
Approved
Don't smile
Mouth open
Approved
No fashion headwear
Head tilted
Shadow behind head
Large earrings
Approved
Use your phone camera or a photo you already have on your computer.
The tool crops it to 35×45 mm, sets a plain light background and checks every requirement.
Download the digital driver licence photo, or print it for the photo kit form.
Get a photo that passes the check
Crop, centre and a plain background in one step.
Free
$5.99
The photo kit asks for a photo 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, with the head about 32–36 mm from chin to crown. It is the same size as an Australian passport photo.
Plain and light-coloured: white, light grey or light blue, without shadows. Our photo maker sets the background automatically.
Yes. The guidelines let you take the photo yourself. Use daylight, keep a neutral face and upload the photo to our online tool for the crop and check.
Yes, if they cause no glare and your eyes are clearly visible. If in doubt, take them off.
The official photo kit form is listed in the RMS section on renewing a licence when you are out of NSW. If you are not sure the kit applies to you, check with Service NSW.
The size is the same, 35×45 mm, and the face rules are close. Use a photo that meets the NSW licence photo rules listed on this page, with a plain light background.
The AI check shows what to fix, such as shadows, glare or a tilted head. Take a new photo in better light, or use the optional retouch to fix lighting and shadows.
The digital photo and the AI check cost nothing; only the optional retouch costs $5.99.
