Australian Driver’s Licence Photo [Rules & How to Take It]

As a rule of thumb, pictures for an Australian driver’s licence must comply with the same requirements as Australian passport photos. Not sure what they are? No worries—

Read on to understand precisely what a photo for your AU driver’s licence should look like!

Australian driver’s licence photo—requirements

Study these official requirements for Australian driver’s licence photos to avoid submitting an unacceptable picture.

Important! The Australian government uses a Facial Recognition System to analyse your submitted photo by checking an individual’s biometric facial features (e.g., the distance between your eyes). For that reason, your driver’s licence photo must be recent. Now—

Even if you took your picture less than 6 months ago, but your appearance has changed significantly (e.g., you lost weight), you need to take a new photo.

AU driver’s licence photo—additional guidelines

Australian driver’s licence pictures must follow not only the above-mentioned technical requirements but also additional guidelines to get the green light from the acceptance facility. Here’s a list of those rules:

• Facial expression. Don’t smile or frown. Keep a neutral expression
• Pose. Keep your eyes open and mouth closed. Face the camera directly
• Clothing. Wear your normal clothes, but opt for darker colours that won’t blend with the background
• Facial hair. Keep your beard as is if you normally wear it
• Head covering. Wearing headgear (hats, hair bands, etc.) is strictly prohibited. You can cover your head only for religious or medical reasons. In that case, the headgear must be plain and without any patterns
• Glasses. You can wear glasses, but only if you provide a signed medical statement. It’s best to take glasses off
• Jewellery. You’re allowed to wear jewellery as long as it doesn’t obstruct your face. Facial piercings, such as nose rings, aren’t strictly prohibited, but it’s best to remove them
• Hair. Your whole face must be clearly visible. Consider tucking your hair behind the ears and tying longer bangs with hairpins. If you wear your hair in a bun (or your hair is naturally voluminous), it’s acceptable for it not to be fully in the frame

How to take a good driver’s licence photo

Taking biometric photos for a driver’s licence can be a quick and easy job you can do yourself from home! All you need is your smartphone and a professional app that will ensure your image meets official standards.