head 67–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceGovernment of Iceland — island.is (district commissioners, Icelandic Transport Authority); Regulation on driving licences No. 830/2011
Verified
Quick answer: A Iceland driver's license photo must be 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background. Head occupies 67–80% of photo height (30–36 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 67–80% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 30–36 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain light background. |
| Pose | Strictly full face, head without rotation or tilt, shoulders level. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Glasses permitted only without reflections and without obscuring eyes. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | No headwear. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing, shoulders visible, without uniform or distracting accessories. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 413 × 531 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 827 × 1063 px |
Iceland driving licence photos are reviewed at the licence-issuing office, then printed onto the licence card and (in modern licences) embedded as a biometric template in the card chip. The review checks dimensions, background, lighting and that the applicant's face is unobstructed. Most modern licence systems run an automated ICAO alignment check before printing.
Driving licence photos are typically valid for the full document lifetime — five to ten years depending on the region. Choose a photo that will continue to match your appearance over that period, not a one-off styled portrait.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Iceland driver's license applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
How to take it
Background: plain light
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 67–80 % of the photo height (30–36 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 8 (4 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
Questions
The Iceland driver's license photo must be 35 × 45 mm. The head must occupy 67–80% of the photo height. The photo is printed on the licence card and must remain recognisable for the full validity period.
Plain light background. Even, frontal light without shadow gradients. Driving licence printers tend to compress contrast — starting with even lighting prevents underexposed areas from disappearing in the final print.
Glasses permitted only without reflections and without obscuring eyes. Many authorities specifically allow eyewear when it is required for driving, but the eyes must remain fully visible and there must be no lens glare. Tinted lenses or transition lenses that have darkened are not accepted.
Most authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. The licence is typically valid for 5–10 years, so use a recent photo that reflects your everyday appearance — not a one-off styled portrait.
No. Driving licence photos use the same neutral expression standard as biometric passports — closed mouth, eyes open and looking directly at the camera, no raised eyebrows. Smiles distort facial geometry used in modern biometric checks.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Iceland licence authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
35 × 45 mm = 3.5 × 4.5 cm = 1.38 × 1.77 inches. At 300 dpi that is 413 × 531 pixels; at 600 dpi, 827 × 1063 pixels.