head 70–80 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD)
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended Russia driver's license photo size is 35 × 45 mm. Plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, clear lenses only, no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | Plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Neutral clothing 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 |
Russian driving licence photos are administered by GIBDD (the State Road Traffic Safety Inspectorate) under MVD RF, and there are two routes — which one you are on decides whether you need a photo of your own. For the national licence the applicant submits no photograph: they are photographed on the spot, at a traffic-police office or at an MFC (multifunctional service centre), when the papers are accepted.
That is how Order No. 80 of the Ministry of the Interior describes it: photographing the applicant is an act of the officer who receives the application (clause 277), and a separate clause covers the applicant who declines to be photographed (clause 35.4). The appointment is booked through the Gosuslugi portal and the plastic card is issued at the office after the examination.
For the international driving permit the picture is brought along instead: it is for that route that the same Order names a 35 × 45 mm photo on matte paper (clause 28.11), and it is that route the 35 × 45 mm at the top of this page belongs to.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons Russia driver's license photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| No on-site capture at GIBDD (BYO photo) | Schedule mandatory in-person exam + photo session at GIBDD |
| Did not complete theory and practical exams before biometric photo | Complete both exams before driver license photo capture |
| Photo older than 6 months | Re-shoot or use GIBDD on-site capture |
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: 70–80 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 35 × 45 mm.
Clear lenses only, 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 recommended size for the Russia driver's license photo is 35 × 45 mm. The head occupies 70–80% of the photo height. The photo is printed on the card and stays there for years, so use one that looks like you every day.
Plain light background without textures, shadows, or foreign objects. Light should fall evenly on your face from the front, without shadows: face a window and turn off the flash.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. Many offices allow the glasses you need for driving, as long as your eyes are clearly visible and there are no reflections on the lenses. Tinted or darkened lenses are not accepted.
Most offices ask for a photo taken within the last six months. Use an everyday photo rather than a styled portrait — the licence stays valid for years.
No. The rules are the same as for a passport: neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight into the camera.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the Russia licensing office.
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.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.
Yes. The same 35 × 45 mm format and head size apply to: work patent.