REAL ID Driver's License and State ID Photo in the UK

51 × 51 mm · white background · State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules

£6.99 digital file

Take my REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo

Wrong size, background or crop? We fix it free or refund you in full. Refund policy

Rules last checked against State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules on 25 October 2026.

About this photo

The REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo accepted by the State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules is a 51 by 51 mm portrait. Frame it so the head takes 36 to 41 mm of the 51 mm height. This one is still a paper process, which means printed photos and no online upload. The State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules takes your photo at the counter when you apply, so a photo of your own is usually not needed for this document. Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera. Behind you: plain white, lit evenly so no shadow falls on the face or the wall. We make the REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo to this specification from your own picture and show you the result before you pay.

Photo requirements

REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo requirements
Photo size	51 × 51 mm
Background	white
Head size	71–80% of the photo height (36–41 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.
Head coverings	Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.
Head position	Facing the camera, tilted no more than 10°
Other rules	The DMV takes the photograph in person and online renewals reuse it; no state accepts a supplied photo; Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera

Do

Illustration of an accepted photo: neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera on a plain background — Neutral expression, eyes open, facing the camera

Don't

Illustration of a rejected photo: the person is smiling with teeth showing — No smiling with teeth showing

Illustration of a rejected photo: light reflects off the glasses and hides the eyes — No glare on glasses

Illustration of a rejected photo: a shadow falls across the face and background — No shadows on the face or background

Illustration of a rejected photo: the head is tilted to one side — Do not tilt your head

How it works

1. Take or upload a photo
Use your phone camera against a plain wall, or pick a photo you already have.
2. We size and check it
We crop to the right size, replace the background and check it against the rules above.
3. Download and use it
Pay once, then download the digital file and the print sheet straight away.

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Questions about REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photos

What size is a REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo?

REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photos are 51 × 51 mm. The head should fill 71–80% of the photo height (36–41 mm, chin to crown, top of head, including hair).

What background does a REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo need?

A plain white background, with no shadows, patterns or objects. We replace the background for you, but a plain wall gives the cleanest edges around your hair.

Can I wear glasses in a REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo?

Yes. No tinted lenses or sunglasses. No glare on the lenses. Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.

Can I smile in a REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo?

No. Keep a neutral expression with your mouth closed and your eyes open.

Can I wear a head covering?

Allowed for religious or medical reasons. The whole face from chin to forehead must be visible.

Can I take a REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo at home?

Usually, yes, as long as it meets the rules above. Check the instructions for your application route, because final acceptance is always decided by State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules. PhotoPass ID sizes your photo and checks it against these rules before you pay.

How much does a REAL ID Driver's License and State ID photo cost in the UK?

£6.99 for the digital file, paid once. It includes a print-at-home sheet you can print at any photo shop.

What if something is wrong with my photo?

If our processing gets the size, background or crop wrong for this document, we fix it free or refund you in full. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority.

Official source: State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules

Read the rules on the authority's website: State DMVs under DHS REAL ID rules (dhs.gov).