Driving licence photo and signature size
For a driving licence or learner's licence application on Sarathi, the photo is 420 x 525 pixels and the signature 256 x 64, each a JPG of 10 to 20 KB, as Parivahan's upload guidelines prefer. Drop a photo here and it comes out at 420 x 525, inside that range.
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What does Sarathi ask you to upload?
Here are the Sarathi guidelines' own words. They call each pixel size preferred and give the photo's as a minimum too.
Sarathi, photo and signature scan and upload process
- Photo
- 35 x 45 mm, at least 420 x 525 pixels, 420 x 525 preferred, 10 to 20 KB, colour, light and preferably white background
- Signature
- 256 x 64 pixels preferred, given as 1.4 x 0.44 inches, 10 to 20 KB, black pen on white paper
- No signature
- A thumb impression: right thumb for a woman, left thumb for a man
- Scanning
- At least 300 ppi, true colour, JPG, cropped to the edge of the photo or signature
- Where
- Guidelines PDF, page 2
- Source
- sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
- Read at the source on
Will my files land between 10 and 20 KB?
The photo does, but a detailed one pays for it in quality. The signature often cannot reach the minimum: 256 x 64 pixels of mostly white paper is a very small file.
We measured both through this page's own editor, which raises or lowers the quality to land in the range:
| Upload and size | Test file | File, and what the tool did |
|---|---|---|
| Photo, 420 x 525 | Portrait, plain background | 19.0 KB, quality lowered to 76 |
| Photo, 420 x 525 | Detailed street scene | 18.9 KB, quality lowered to 19 |
| Signature, 256 x 64 | Clean scan | 8.2 KB at full quality, under the minimum |
| Signature, 256 x 64 | Phone photo of paper | 12.8 KB, quality raised to 100 |
| Signature, 512 x 128 | Clean scan | 10.2 KB, quality raised to 95 |
A busy background costs the photo its quality: the street scene had to drop to 19 to fit 20 KB. Stand against a plain light wall and the same limit leaves far more detail for your face.
A clean signature scan stayed under 10 KB even at full quality. The guidelines call 256 x 64 preferred, not required, so if your state's upload page accepts it, keep the 4:1 shape at 512 x 128.
Is the signature 256 x 64 pixels or 1.4 x 0.44 inches?
The guidelines give both, and they are not the same shape. 256 x 64 is four times as wide as it is high; 1.4 by 0.44 inches is about 3.2 times.
The upload is judged in pixels, so the tool makes 256 x 64. Sign in a long, low box so the crop does not cut your signature's ends.
Is the photo 420 x 525 pixels or 35 x 45 mm?
Both, near enough. 420 x 525 pixels is 35 x 45 mm at 300 DPI, the scan resolution the guidelines ask for, and the tool writes 300 DPI into the file.
The pixel size is also stated as a minimum, so a larger photo is allowed if it still fits under 20 KB. At this size it rarely does, which is why the tool stays at 420 x 525.
Does every state use these sizes?
Sarathi is one national portal, but Parivahan says the upload service is available "as per states customization". The guidelines on this page are the national ones.
If your state's upload page shows a different limit, follow it. The error message names the limit when a file is refused.
What happens to your photo?
Your selected photo is processed in your browser, without an image upload to a server. The page may download code and codecs needed for editing.
Save your result before closing the tab; unsaved edits are kept in memory rather than in an online account.
Common questions
What is the driving licence photo size in KB?
10 to 20 KB, as a JPG, at 420 x 525 pixels preferred. The tool keeps the photo inside that range, lowering the quality if the file comes out heavy.
What is the Sarathi signature size?
256 x 64 pixels preferred, 10 to 20 KB, signed in black pen on white paper. If the file stays under 10 KB even at full quality, see the measurements above.
Is it the same for a learner's licence?
The guidelines are Sarathi's for its online applications, and they name no different size for a learner's licence. Use the same photo and signature unless your state's upload page says otherwise.
What if I cannot sign?
The guidelines ask for a thumb impression instead: the right thumb for a woman and the left thumb for a man. Upload it in place of the signature.
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