Everything you need to know about Sri Lanka driving licence photo requirements, including exact dimensions (35×45 mm), white background, and pose rules. Sri Lanka driving licences are issued by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) and cover all licence classes including A (motorcycles), B (cars/light vehicles), C (heavy vehicles), and more.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Document Type | Driving Licence |
| Photo Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Number of Photos | 1 (may be taken at DMT office) |
| Glasses | Not recommended; clear lenses allowed |
| Expression | Neutral |
| Recency | Recent |
Sri Lanka driving licences are issued by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). The new smart card driving licences include your photo embedded on the card. Below is a comprehensive guide to ensure your photo is accepted.
Glasses are not recommended for Sri Lanka driving licence photos. If you wear glasses for driving, you may include them in the photo with the following rules:
Sri Lanka issues driving licences for several vehicle categories. All licence types use the same smart card format with an embedded photo:
Photos may be taken at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) office during your application. However, bringing your own compliant photo is recommended as it saves time and allows you to ensure you are happy with the result. Our tool makes it easy to create a perfectly compliant 35×45 mm photo at home.
You don't need a professional studio. Follow these simple steps to take a compliant Sri Lanka driving licence photo at home using your smartphone.
Any modern smartphone camera (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, etc.) is more than capable of taking a licence-quality photo. Make sure the lens is clean and the camera is set to the highest resolution.
Place your phone on a tripod or ask someone to take the photo for you. Selfies tend to have the wrong angle and distortion.
Stand facing a window with natural daylight for the best even lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows. If using indoor lighting, use multiple light sources from different angles to eliminate shadows.
Wear your normal everyday clothing. Avoid uniforms and white tops that blend with the background. If you wear religious head coverings daily, you may keep them on as long as your full face is visible.
Make sure your hair does not cover your eyebrows, eyes, or cast shadows on your face.
Stand about 1.5 meters (5 feet) in front of the camera with your head facing directly forward. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head level — not tilted. Ensure your entire face from chin to forehead is visible, with your shoulders also in the frame.
Keep your face relaxed with a neutral expression. Both eyes must be open and your mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, or showing teeth is permitted for Sri Lanka driving licence photos.
Comparison of acceptable and unacceptable Sri Lanka driving licence photos
A Sri Lanka driving licence photo must be exactly 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm). The face should occupy 70–80% of the photo, with the chin-to-crown distance approximately 32–36 mm. There should be at least 3 mm of space from the top of the hair to the top edge of the photo.
Glasses are not recommended for Sri Lanka driving licence photos. If you wear glasses for driving, you may include them with clear lenses only — no sunglasses, tinted, or photochromic lenses. The lenses must not have glare or reflections that obscure your eyes. Removing glasses is strongly advised to avoid rejection.
Yes, photos may be taken at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) office during your application. However, bringing your own compliant photo is recommended to save time and ensure you are happy with the result. You can easily create one at home using our tool.
No. You must maintain a neutral facial expression with your mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, or showing teeth is permitted. Both eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera.
Yes! You can take your Sri Lanka driving licence photo with any smartphone. Simply upload it to PassportPhoto.help and our AI will automatically crop to the correct 35×45 mm size, remove the background, and ensure it meets all official requirements.
The background must be plain white, with no shadows, patterns, or objects visible. If you don't have a suitable background, our tool will automatically replace it with the correct white color.
Sri Lanka driving licences are typically valid for a period determined by the licence type and the applicant's age. Renewal requires an updated photo, so you may need a new compliant 35×45 mm photo each time you renew your licence.
Sri Lanka issues several licence classes: A (motorcycles), B (cars and light vehicles), C (heavy vehicles), and others for special purpose vehicles. All classes use the same smart card format with an embedded photo and require a compliant 35×45 mm photo with a white background.
