Common India driving licence 35x45 mm (1.4x1.75 inch) Photo Rejection Reasons in IN - Expert Tips
Applying for an Indian driving licence is exciting—but stumbling over a single photo requirement can bring your entire application to a grinding halt. The 35×45 mm (1.4×1.75 inch) licence photo may seem straightforward, but strict rules on dimensions, background colour, head positioning, lighting, sharpness and even eyeglass reflections trip up thousands of applicants every month. Submit a picture that’s too small, improperly cropped, shadowed, blurry or against the wrong backdrop, and your application will be sent back—delaying your licence for weeks. In the following sections, we’ll reveal the most common rejection reasons and show you exactly how to capture a flawless 35×45 mm driving licence photo that clears every checkpoint the first time.
Requirements
- Incorrect Size: photo dimensions not exactly 35×45 mm (±1 mm tolerance)
- Wrong Background: background not plain white or off-white without shadows or patterns
- Improper Head Size: distance from chin to crown outside 25–35 mm range (≈70–80% of frame)
- Off-Center Head: head not vertically and horizontally centered in the frame
- Shadow Artifacts: visible shadows on face or background indicating uneven lighting
- Blurry or Out of Focus: lack of sharpness from camera shake or poor lens focus
- Exposure Issues: overexposed (washed-out) or underexposed (too dark) lighting
- Reflections/Glare: glasses causing reflection or tinted lenses obscuring eyes
- Expression Errors: mouth open, teeth showing, eyebrows raised, or exaggerated smile
- Hair/Headgear Obscuring Face: hair or hats covering forehead, eyes, cheeks, or chin (religious headgear only if face is fully visible)
- Recent Photo Requirement: photo older than six months not accepted due to changed appearance
- Digital Alterations: evidence of editing, filters, spot-removal, or compositing
- Accessories Visible: headphones, wireless devices, or any visible accessories on head or face
- Colour Balance Off: unnatural skin tones or strong colour casts from incorrect white balance
Step-by-Step Process
Content about Common India driving licence 35x45 mm (1.4x1.75 inch) Photo Rejection Reasons in IN - process
Tips and Best Practices
- Incorrect Photo Dimensions: if your image isn’t precisely 35×45 mm or the head height isn’t within the required 70–80 % range it will be automatically rejected—always measure and crop using a template.
- Non-Uniform Background: backgrounds with shadows, patterns or color casts fail the white-background mandate—use a plain white backdrop and proper lighting to ensure consistency.
- Improper Head Positioning: tilting, off-centre framing or cutting off ears leads to non-compliance—keep your face centred, level and fully visible.
- Unnatural Facial Expression or Accessories: smiling broadly, frowning or wearing sunglasses/hats obscures facial features and violates neutrality rules—maintain a neutral expression and remove accessories.
- Shadows or Glare on Face: harsh side lighting or reflective glasses create shadows or hotspots that obscure features—use diffused frontal lighting and anti-glare lenses if needed.
Conclusion
Conclusion: Ensuring your 35×45 mm (1.4×1.75 inch) India driving licence photo meets official standards is crucial to avoid application delays and rejections. Below are the most common rejection reasons and what to watch for:
- Dimension mismatch: photo not precisely 35×45 mm or improper cropping
- Incorrect head size/position: head not centered or within the required frame proportions
- Background issues: non-uniform, colored, textured, or shadowed backgrounds instead of plain light/white
- Poor lighting and shadows: uneven illumination, harsh shadows on face or background
- Facial expression and posture: non-neutral expression, mouth open, tilted head or raised eyebrows
- Glasses, headwear and accessories: tinted/reflective glasses, hats or non-religious headgear obscuring features
- Image quality: blurry, pixelated, over-compressed or low-resolution digital files
- Print and colour errors: faded, over-saturated, under-exposed or visible printing artifacts
Final tip: Always double-check each specification before submission or use a certified photo service that guarantees compliance with India’s driving licence photo requirements.
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