Requirements

• Photo size: exactly 35 mm wide by 45 mm high with square corners on high-quality photo paper
• Head size and position: head height between 32 mm and 36 mm measured from top of hair to bottom of chin with eyes 28 mm–35 mm from bottom edge
• Background: plain light grey or white background with no patterns, shadows or objects
• Facial expression: neutral expression with mouth closed, eyes open, looking directly into the camera
• Gaze and head orientation: head centred and level, not tilted, with full face visible and both edges of the face clear
• Glasses: if worn, frames must not cover eyes, lenses clear, no tint or glare, avoid reflections on lenses
• Head coverings: only allowed for religious or medical reasons, must not obscure any facial features from forehead to chin and both cheeks
• Lighting: even, shadow-free lighting on face and background with no red-eye or glare
• Image quality: sharp focus with high resolution (at least 600 dpi), no pixelation, blurring or noise
• Colour and print: natural skin tones in colour, printed on matte or glossy photo paper with no borders or marks
• Attire: everyday clothing only, no uniforms, camouflage, excessive jewellery or large accessories
• Recency and authenticity: photo taken within the last 6 months, unaltered and without digital retouching of features or background

Step-by-Step Process

• First step: confirm the exact photo dimensions are 35 mm wide by 45 mm high and set your camera or editing software to crop/output exactly to these measurements to avoid automatic rejections.
• Second step: position the subject’s face centrally with the chin 32–36 mm from the bottom edge and the top of the hair 6–8 mm from the top edge to comply with Queensland Transport head-size requirements.
• Third step: select a plain light grey or white background, ensure even, shadow-free lighting from both sides and no reflections to maintain clear contrast between the subject and background.
• Fourth step: instruct the subject to hold a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking straight ahead without tilting or turning the head to satisfy biometric capture standards.
• Fifth step: remove all hats, caps and headgear unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons—if allowed, supply official documentation—and ensure glasses have clear lenses with no glare or frames obscuring the eyes.
• Sixth step: print the photo on high-quality, non-glossy (matte) photo paper at a minimum of 600 DPI using a professional lab printer—avoid home inkjets or standard office printers that can produce colour shifts or sheen.
• Seventh step: under natural daylight, verify the final print’s dimensions and head measurements with a millimetre ruler, then produce three identical copies and submit them with your Queensland driver’s licence application.

Tips and Best Practices

• Background uniformity: Ensure a plain white or light grey background with no patterns, textures or shadows to provide clear contrast and avoid automatic rejection by ID-verification systems
• Head size and position: Frame your head so it occupies about 75% of the 35×45 mm (approx. 32–36 mm) height with ~3 mm space above the hairline to prevent cropping errors and ensure full facial visibility
• Even lighting: Use soft, diffused front lighting to eliminate shadows on your face and background, preserving true skin tone and preventing shading that can trigger retakes
• Neutral expression: Keep a natural, closed-mouth expression with eyes open and looking straight ahead to comply with biometric standards and reduce photo rejection risk
• No accessories: Remove hats, scarves, headphones and wear non-reflective glasses (if needed) to avoid obscuring facial features or glare that hinders facial-recognition accuracy

Conclusion

In summary, meeting Queensland’s 35 × 45 mm driver’s licence photo requirements ensures a smooth application without delays. By adhering to the precise size, head positioning, background, and image-quality standards, you protect your identity verification process and avoid costly rejections.

• Photo dimensions: exactly 35 × 45 mm with no borders
• Head size & position: 32–36 mm from chin to crown, centered vertically and horizontally
• Background: plain, light-coloured, uniform with no shadows or patterns
• Facial expression: neutral, eyes open and visible, mouth closed
• Glasses & headwear: no tinted lenses or frame shadows; religious headwear allowed if face remains fully visible
• Image quality: high resolution, sharp focus, natural skin tones, no red-eye or digital artefacts
• Recency: taken within the last six months to reflect current appearance
• File format (for digital uploads): JPEG or PNG, meeting Queensland Transport’s specified file size and resolution

Follow these guidelines precisely to guarantee your photo is accepted on the first submission.