Driving Licence Photo and Signature Size for Sarathi Parivahan
For a learner's or driving licence on Sarathi Parivahan, upload a recent colour photo as a JPG of 10KB to 20KB at 420x525 pixels (35x45mm), and a signature as a JPG of 10KB to 20KB at 256x64 pixels, signed in black pen on white paper. Files outside this range are not accepted.
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For a learner's or driving licence on Sarathi Parivahan, the photo must be a JPG between 10KB and 20KB at 420x525 pixels (35x45mm), and the signature a JPG between 10KB and 20KB at 256x64 pixels, signed in black pen on white paper. These figures come from Sarathi's own "Photo and Signature Scan & Upload Process" guidelines.
Sarathi photo and signature size
Sarathi publishes a two-page guideline for the photo and signature upload. It says your online application will not be registered unless both files meet the specification, and that an error message appears if the size or format is wrong.
| Document | Format | File size (KB) | Dimensions | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPG | 10 to 20 | 420 x 525 px preferred (35mm x 45mm, minimum 420 x 525) | Colour, taken within the last 6 months, light (preferably white) background, no cap, hat or dark glasses, eyes clearly visible |
| Signature | JPG | 10 to 20 | 256 x 64 px preferred | Signed by the applicant only, black pen on white paper |
| Thumb impression (applicants who cannot sign) | JPG | 10 to 20 | 256 x 64 px preferred | Uploaded in place of the signature: right thumb for women, left thumb for men |
Make both files at the exact Sarathi sizes with the driving licence photo and signature resizer: a 420x525 photo and a 256x64 signature, each a 10-20KB JPG.
Driving Licence Photo & Signature Resize
Same settings as the full tool page.
Runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device. Open the full Driving Licence Photo & Signature Resize page
Source: Sarathi Parivahan, "Photo and Signature Scan & Upload Process" (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, checked September 2026). The pixel sizes are marked "preferred"; the 10KB to 20KB range is the file size rule for both files.
Get the photo to 420x525 px with the photo resizer and the signature to a small, clean JPG with the signature resizer. Both run in your browser. Check that each final file lands between 10KB and 20KB before you upload.
Step by step: getting your files ready for Sarathi
- Take a recent colour photo (within 6 months) against a light, preferably white, background, looking straight at the camera, without a cap, hat or dark glasses.
- Sign on plain white paper with a black pen, in your usual signature.
- Photograph or scan both in good light. Sarathi suggests a scan or camera resolution of about 300 dpi.
- Crop the photo to a portrait 35x45 shape and the signature to a wide, short strip, with little empty paper around it.
- Resize the photo to 420x525 px and the signature to 256x64 px, and save both as JPG.
- Check the file sizes: each must be between 10KB and 20KB, so compress if it is bigger and use slightly higher quality if it is smaller than 10KB.
- On Sarathi, select your state, open your application through Application Status, and upload the photo and signature shown as pending.
Why the 10KB lower limit matters too
Most people worry only about the 20KB cap, but the guideline gives a range, not just a maximum. A signature strip of 256x64 pixels on a clean white background can easily compress to well under 10KB, which is below the allowed range. If that happens, save the JPG at a higher quality setting, or keep a little more of the signature's natural ink detail, rather than enlarging the image beyond the preferred size.
For the photo, 420x525 pixels is enough detail that a sensible JPG quality usually sits inside the range. If it comes out above 20KB, lower the quality a step at a time and check that your face still looks sharp.
Where to upload on Sarathi
Sarathi's learner licence FAQ explains the route: go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, select your state, choose Application Status, enter your application number, and click the photo and signature item shown as pending to upload both. After uploading, the guideline asks you to check the images and save them before moving to the next stage.
The guideline also says that if the face in the photo or the signature is unclear, the application may be rejected. You can re-upload an unclear photo or signature by consulting the approving authority, but only until the RTO's scrutiny is complete, so it is far easier to get it right the first time.
Other documents are uploaded separately
Your age proof, address proof and other documents go through a different "Upload Documents" step, not the photo and signature step. Sarathi's FAQ also explains that you can replace an uploaded document from the same Upload Documents option by choosing the document type again. Keep these scans clear and readable, and follow any size or format message the upload screen shows for them.
If you are also preparing other government uploads with small limits, the PAN card photo and signature size guide covers a similar set of rules for PAN applications, but do not assume the numbers are the same.
What to do if the upload keeps failing
- Check the size on both sides: anything above 20KB or below 10KB falls outside Sarathi's range.
- Check the format: the guideline asks for JPG. A PNG or HEIC file renamed to .jpg is still not a real JPG, so export it properly.
- Check the shape: a signature cropped as a tall, portrait image will look squashed at 256x64. Crop it as a wide strip first.
- Try another browser: Sarathi recommends a recent version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Opera.
Common mistakes
- Reusing an exam or passport photo file without resizing, which is usually far bigger than 20KB.
- Signing in blue ink: Sarathi's guideline says black pen.
- Compressing the signature so hard that it drops below 10KB or becomes blurry.
- Using a photo older than 6 months or one with a coloured, busy background.
- Waiting until after RTO scrutiny to notice an unclear photo, when re-uploading is no longer allowed.
Tools for this
Frequently asked questions
What is the photo size for a driving licence on Sarathi Parivahan?
Sarathi's photo and signature guideline asks for a recent colour JPG photo between 10KB and 20KB, with 420x525 pixels (35mm x 45mm) preferred. Use a light, preferably white, background and no cap or dark glasses.
What is the signature size for a driving licence application?
The signature must be a JPG between 10KB and 20KB, with 256x64 pixels preferred. Sign with a black pen on white paper, and only the applicant may sign.
Is the learner's licence photo size the same as for a driving licence?
Sarathi publishes one photo and signature guideline for its online applications, with the same 10KB to 20KB range for both files. Learner's licence and driving licence applications go through the same Sarathi portal, so use these sizes for both unless your state's screen shows a different message.
Can I use the same photo I used for my passport?
You can start from the same source photo if it is recent (within 6 months) and on a light background, but you will need to resize it to 420x525 pixels and bring the file between 10KB and 20KB as a JPG.
What if I cannot sign?
Sarathi's guideline says applicants who cannot sign upload a thumb impression in place of the signature: the right thumb for female applicants and the left thumb for male applicants, following the same file rules.
Can I change the photo after uploading?
Sarathi's guideline says an unclear photo or signature may be re-uploaded by consulting the approving authority, but only until the RTO's scrutiny process is complete. Check both images carefully before you save them.
Sources
- Sarathi Parivahan, Photo and Signature Scan & Upload Process (checked 2026-09)
- Sarathi Parivahan, FAQ (Learner Licence) (checked 2026-09)
- Sarathi Parivahan Sewa (checked 2026-09)
Rules and limits change. Always check the latest official notification or portal before you submit a form.