India had over 20 crore valid driving licences in circulation as of 2024 (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Vahan data portal). Every new licence, renewal, and address-change application now goes through the Sarathi portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in), and every one of them requires a photo and signature upload. The file-size limits on Sarathi are tighter than most other government portals — 40 KB for the photo, 20 KB for the signature — and the portal rejects files automatically without a manual review. Here is every number you need before you open the upload screen.
Quick answer
- Photo: JPEG, under 40 KB, at least 200×230 px portrait, plain white / light background
- Signature: JPEG, under 20 KB, black or dark-blue ink on white paper
- Same spec for: Learner's Licence (LL), Driving Licence (DL), renewal, International Driving Permit (IDP)
What is the exact photo and signature size for the Sarathi portal?
Sarathi enforces stricter KB limits than most other government portals because every RTO (Regional Transport Office) that processes applications stores millions of images and the smaller footprint reduces system load. The portal validates file size, format, and minimum resolution automatically — a file 1 KB over the limit triggers an instant error.
| Requirement | Photo | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPEG / JPG | JPEG / JPG |
| Maximum file size | 40 KB | 20 KB |
| Minimum dimensions | 200×230 px (portrait) | 140×60 px (landscape) |
| Background | White or light-coloured, plain | White paper |
| Orientation | Portrait | Landscape |
| Colour | Colour photograph | Black or dark-blue ink |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open | — |
| Glasses | Remove if possible | — |
The driving licence photo resizer on easyPhoto handles both uploads: it compresses the photo to just under 40 KB (or 20 KB for the signature), converts to JPEG, and crops to the correct portrait proportions — all in your browser with nothing sent to a server.
Which Sarathi forms require a photo upload?
The Sarathi portal groups applications by licence stage. A photo and signature are required for any form that issues or updates a physical licence card.
| Application type | Photo required | Signature required |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's Licence (LL) — fresh | Yes | Yes |
| Driving Licence (DL) — fresh | Yes | Yes |
| DL renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Duplicate DL (lost / damaged) | Yes | Yes |
| Address change on DL | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle class addition (e.g. MCWOG → LMV) | Yes | Yes |
| International Driving Permit (IDP) | Yes | Yes |
| LL mock test / slot booking only | No | No |
Why do driving licence photos get rejected on Sarathi?
| Rejection reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| File over 40 KB (photo) or 20 KB (signature) | Use the DL resizer — it targets 1–2 KB under the cap |
| PNG, PDF, or HEIC format | Convert to JPEG before uploading |
| Coloured or patterned background | Shoot against white; or use background removal tool |
| Black-and-white photo | Portal requires colour even though DL prints are monochrome |
| Blurry or pixelated image | Minimum 200×230 px; retake in good daylight |
| Glasses with heavy frame or tinted lenses | Remove glasses — reflections are detected as face obstruction by some RTO systems |
| Signature on ruled / tinted paper | White unlined paper only — ruled lines cause rejection |
| Signature too light or faint | Use a dark pen; thin pencil signatures are rejected on scan |
How to prepare your Sarathi photo and signature in three steps
- Take the photo: Stand against a plain white or light wall in good natural light. Face the camera directly, neutral expression, no glasses. Use portrait orientation and make sure your face fills at least 60% of the frame.
- Take the signature: Sign your name on a blank white A4 sheet with a black or dark-blue ballpoint pen. Photograph it from directly above with even light — no shadows. Crop the signature tightly, leaving a small white margin on all sides.
- Resize and compress: Use the driving licence photo resizer to output the photo at under 40 KB and the signature at under 20 KB, both as JPEG. The tool runs entirely in your browser — no upload, no account.
If your background isn't clean enough, use the background removal tool to replace it with solid white before resizing. For the signature, the signature resize to 20 KB tool is preset to the Sarathi limit.
Also applying for a voter ID or PAN card? See the voter ID photo requirements guide and the PAN card photo size guide — the KB limits and pixel specs differ significantly across these portals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the photo size for a driving licence on the Sarathi portal?
The Sarathi portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in) requires a JPEG photo under 40 KB, with minimum dimensions of 200×230 px in portrait orientation. The background must be plain white or light-coloured, face centred, eyes open. The same spec applies for both Learner's Licence (LL) and Driving Licence (DL) applications.
What is the signature size for a driving licence on Sarathi?
For the Sarathi portal, the signature must be in JPEG format, under 20 KB, on a plain white background. Take a clear photo or scan of your signature on unlined white paper with a black or dark blue pen. Crop tightly so the signature fills the frame, then compress to under 20 KB using a free resizer.
Why is my photo being rejected on the Sarathi driving licence portal?
The most common reasons are: file over 40 KB (even 41 KB fails), wrong format (PNG/PDF instead of JPEG), a coloured or busy background, glasses or dark tint causing reflection, or a photo where the face isn't centred. Compress the file to 30–38 KB and ensure the background is plain white before re-uploading.
Do I need separate photos for LL and DL applications?
No — the photo and signature specifications are identical for a Learner's Licence (LL) and a full Driving Licence (DL). You can use the same JPEG file for both applications as long as it meets the spec: under 40 KB, portrait orientation, white background, clear frontal face.
Can I use an Aadhaar or PAN card photo for my driving licence?
Technically yes if it meets the Sarathi spec (JPEG, <40 KB, white background). However, the photo on your EPIC or Aadhaar is usually low-resolution when downloaded, and the background may not be plain white. It's safer to take a fresh photo specifically for the DL application to avoid rejection.