Independent guide to official photo rules

Not affiliated with the Australian Passport Office or any other government agency

Driver Licence Photos in Australia, State by State

Australian licence photos are taken at the counter, not supplied. Here is where each state takes them, how often you need a new one, and the rules for photo kits.

Based on official sources · last checked

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Quick answer

Can I supply my own photo for an Australian driver licence?

Usually not. Every state and territory licensing agency takes your licence photo when you apply or renew in person, about every 10 years, with glasses removed in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA and the ACT. Printed photos are used only for photo kits, such as Queensland's two 35 × 45 mm photos for interstate or overseas renewals.

In every Australian state and territory, your driver licence photo is taken by the licensing agency when you apply or renew in person. You cannot upload a selfie or hand over a passport photo. You only supply your own printed photo if you renew through a photo kit or a remote application, usually because you are temporarily interstate or overseas.

Where each state takes your licence photo

StatePhoto taken atHow oftenOnline renewal
NSWService NSW centrePhoto must be taken within 10.5 years of the new licence's expiry to renew onlineUses the photo already stored by Transport for NSW
VictoriaVicRoads customer service centre or a Photo Point (some Australia Post outlets and councils)Your renewal notice says if a new photo is neededPay online, then have the photo taken within 3 months
QueenslandTransport and Main Roads (TMR) customer service centreLicence photos are valid for 10 yearsNot available if you need a new photo
Western AustraliaTransport centre, regional agent or Australia Post PhotoPointNew photo and signature every 10 yearsPay in person if a new photo is due
South AustraliaService SA customer service centreLicence photos are valid for 10 years (one 12-month extension allowed)Renew in person when a new photo is due; no extra fee for the photo
TasmaniaService Tasmania centreTaken when Service Tasmania asks for a new oneOnline or BPAY renewal keeps your existing photo
ACTAccess Canberra service centreA 10-year renewal needs a photo taken within the last 12 monthsOnline renewal of up to 5 years uses your latest photo
Northern TerritoryMotor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office or a participating Australia Post outletStored photo used for up to 10 yearsOnly if no new photo is needed

Licence photo rules at the counter

The staff member taking your photo will position you, but these rules, published by NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA and the ACT, apply almost everywhere:

Do

  • Face the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed
  • Keep religious, cultural or medical head coverings if you wear them, with your face visible from chin to forehead
  • Keep hearing aids in (ACT)

Don't

  • Wear glasses or sunglasses, even if you need glasses to drive
  • Wear hats, caps or novelty wigs
  • Wear headphones or anything that covers your face

Glasses come off, the condition stays

NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA and the ACT all ask you to remove your glasses for the photo, even if you must wear them to drive. Removing them for the photo does not change the eyesight condition printed on your licence.

Correct photo example
Correct
Rejected photo example: wearing glasses
Wearing glasses
Rejected photo example: open-mouth smile
Open-mouth smile
Rejected photo example: hair covering eyes
Hair covering eyes

How to get your licence photo taken

  1. Check whether a new photo is due. Queensland, WA, SA and the NT work on a 10-year photo cycle. In Victoria, your renewal notice says if a new photo is needed.
  2. Go to a service centre. Your licensing agency takes the photo, for example at a Service NSW centre, a VicRoads customer service centre or Photo Point, or a TMR customer service centre in Queensland.
  3. Remove glasses and hats. Take off glasses, sunglasses, hats, caps and headphones, even if you need glasses to drive. Religious, cultural or medical head coverings can stay on.
  4. Keep a neutral expression. Face the camera with your mouth closed while the staff member positions you.
  5. Away from home? Use a photo kit. If you are temporarily interstate or overseas, some states accept printed photos signed by a witness, such as Queensland's two 35 × 45 mm colour photos.

Photo kits for interstate and overseas renewals

If you cannot get to a service centre, some states let you post in your own printed photos, signed on the back by a witness:

  • Queensland: two identical colour photos, 35 mm wide by 45 mm long, no more than 6 months old, with glasses removed. A witness writes on the back: "I certify this is a true photograph of [name] in my presence."
  • Western Australia (form E13): two colour photos, 45 × 35 mm, on matte paper with a plain white background, from chin to crown, neutral expression with mouth closed and no face veil. A witness signs the back. The kit is for people temporarily interstate or overseas, with medical reasons, or living in remote WA.
  • Tasmania: a passport-quality 45 × 35 mm photo on a white background, with religious headwear only and no veils, for out-of-state renewals.
  • NSW and Victoria: photo kits are only for people who are temporarily interstate or overseas, and the kit you are sent explains what photos to include. In NSW, if your last renewal used a photo kit, you cannot renew online next time.

Making a photo-kit photo for one of the three biggest states? Each button opens the photo maker preset to that state's licence:

Make NSW licence photo Make Victoria licence photo Make Queensland licence photo

Glasses on photo kits

WA's E13 kit only says that glasses frames or tinted lenses must not cover your eyes, and Tasmania's form bans dark glasses, which is looser than the counter rule. Taking your glasses off is the safest choice for any licence photo.

Digital licences use the same photo

Digital licences show the photo the licensing agency already holds, so you never upload a photo to them. NSW (Service NSW app), Victoria (Service Victoria or myVicRoads app), Queensland (Digital Licence app) and South Australia (mySAGOV) offer digital licences. Victoria advises carrying your plastic card when driving interstate. WA expects its digital licence by the end of 2027, the NT's is in development, the ACT is assessing one and Tasmania does not offer one.

Driver licence photo FAQ

Usually not. Every state and territory takes your licence photo itself, at a service centre or an approved photo point. A printed photo is only accepted through a photo kit or remote application, for example when you renew while temporarily interstate or overseas.

Yes in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA and the ACT, even if you need glasses to drive. Your licence still carries the condition that you must wear them while driving.

In most states about every 10 years. Queensland, WA, SA and the NT all work on a 10-year photo cycle, and NSW lets you renew online only if your photo was taken within 10.5 years of the new licence expiry date.

No. The states that publish photo rules ask for a neutral expression with your mouth closed.

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Official sources

Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.