Driving licence photo and signature size — Sarathi / Parivahan spec
Spec pending verification against the official source — confirm on the official portal before you submit.
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A Sarathi or Parivahan driving licence application needs two separate uploads — a passport-style photo and a signature — each with its own file size limit. The signature has the stricter limit and is the one most people get rejected on.
Two uploads, two specs
| Upload | Typical spec | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Passport-style, plain white background | Similar rules to a passport photo |
| Signature | Small file, hard 20 KB cap on many state portals | Sign in black ink on plain white paper |
Use the tabs above to switch between the photo tool and the signature tool — both run in your browser, and both are needed for the same application.
Last verified: UNVERIFIED — confirm against your specific state's current Sarathi/Parivahan photo and signature upload requirements, as some details vary by state RTO.
Why the signature fails more often
The 20 KB cap is unusually strict — smaller than almost any other signature upload on an Indian government portal. A signature photographed at normal camera resolution is easily 500 KB to 2 MB before compression, so getting under 20 KB without losing legibility needs proper compression, not just a lower-quality camera shot.
How to get a legible signature under 20 KB:
- Sign clearly in black ink on plain white paper — no ruled lines visible.
- Photograph or scan it in good, even light with no shadow across the ink.
- Crop tightly to the signature itself before compressing — a smaller crop area compresses to a lower file size at the same visual quality.
How to make both
- Use the Photo tab above for the passport-style photo — plain white background, neutral expression.
- Switch to the Signature tab for the signature upload — sign on white paper, photograph it, and let the tool crop, deskew and compress it under the KB limit.
- Download both files and upload them to your state's Sarathi or Parivahan application separately.
FAQ
Does every state have the same photo and signature spec? The general approach — passport-style photo, small signature file — is consistent, but exact KB limits and pixel dimensions can vary by state RTO. Confirm on your specific state's portal.
Can I use my passport photo for the driving licence photo field? Often close enough in style, but re-check the background and crop against the current Sarathi upload requirements rather than assuming a direct match.
Why is the signature limit so much stricter than the photo's? Signature fields are typically stored and displayed at a small size across the licence and related records, so portals cap the file size aggressively — legibility at a small size matters more than resolution.
Related: Passport photo hub · Aadhaar photo size · Signature rejected — how to fix it
PhotoFix is an independent private utility. We are not affiliated with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Sarathi, Parivahan or any state RTO. Requirements change — always confirm on the official portal before you submit.