Guatemala Driving Licence Photo: Exact DSV-PNC Standard, Done Right
Learn precisely how a compliant Guatemalan driving licence photo must look under the DSV-PNC standard, and why this document requires a live on-site capture.
This photo must be taken by an accredited service
For this document, Guatemala does not accept a self-prepared photo. By law it must be captured on site by an authorised service and submitted electronically, so we cannot produce a submittable file for it. The official specification is shown below so you know exactly what to expect at your appointment.
This photo is captured on site — but we can make your Guatemala photos online:
A document photo is a headache of its own
A Guatemala Driving licence photo has strict requirements, and a mistake costs time and money. We’ll show you how to pass on the first try.
It gets rejected
Wrong size, background or cropping — and the system returns the application.
Expensive and slow
A trip to a photo studio means a queue, time and €7–12 for a reshoot.
Confusing requirements
Exact size, head height, light background, facial expression — easy to get wrong.
Redo it all over
Rejected — take another photo, pay and submit again. Round and round.
«Below are the exact requirements from the official source, so you arrive at your appointment prepared.»
Ordinary photo → ready for submission
We remove the background and clutter, set the framing and lighting — keeping your face without «beautifying».
Your face stays yours — we do not change features, only the background, lighting and framing.
Your Driving licence photo: what matters
A Guatemalan driving licence (licencia de conducir) photo must follow the national white-background portrait standard enforced by the Departamento de Tránsito of the Policía Nacional Civil (DSV-PNC). The outcome you want is a clean, correctly framed head-and-shoulders portrait that matches the official template exactly — the right size, the right background, and the right face proportions every time.
The key peculiarity of this document sets it apart from passports or visas: the portrait is captured live at the licensing office during your application or driving exam. You do not submit a self-supplied photo. Staff photograph you on-site with a digital camera against a white backdrop, and that image is printed directly onto the licence. This is why arriving well-prepared matters — you cannot retake it later at home, and the appearance rules are applied on the spot.
The exact specification the DSV-PNC standard mirrors is:
- Size: 26x32 mm (614x756 px)
- Background: plain white (#FFFFFF), evenly lit, no shadows
- Face size: the head fills 70-80% of the frame height
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera
- Glasses: allowed only if eyes are fully visible — no glare or tint; everyday prescription glasses are generally tolerated
- Headwear: not permitted (no hats, caps, or hoods)
- Recency: the image must reflect your current appearance (taken within the last 6 months)
- Common reasons photos are rejected in Guatemala:
- Tinted or reflective lenses hiding the eyes — transition lenses that darken under office lighting are a frequent problem
- A grey or off-white background instead of pure white, or shadows cast behind the head
- The face too small or too large in frame, breaking the 70-80% rule
- Smiling, an open mouth, or hair covering the eyes or eyebrows
You can use our tool to automatically crop your own picture to the exact 26x32 mm DSV-PNC standard, producing a perfectly compliant reference image. Please note honestly: because the Guatemalan driving licence requires a live digital capture at the office, a downloaded or self-made photo is not accepted for the actual licence. Use the prepared image to see exactly how a compliant portrait should look, to choose the right clothing and glasses before your appointment, or for any other personal purpose — then walk into the DSV-PNC office knowing precisely what to expect.
What an accepted Driving licence photo looks like
Guatemala · 26 × 32 mm. Tap any requirement to see what it means on a real photo.
- Size
- 26 × 32 mm · 614 × 756 px
- Background
- White plain
- Head in frame
- 70–80%
- Glasses
- Allowed
- Facial expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Headwear
- Not allowed
- File
- JPG · ≤ 240 KB
Print size is 26 × 32 mm and the digital file is 614 × 756 px.
Official requirements source: igm.gob.gt
Requirements verified: 08.2026
How to take a good photo
The most common reasons a Guatemala Driving licence photo gets rejected — and how to avoid them. Compare good and bad shots.
1Format and freshness
A color photo taken no more than 6 months ago.
2Lighting and background
Even light with no shadows on the face; a plain light background, without glare.
3Head position
Face head-on, head centered, no tilt or turn.
4Facial expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera.
5Glasses and accessories
No glasses (especially sunglasses); eyes fully visible, without glare.
6Headwear
Only for religious reasons and not covering the face — the face fully visible.
7Clothing
Ordinary everyday clothes; no uniforms or face-covering clothing.
Common questions about Guatemala Driving licence photos
What is the official size of a Guatemala driving licence photo?
Can I submit my own photo for a Guatemalan driving licence?
Why is the photo taken at the office instead of submitted?
Are glasses allowed in the Guatemala driving licence photo?
What background color is required?
How can your tool help if the photo is taken on-site?
Your photo is protected
A photo is personal data, so we handle it carefully and in line with GDPR. We process it only to prepare the document and delete it within clear deadlines.
- Only with consentWe process the photo only after your explicit consent before upload.
- Auto-deletionWe delete the source photo within a day, the ready file after 7 days.
- No sharing with third partiesYour photos are not sold or used to train any third-party systems.
- Deletion on requestYou can ask to delete your data at any time — with a single request.