Latvia Driving Licence Photo: Official CSDD Requirements and How to Prepare

The Latvia driving licence photo must conform to the 35×45 mm ICAO portrait standard — the same biometric baseline applied across the European Union. Driver licences in Latvia are issued exclusively by CSDD (Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcija — the Road Traffic Safety Directorate), the authority responsible for all licensing, testing, and renewal procedures in the country.

One important fact distinguishes the Latvia driving licence from other Latvian identity documents. Passports and national ID cards are administered by PMLP (the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs), where applicants can supply a compliant photograph from an approved studio. The driving licence process works differently: CSDD captures the applicant's photo digitally on-site at the customer-service centre during the appointment, using calibrated equipment operated by CSDD staff. This live-capture procedure is standard practice across all CSDD branches in Latvia. A photograph prepared at home or printed at a studio is therefore not typically submitted as part of the driving licence application — the image is taken directly by CSDD on the day of your visit.

• Photo dimensions: 35×45 mm (827×1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background colour: plain light grey — approximately #F5F5F5
• Face height: 70–80% of the total frame height
• Facial expression: neutral, mouth fully closed, eyes open and directed straight at the camera
• Glasses: permitted only when the eyes are entirely visible; tinted lenses, darkened lenses, and reflective glare are not allowed
• Headwear: not permitted, except for verified religious reasons, provided the full face remains clearly visible
• Recency: must reflect current appearance — taken within the past 6 months

Common reasons driving licence photos are rejected in Latvia

• Glasses with tinted or darkened lenses, or with glare that partially obscures the eyes
• A non-neutral facial expression — raised eyebrows, a visible smile, or an open mouth
• Head tilted, rotated, or off-centre (the ICAO standard requires a strictly frontal, upright pose)
• Shadows on the face or background caused by uneven lighting during the capture session

Since CSDD photographs applicants directly at the service centre, the most practical reason to prepare a reference image beforehand is to know precisely how you should present yourself on the day: correct posture, clothing that contrasts clearly against a light background, no eyewear with reflective lenses, and a composed neutral expression. Our tool automatically formats your photo to the official specification — 35×45 mm, 827×1063 px — so you can review a correctly cropped, compliant portrait before your CSDD appointment. We do not promise that a downloaded image can replace the on-site capture, because for this document the photograph is taken by CSDD staff. What we offer is an expert reference: a precisely formatted image that takes the guesswork out of preparation and lets you walk into your appointment with full confidence.