Vanuatu Driving Licence Photo: Exact Size & Requirements for First-Try Acceptance

When you apply for a Vanuatu driving licence, the photo you supply must meet a precise set of requirements that align with the national passport standard adopted by Vanuatu's municipal and provincial licensing authorities. Getting it right the first time matters: offices in Port Vila and Luganville process applications in person, and a non-compliant photo means a return trip. This guide sets out every requirement so your submission is accepted without delay.

One detail that catches many applicants off guard: unlike centralised licensing systems in some countries, Vanuatu driving licences are issued at the local authority level — Port Vila City Council for the capital and the Luganville Municipal Council for Espiritu Santo, as well as various provincial offices. Because these offices accept self-supplied photos (live on-site capture is not a standard requirement), the quality and compliance of the photo you bring is entirely in your hands. The specification mirrors the Vanuatu national passport standard: a 35×45 mm print with a plain white background, making any coloured, patterned, or off-white background an immediate disqualifier.

• Size: 35 × 45 mm (digital equivalent: 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi)
• Background: plain white (#FFFFFF) — no gradients, shadows, or patterns
• Face coverage: your face must fill 71–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open and clearly visible
• Glasses: permitted only if your eyes are fully visible with no tinted lenses and no glare on the lenses
• Headwear: not permitted except for confirmed religious reasons; hair must not obscure the face
• Recency: photo must have been taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Focus and lighting: sharp focus across the face, even lighting with no harsh shadows on face or background

• Common reasons photos are rejected at Vanuatu licensing offices:
• Off-white or cream background: the requirement is pure white (#FFFFFF); many home or studio photos are taken against warm-toned or off-white walls that fail the standard
• Face too small in the frame: a common error when using a standard smartphone selfie — the face occupies less than the required 71% of frame height
• Tinted or reflective glasses: even lightly tinted prescription lenses are not acceptable; glare from a camera flash on clear lenses is also grounds for rejection
• Photo older than 6 months: officials at provincial offices are instructed to check that the photo reflects your current appearance — an outdated image risks rejection even if it is otherwise technically correct

To get a photo that meets every point above, upload your own picture — taken against a light background, with good even lighting and a neutral expression. The service automatically crops and resizes it to the exact 35×45 mm (827×1063 px) standard, corrects the background to pure white, and checks face coverage. Before you pay anything, you receive a free watermarked preview so you can confirm it looks right. If you submit the photo and the licensing office rejects it for any technical reason, the photo is redone at no charge — or you receive a full refund. You pay only for the final compliant file, and only when you are satisfied with what you see.