Malaysia Driving Licence

Last verified 2026-04-25 against Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) — Road Transport Department of MalaysiaStandards: JPJ driving licence photo specification (Lesen Memandu)

Government-spec dimensions, head positioning, and file constraints.

Pixel size
295 × 378 px
Print size
25 × 32 mm · 300 DPI
Background
white#FFFFFF
Face height
70–80% · target 75%
Eye line
50%60% from bottom
File size limit
25 mm · 295 px32 mm · 378 px
Face height: 70%–80% (target 75%)Eye line: 50%–60% (target 55%)

Dimensions

  • Print size: 25 × 32 mm (much smaller than the passport / visa photos — this is the key form-factor difference)
  • Aspect ratio: ~25 : 32 (≈ 0.781)
  • Pixel size used by this app: 295 × 378 px (25 × 32 mm at ~300 DPI)
  • File format: JPEG / printed photo paper
  • Finish: matte or glossy photo paper, no creases

Head position

  • Head height (chin to crown): ~23 mm
  • Top margin (top of photo to top of hair): ~2 mm
  • Face coverage: ~70–80% of photo height
  • Head position: full-face view, directly facing camera

Background

  • Color: white (#FFFFFF)
  • Plain, evenly lit, no shadows, no patterns

Expression

  • Neutral expression; mouth closed
  • Both eyes clearly visible and open
  • Even lighting; no shadows on face or background

Accessories

  • Tinted (sun)glasses: not permitted
  • Prescription glasses: allowed only if eyes are clearly visible (no glare, no heavy frames obscuring eyes)
  • Head coverings: not allowed except for religious purposes, in which case face must be fully visible
  • Hats: not permitted

Other rules

  • Photo must have been taken within the last 6 months
  • No digital alterations or filters
  • Alternative: the photo from the applicant's MyKad may be reused, or a photo may be taken at the JPJ counter at the time of application — many renewals do not require the applicant to bring their own photo
  • Photo must contain only the applicant

Notes

  • The 25 × 32 mm size is unusually small compared to most Malaysian ID photos (which are 35 × 50 mm). This means a passport-sized photo cannot be reused directly; the head has to be re-cropped and re-targeted.
  • Pixel mapping (295 × 378 px) corresponds to ~300 DPI, which is sufficient for the small print size; JPJ does not publish an explicit DPI minimum.
  • For most renewals at the counter, the JPJ photographer captures the photo on-site, so this spec applies primarily to applicants supplying their own photo (e.g., for L licence applications or remote submissions).

Sources

Can I wear glasses in my JPJ driving licence photo?

Tinted (sun)glasses are not permitted. Prescription glasses are allowed only if your eyes are clearly visible — no glare, and no heavy frames obscuring the eyes.

Can I wear a head covering for the licence photo?

Head coverings are not allowed except for religious purposes, in which case your face must be fully visible. Hats are not permitted.

Can I smile in a Malaysian driving licence photo?

No. JPJ requires a neutral expression with your mouth closed, both eyes clearly visible and open, and even lighting without shadows.

How recent does the licence photo need to be?

The photo must have been taken within the last six months. For many renewals JPJ takes the photo at the counter and existing MyKad photos may be reused — bringing your own photo applies mainly to L-licence applications or remote submissions.

What size and format does the JPJ licence photo use?

The print size is **25 × 32 mm** — much smaller than the 35 × 50 mm passport photo, so a passport photo cannot be reused. Pixel target is 295 × 378 px (~300 DPI) on a pure white background; photo paper or JPEG.

Credit card · 85.6 × 54 mmPrint · 25 x 32 mm
Visual proportions, not actual size — depends on viewport DPI.
03 — Compliance engine

Live validation
against the actual rulebook.

Every crop is measured against the published tolerance ranges for the selected document. Pass or warn, in real time — no "submit and hope."

VALIDATOR · MY_DRIVING_LICENCEALL CHECKS PASS
Dimensions
295 × 378 px
exact
295×378
Face height
70% – 80%
target 75%
75%
Eye line
50% – 60%
target 55%
55%
Background
white
ΔE < 3
#FFFFFF
File size
JPEG q=92
182 KB
Sharpness
no motion blur
Laplacian var
1,284

The same checks the authority will run — before you submit.

  • Face height & eye line measured from the pupil midpoint with sub-pixel accuracy, clamped to the tolerance range your authority publishes.
  • Background colour checked across a sampled grid — catches gradients and fringe from poor segmentation (ΔE < 3 against spec).
  • File-size ceiling enforced per-spec — recompressed silently for sub-60 KB e-visa portals, lossless for print.
  • Sharpness & expression guards warn on blur, closed eyes, or non-neutral expressions before you export.

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