The Russian driver licence photo specification
Set by GIBDD (the traffic police regulator) and Order #80 of 20 February 2021, the photo for a Russian national driver licence (NVU or "natsionalnoe voditelskoe udostoverenie") must be:
- Size: 30 × 40 mm (commonly written 3 × 4 cm)
- Background: plain matte white, no shadows
- Face area: 70 to 80 percent of frame height
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
- Head position: straight to camera, no tilt
- Glasses: allowed if worn daily, no tinted lenses, frames should not obscure the eyes
- Headwear: not allowed except for documented religious reasons
- Print finish: matte mandatory
- Quantity: 1 print for the file, but most GIBDD desks ask for 1 to 2 spares
- Recency: within the last 6 months
The driver licence photo is the only Russian document where 30 × 40 (not 35 × 45) is the standard. Bringing a 35 × 45 photo from your residency application file does not work,the traffic police want the smaller format.
Two paths to a Russian licence for foreigners
Path 1: Exchange your foreign licence
If you hold a licence from a country with a bilateral agreement (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and several others), you can exchange directly without theory exams in many cases. Driver licence categories above B (truck, bus, motorcycle) may still require a category-specific exam. Photo requirement is identical to the new licence path.
Path 2: Fresh Russian licence with theory and practical tests
If your country has no exchange agreement (UK, most EU, USA, many Asian and Latin American countries), you take Russian theory and practical exams at any registered driving school in Moscow. Then GIBDD issues a Russian licence. Photo requirement is the same 30 × 40 mm.
Either path: bring the photo to your GIBDD appointment.
How we prepare your driver licence photo
Session is 15 to 25 minutes in studio or 30 to 45 minutes in-home. The Russian driver licence photo has tighter face-area rules than passport photos in many countries, so we shoot specifically for this format rather than cropping a generic ID photo down. You leave with:
- 4 matte 30 × 40 mm prints (1 for the application packet, 2 spares for GIBDD desk, 1 archive)
- One JPEG digital file in case future re-print is needed
If the GIBDD desk rejects the photo for any reason, we re-shoot at no charge for 60 days.
Pricing
Studio session, prints plus digital: from 1 500 ₽ (about 18 USD or 16 EUR).
In-home or in-hotel: from 3 500 ₽ (about 42 USD or 38 EUR).
Same-day urgent: add 500 ₽.
Combined pack with Russian residency photo (4× 35 × 45 + 4× 30 × 40): from 2 500 ₽ (about 30 USD or 27 EUR). Most applicants who get a Russian licence are also applying for or renewing residency.
Try our free online photo tool first
Our free in-browser photo tool includes a preset for the 30 × 40 driver licence format. Upload a recent selfie, the tool crops, removes background, replaces with white and exports a JPEG. Print on matte paper at any Moscow photo lab.
FAQ
Can I use my IDP (International Driving Permit) photo for the Russian licence?
No. IDP photos are usually 4.5 × 6 cm, glossy and printed by the original issuing country. Russian standard is 3 × 4 cm matte.
I exchange my UK licence under the agreement. Do I still need a fresh photo?
Yes. GIBDD issues the Russian licence on Russian-format photo. Your UK photo stays on the UK licence.
What if I lose the Russian licence and need a replacement?
Same photo format applies. GIBDD expects a recent photo for the replacement file.
Do children under 18 need a Russian driver photo?
Only category M (moped) is available under 18, and yes the same 30 × 40 photo applies.
Can I use the Russian driver licence photo for other Russian documents?
No. The Russian driver licence is the only document at this size. Residency, citizenship, RVP, VNZH and most other Russian documents use 35 × 45.
What if I need an urgent replacement licence the same week?
We offer same-day studio sessions with 1-hour print turnaround. Photo ready by lunchtime for an afternoon GIBDD appointment.
Related services
If you are applying for a Russian licence as part of broader expat residency, see Russian residency photos guide. For other expat document photos including bank account opening, see document photos for foreigners in Moscow.
Book a session
Message +7 927 624-99-67 on Telegram or use the chat at the bottom of the page. Mention "Russian driver licence" and your GIBDD appointment date.
Frequently asked questions
What photo size do you need for a Russian driver licence in 2026?
A Russian driver licence needs a 30 × 40 mm photo, also written as 3 × 4 cm, on a plain matte white background. The face takes 70 to 80 percent of the frame height, with a neutral expression, mouth closed and eyes open. A session with prints plus a digital file costs from 1 500 ₽, and same-day urgent service adds 500 ₽.
Can a foreigner get a Russian driver licence without speaking Russian?
The photo is no problem: our team works in English. For the licence itself there are two routes. If your licence is from a country with a bilateral agreement, you can often exchange it without theory exams. Otherwise you take the Russian theory and practical exams through a registered driving school in Moscow, so ask the school which languages the exam is available in.
Should I keep my glasses or contact lenses on for the licence photo?
Glasses are allowed if you wear them daily, with no tinted lenses and frames that do not cover the eyes. Clear corrective contact lenses can stay in, coloured lenses should come out. During the session we check the glasses for reflections and reshoot the frame if the lenses catch the light.
How long do the session and printing take?
The session takes 15 to 25 minutes, or 30 to 45 minutes at your home. With same-day urgent service the prints are ready within 1 hour, in time for an afternoon GIBDD appointment.
What do I get from the session?
You get 4 matte 30 × 40 mm prints: 1 for the application packet, 2 spares for the GIBDD desk and 1 for your records, plus a JPEG digital file in case you need to reprint later. If the GIBDD desk rejects the photo for any reason, we reshoot at no charge for 60 days. A combined pack with Russian residency photos costs from 2 500 ₽.
Will GIBDD accept a photo from an ordinary photo booth?
Not always. The most common rejection reason at GIBDD in Moscow is the wrong background colour: many photo booths in shopping malls use a light grey or off-white backdrop, while the requirement is matte white. The second common problem is head position, with the head too small or too close to the top edge. We use a calibrated matte white backdrop and check the head position on a test shot before the final frame.
How do I book a driver licence photo session?
Message us on Telegram or in the chat on this page and mention "Russian driver licence" and your GIBDD appointment date. We answer in English within 5 to 15 minutes during Moscow business hours.
Common mistakes when applying for Russian driver licence photo
The most common rejection reason at GIBDD in Moscow is the wrong background colour. Many photo booths in shopping malls use a generic light grey or off-white backdrop. The Russian driver licence requirement is matte white, not glossy and not coloured. If your photo has any tint visible, the inspector will return it and ask you to redo at the licensed studio. We always use a calibrated matte white backdrop checked against the official specification sheet.
The second common issue is head positioning. Russian regulations require the head to occupy 70-80 percent of the vertical frame, with both ears visible and a small gap above the hair. Self-shot photos almost never get this right. Photos taken at home with a phone tend to have the head either too small or too close to the top edge. Our team measures the head position on the test shot and adjusts before final capture.
Related articles (in Russian)
- Driver licence photos: size, background, GIBDD requirements 2026
- Driver licence photos 2026: new MVD requirements
- Check your driver licence and IDP photo online (free)
- Document photos wearing a kippah 2026: passport, driver licence, visa, online
- Photos for VNZH, RVP and Russian citizenship 2026: GUVM requirements and where to get them