If you decide to use another image for your new document but don’t have a biometric residence permit and aren’t a resident of an EEA country, you’ll need to have your photo signed. You can print it and ask another citizen of the United Kingdom with enough authority to sign the back of your printout and thus verify it and your identity.
This signature certifies that he or she has known you at least for two years and ensures that it is really you shown in that photo. Sadly, you can’t just ask your friend to do it. Here’s the list of people who can sign the photo for your UK driving licence:
The person who signs your photo must fill in section 8 of your DL1 application form.
You can change your picture when you:
Whatever the reason, any citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should be able to update their photo online via the DVLA website or a postal services office (provided that they’ve passed the driving test, of course).
Should you choose the former option the total price will amount to £14, while renewal via a post branch will cost you at least £17. The first option will be most efficient for you: by taking your shot at home, you’ll save money and time.
The first way is to do it online right at the government licensing agency’s website. Once you’re there, go through the list of online submission rules (e.g. you must have a valid UK passport and your National insurance number, be a resident, etc.). When you’ve looked through all the important information and made sure you meet the UK driving licence photo requirements, you need to send your new headshot in. All in all, the website’s instructions are pretty clear, so you shouldn’t have any trouble there.
This same page also has information on the other, more traditional way. Basically, you just need to fill out the submission form, attach your printed photo, a copy of your current driving permit and a cheque for £17 to it and head to the nearest post office to have it sent.
No matter what option you choose, PhotoBooth Online can help you with either one. You can use practically any photograph to make it into a compliant headshot (just make sure it’s taken within the last month, it’s one of those requirements each photo must follow).
The total cost can be broken down into two. First, there’s the processing fee. Offline application renewal via a postal service costs £17, but the online application for a driving permit is a little cheaper (£14). Here, you can’t possibly reduce the price (although it’s still worth it: once you get the document it can be used as a European driving licence as well!).
However, when it comes to taking a headshot for your document, there’s this money-saving trick: you don’t have to take your photo in a store, studio or a special machine, just make it online! The available options are numerous, although some are paid and others are non-compliant (and still others are both). By contrast, PhotoBooth Online will make you a biometric photo in seconds!
Whether you need to renew your UK driving licence online or offline (or get a new one), this option is very much worth considering. If you use our website to get a printable image, you won’t have to pay anything. However, please mind the above-mentioned fee for the update procedure.
No matter what part of England you live in, there should always be several places where you can get a photo:
Here’s how to take a picture at home with a digital camera or mobile device:
If you’ve taken a bad-quality headshot (with a red-eye effect, for instance), just retake it. Don’t use retouch or any selfie editing apps, or photo editing computer software like PhotoShop.
They are quite straightforward and easy to follow. In fact, the government provides us with pretty much the same rules as for the other types of official document pictures. Here’s the information helpful for those who have just finished their driving lessons and want to take their headshot:
Following these not-so-strict requirements, you shouldn’t have any trouble submitting your photocard driving licence application form.