SPSV driver licence photo maker (Ireland)
An SPSV driver licence application needs three identical passport-style photographs, each measuring approximately 10 cm by 7 cm, showing your head and shoulders and otherwise meeting passport photo standards. That is larger than a normal passport photo, so frame it here at 10 × 7 cm and print three copies.
- Free, no watermark
- Photo stays on your device
- No retouching
- Rules checked 12 November 2026
SPSV driver licence photo requirements
| Number of photos | Three identical photographs |
|---|---|
| Size | Approximately 10 cm by 7 cm each |
| Framing | Head and shoulders |
| Other rules | Must comply with the standards for passport photographs |
| Where they go | With form PSV 15 to your local Garda station (Dublin: the Carriage Office) |
| Renewals | The same three photographs, with form PSV 18 |
| Where the photo appears | On your driver display card and driver smart card |
| Licence covers | Taxi, hackney and limousine |
Checked against the official source on 12 November 2026. Source: National Transport Authority: Applying for an SPSV driver licence · National Transport Authority: The Official Manual for Operating in the SPSV Industry, edition 8.1 (PDF). Rules change without notice, so read the official page before you submit.
What the photo must show
- Your head and shoulders, not only your face.
- In every other respect, a photo that meets the standards for passport photographs.
- All three prints identical, from the same photo.
- Printed at about 10 cm by 7 cm, not the 45 × 35 mm passport size.
Why the size is unusual
Irish and UK passport photos are 45 × 35 mm. The National Transport Authority (NTA) asks for SPSV driver licence photos of approximately 10 cm by 7 cm, so a standard photo booth strip will be the wrong size. The tool on this page uses a portrait 7 cm wide by 10 cm high frame, showing your head and shoulders, ready to print.
How the application works
An Garda Síochána is the SPSV driver licensing authority, and the NTA runs the SPSV Driver Entry Test and issues the driver cards. After you pass the test, complete the free online Safeguarding and Disability Awareness course and pay the €250 licence fee to the NTA, you take form PSV 15 and your documents to your local Garda station, or the Carriage Office if you live in Dublin. The checklist includes the fee receipt, proof of tax clearance, your driving licence and NDLS driver history, your test certificate and the three photographs.
Renewing
Renewals use form PSV 18 at your Garda station and need the same three photographs of about 10 cm by 7 cm. You can renew up to three months before your licence expires.
Common problems with SPSV licence photos
- Bringing 45 × 35 mm passport photos instead of photos of about 10 × 7 cm.
- A close-up of the face only, without the shoulders.
- Three prints that are not identical, for example from different sittings.
- A photo that would not pass as a passport photo, such as a holiday snap, a busy background or sunglasses.
✓ Good: plain background, even light, neutral face
✕ Shadow on the wall and face
✕ Busy background
✕ Glare on glasses
✕ Selfie taken too close
✕ Too dark, orange light
More on this in why ID photos get rejected. The examples use an off-white wall, which suits most documents; check the official page if you are unsure about the colour.
How to use this tool
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 m, at eye level, in even daylight in front of a plain wall.
- Add the photo above. The tool finds your face and frames it to the size on this page.
- Check the green lines: one on the top of your head, one on your chin. Drag or zoom to adjust.
- Read the automatic checks, then download. Nothing in the photo is retouched, only cropped and resized.
Questions about the SPSV taxi driver licence photo
What size photo do I need for an SPSV driver licence?
The National Transport Authority asks for photographs each measuring approximately 10 cm by 7 cm, showing your head and shoulders and otherwise meeting passport photo standards.
How many photos do I need for a taxi licence in Ireland?
Three identical photographs, both for a new SPSV driver licence (form PSV 15) and for a renewal (form PSV 18).
Where do I hand in my SPSV licence photos?
With your PSV 15 or PSV 18 application at your local Garda station. If you live in Dublin, you submit it to the Carriage Office.
Can I use passport photos for my SPSV licence?
Not standard 45 × 35 mm passport photos. The photos must meet passport standards, but the NTA asks for them to be about 10 cm by 7 cm.
Guides for this photo
- Why passport and ID photos get rejectedThe reasons authorities list themselves, and how to avoid each
- How to take a passport photo at homeDistance, light, background and pose, step by step
- Are edited or AI passport photos allowed?What ten authorities say about retouching, filters and AI
- How to print passport photos on 4 × 6 paperHow many fit, the settings to use, and the right paper
- Can I take my own passport photo?Where a home photo is accepted, and where it is not
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