Transparent, luminescent thin films of Dy3+-doped GdVO4 were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition technique on quartz substrates. Thin film structure, morphology and optical properties were investigated and discussed in detail. X-ray analysis shows relatively intense reflection peaks confirming that as-deposited films are highly crystalline with strong (200) preferred orientation. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy shows relatively dense film with an average thickness of similar to 340 nm. Band gap of Dy3+-doped GdVO4 thin film, estimated from diffuse reflectance spectrum, is 3.61 eV. Refractive index and extinction coefficient of thin films as a function of wavelength are extracted from ellipsometric spectra. The photoluminescent emission spectra have two dominant bands: one in the yellow (similar to 573 nm, F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2) transition) followed by the other in the blue (similar to 484 nm, F-4(9/2) -> H-6(15/2) transition) region resulting in the emission color placed in the white light region. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.