Can I Wear Ear Accessories in My Driver's License Photo?
2 Answers
Driver's license photos allow ear accessories but not earrings. Front-facing portrait: The ID photo must be a front-facing portrait; the head and face must not tilt or turn sideways during shooting; Apply a little powder: If there is sweat or oil on the face during shooting, apply a little powder; Dark-colored collared clothing: Dark-colored collared clothing is required for shooting; those wearing light-colored clothes should put on the dark-colored clothing provided by the photography point; No colored glasses: Glasses worn for photos must be made of special non-reflective materials; if there is reflection, wear the frames provided by the photography point; Neatly arrange hair before shooting: Those with long hair should expose both ears and eyebrows; long buns should not be tied on top of the head to avoid affecting image quality; Prohibited accessories: No accessories such as earrings or hairpins are allowed during shooting; no heavy makeup is permitted; hats are not allowed during shooting.
As someone quite familiar with DMV procedures, I believe wearing ear accessories in driver's license photos is generally not allowed. The reason is simple: the core requirement for ID photos is an unobstructed face with clear features to facilitate quick identification by police or security checks. Earrings or studs may reflect under flash photography or obscure ear contours, resulting in blurry images; some places' scanning systems might even misread them, causing rejection and forcing you to retake the photo—a wasted trip. I've personally witnessed someone being asked to remove earrings and spending half an hour requeuing, a huge hassle. Not to mention, from a security perspective, clear ID photos help prevent forgery and protect every driver's rights. So it's wise to check local regulations on official websites beforehand. Most times, it's best to go bare-faced and plain for a guaranteed one-time approval, saving both time and effort.
