Do driver's license photos need to show ears?
2 Answers
Driver's license photos need to show ears. The following are the requirements for motor vehicle driver's license photos: 1. Time: taken within 6 months before the applicant applies for the driver's license business; 2. No obstruction: the photo should be a straight-edged, front-facing, bareheaded, color, single-person half-length ID photo, without wearing a hat, scarf, uniform, or colored glasses; those with long hair should show both ears, and the head and face should not have any tilting, turning, heavy makeup, or accessories that may affect facial feature recognition. 3. Background color: white, with clear portrait, rich layers, natural expression, and no obvious distortion; 4. Photo size: 32mm×22mm, head width 14mm～16mm, head length 19mm～22mm.
The driver's license photo does need to show the ears, as it's a basic requirement. From what I understand, the photo for a driver's license must be taken facing forward without a hat, with both ears clearly visible to facilitate identity verification by traffic management authorities. If the ears are covered, the photo might be rejected, requiring a retake and wasting time and effort. I've seen cases where people had their photos rejected because their hair was too long and covered their ears, forcing them to retake the photo. My advice is to tidy up your hair before taking the photo, avoid wearing large hats or headphones, and just make sure your ears are visible. The lighting should also be natural—not too dark or too harsh—to ensure your entire face, including your ears, is clear. After all, a driver's license is important for handling traffic violations and security checks, and having a compliant photo is the first step. Remembering this small detail will make the process much smoother and save you unnecessary hassle.
