How many photos are required for a driver's license?
2 Answers
Generally, 6 photos are required for a motor vehicle driver's license. However, the number may vary slightly depending on the internal management policies of each driving school, so please check with the specific school you are applying to. Requirements for driver's license photos: Applicants must provide straight-edged, front-facing, full-color, bareheaded, single-person half-body ID photos taken within the last 6 months before applying for the driver's license. The background should be white. The photo dimensions should be 32mm×22mm, with a head width of 14mm-16mm and a head length of 19mm-22mm. Applicants can provide their own photos, but they must be taken with a digital camera and meet the specified requirements. In addition to the background color restrictions, the driver's license photo must also meet the following requirements: The lighting should be even, the applicant should sit upright with level shoulders, a natural expression, and look directly at the camera; wear dark-colored clothing, be bareheaded, with hair not covering the face or ears, and the hairstyle should not be messy or overly voluminous; no heavy makeup is allowed. Applicants should not wear uniforms, appear disheveled, or wear overly revealing clothing. Furthermore, applicants should not wear any jewelry when taking the photo, and the photo size should be 1 inch. If using an old photo, it must have been taken within the last six months. Photos taken too long ago or showing significant changes may affect the use of the driver's license. Additionally, light makeup is allowed for driver's license photos, but heavy makeup is not permitted. While many people may retouch their photos, according to regulations, applicants are not allowed to digitally alter facial features or use composite photos, as this will result in the photo being rejected. Photos for the driver's license test are usually taken at the vehicle management office or at a licensed photo studio. If taken at a photo studio, applicants should specify that the photo is for a driver's license application, and the studio will follow the required specifications. These photos are used for the application form, test forms, various archival documents, and the final driver's license photo.
When I first got my driver's license, I prepared 3 photos, but only one was actually used for the application. However, the 1-inch white background bareheaded photo required by the DMV has quite a few details: ears and eyebrows must be visible, no jewelry or framed glasses are allowed. Nowadays, some places directly use the digital photos taken during driving school registration, but if you bring your own photos, it's best to prepare a couple extra in case the colors from the photo studio print are off. Last time when I accompanied a friend to replace a lost license, the counter staff specifically reminded that the photo cannot be in uniform or an artistic portrait, and collar colors that are too light are also unacceptable. Photos taken with a phone selfie and printed will most likely be rejected.
