Is a white background photo required for a driver's license?
3 Answers
There is a requirement for a white background photo for a driver's license. Below is a detailed introduction to the requirements for the driver's license photo: 1. Photo time limit: The photo must be a straight-edged, front-facing, bareheaded color photo of the applicant taken within the last 6 months before applying for the motor vehicle driver's license, showing a single person's upper body. 2. Photo requirements: The background color must be white. Red clothing is not allowed (as it affects the stamping), women cannot wear earrings, photos with shawls during the photo session are not allowed, men's hair cannot be too long, the head image must be clear, and the expression should be natural. 3. Photo dimensions: The photo size should be 32mm×22mm, with a head width of 14mm～16mm and a head length of 19mm～22mm.
I remember when I went to apply for my driver's license last year, the staff reminded me that the photo must have a pure white background without any patterns or colors. They said this is a standard requirement from the traffic bureau because a white background makes the photo clearer and helps the recognition system capture facial features more easily. When applying, you also need to ensure the photo is recently taken, facing forward without a hat, and without any glare from glasses. If it doesn’t meet the requirements, the counter staff will ask you to retake the photo at a studio, which wastes time and is troublesome. So, I suggest everyone prepare the materials in advance by going to a professional photo studio and specifying it’s for a driver's license to avoid an unnecessary trip like my first attempt. Additionally, the photo size is usually 32mm x 22mm, but you can check the specific requirements on your local traffic bureau’s website.
Having driven for many years, I've seen quite a few beginners delay their license processing due to photo issues. Driver's license photos indeed require a white background, mainly for unified management and security reasons. There have been cases in the past where fancy or cluttered backgrounds caused machine recognition errors, leading to identity verification failures or delayed approvals. When applying, remember to bring two photos with a uniformly white background, avoiding shadows or strong lighting. I've also learned that this aligns with international ID standards, similar to passports for example. It's good to stay updated on traffic regulation changes to avoid policy-related inconveniences. In short, while these details may seem minor, they're crucial for smoothly obtaining your license—don't overlook them.
