Is the driver's license photo taken on-site?
2 Answers
The driver's license photo is not taken on-site. The specific explanation is as follows: The photo on the driver's license is the one submitted to the driving school when registering, not taken on the spot. When applying for a driving school, the school will immediately request: ID card, one recent 1-inch half-body color photo with a white background (without a hat), and in some areas, a residence permit is also required. The photo submitted at this time will be the one used on the driver's license after passing the driving test. Additionally, the driver's license photo can be changed later through the "Traffic Management 12123" app after obtaining the license. Purpose and number of photos required: The photos are used for the registration form, exam forms, various archival forms, and finally the driver's license photo; eight 1-inch white background photos are required at the time of registration.
I remember when I applied for my driver's license a few years ago, the photo was definitely taken on-site, not brought from old pictures. At the DMV, after waiting in line, the staff took me to a small booth and used professional equipment to take my photo—the whole process took just a few minutes. They explained this was to ensure the photo's freshness and prevent identity fraud, such as someone using another person's photo to impersonate them. The photo was immediately printed onto the license, with strict requirements: ears and forehead must be visible, and no hats unless for special reasons. Even when renewing the license, they take a new photo to ensure it matches the current appearance. The core reason for this is security—if a license is lost or lent to someone else, identity verification helps reduce accident risks. In short, on-site photos are standard procedure—convenient and quick, though not always the most flattering.
