What the CNH is and why the photo matters
The Brazil driving license, the Carteira Nacional de Habilitação (CNH), is the official document that lets you drive a motor vehicle on public roads in Brazil. It also works as a valid form of identification inside the country, so the portrait on it is the face people compare with yours whenever you show the card. A clear photo in the correct size helps the card do both jobs for years.
The CNH is a plastic card about the size of a credit card, with holograms, microprinting and a QR code against forgery. Brazil has also introduced a digital CNH that you open in a mobile app, so you can also carry the CNH on your phone.
Brazil driving license photo size explained
The photo size is 3×4 cm: 30 mm wide and 40 mm high. The head takes up 30 mm of that height, measured from the chin to the top of the hair, and about 2.5 mm stays free between the hair and the top edge. That leaves a thin border of background around the face, so the head looks large and centred. A photo in the wrong size, for example a passport crop with a smaller head, is easy to spot next to these numbers.
At 600 DPI the file prints sharply even at this small size. The background is a plain light grey. A white wall at home usually comes out as uneven grey with shadows in a phone photo, so our photo maker replaces it with an even light grey for the Brazilian document.
Getting the photo online
You do not need a studio. Take the photo with your phone, upload it to our online tool, and the AI crops it to the 3×4 cm size, centres the head, sets the background and runs the compliance check. The result is a digital file that is suitable for online submission, so you can upload it wherever an online form asks for your CNH photo, or keep it on your phone for later. The same file also prints at the correct size.
CNH categories
The Brazil driving license is issued in categories that match the type of vehicle you are allowed to drive: there are separate categories for motorcycles, for cars and for commercial vehicles.
Why a home portrait often fails
Most rejected portraits fail for simple reasons rather than the camera. A ceiling lamp throws shadows under the eyes and onto the wall behind you. A wide-angle phone lens held too close makes the nose look bigger and the ears smaller. A slight smile, a tilted head or hair across the eyebrows changes the outline of the face. Our check looks at each of these points, tells you what to fix, and lets you retake the picture right away instead of finding out at the counter.
A few minutes of preparation help: tie long hair back from the face, wipe the camera lens, stand about half a metre from a window during the day, and ask someone else to hold the phone if your arm is short. Wear a plain top in a colour that stands out from light grey, so your shoulders do not blend into the background of your Brazilian driving license portrait.
Who can apply for a Brazilian driving license
To apply for a CNH you need to:
- be at least 18 years old;
- hold a valid identification document, such as an RG or a passport (see our Brazil ID card photo page);
- have a CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) number;
- pass a medical examination.
How to get a Brazil driving license, step by step
- Driving school. Enrol in a registered driving school (autoescola) with your ID and CPF and pay the course fee.
- Theory. Attend classes on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving, then pass the theoretical exam.
- Practice. Take lessons with a certified instructor and complete the required number of driving hours.
- Practical test. Schedule it through the school; the Department of Transit (Detran) runs the test.
- Issue. Submit proof of identity, CPF, medical results and the school certificate to Detran, pay the issuance fee, then collect the card at the Detran office or receive it at your address.
Renewal, validity and a lost card
A Brazil driving license is typically valid for 5 years for drivers under 50 and for 3 years for drivers over 50. You renew the Brazilian driving license before it expires, with a new medical examination and a fee. If you lose your CNH, the Brazilian site ICETRAN explains how to request a second copy in its guide to a replacement CNH (in Portuguese). Keep a recent photo file ready for a renewal or a replacement card.
Driving in Brazil as a visitor
Visitors can drive in Brazil with an International Driving Permit (IDP) together with the licence from their home country. If you are travelling, our Brazil visa photo and Brazil passport photo pages cover the photos for the other documents.
Points and suspension
Brazil uses a points system for traffic violations. Too many points can lead to the suspension of the Brazil driving license, so the card is worth looking after once you get it.
Printing your photo
If you need a paper photo, print the downloaded file at 100% scale on photo paper so it keeps the 3×4 cm size. Check the printed photo with a ruler: 30 mm wide, 40 mm high, and a head of about 30 mm. Do not stretch the photo to fill the paper, because a resized photo no longer matches the requirements.
