What the 驾驶证 is and why the photo matters
The China driving license, 驾驶证 (jiàshǐzhèng), lets you drive motor vehicles on public roads. It is a plastic card with your personal details, a unique number and your photo, and people also use it to prove their identity and age. Because the card works as an ID, the photo on it has to show your face clearly, large enough, on a clean background. A photo that is too dark, too small or badly cropped is hard to recognise on a small card, so it is worth getting it right the first time.
Photo size explained
The photo is a small portrait, 21 mm wide and 26 mm tall, which is roughly 0.83 by 1.02 inches. At this small size the head takes up most of the frame: in our template the head fills about 75% of the photo height, with a narrow margin of about 6% between the top of the hair and the top edge. A print at 600 DPI keeps the face sharp at this small size. If you print the photo yourself, check the print with a ruler after cutting, because a small scaling error on a 21×26 mm photo is easy to see.
Background, colour and pose
The photo needs a plain white background without shadows, patterns or objects behind you. It must be a colour photo, not black and white, and it is best to skip filters and beauty effects. Look straight into the camera with a neutral face, keep your mouth closed and both eyes open, and keep the outline of your face visible. Hair should not cover your eyes. If you normally wear glasses, a photo without them is the safest choice, because reflections on the lenses often hide the eyes.
Printed photo or online application
The same photo standard works for a printed photo and for an online application. With our tool you get a digital photo file in the right size and a print layout. Upload the file when you apply online, or print it on photo paper at 600 DPI and cut it to 21×26 mm when you hand in paper documents. Keep the original photo file, so you can print more copies later without taking the photo again.
Taking a good photo at home
You do not need a studio. Stand about a metre in front of a plain wall, face a window so daylight falls evenly on your face, and ask someone to take the picture with the phone held at eye level. If you are alone, a selfie at arm's length works too. Take several shots and pick the sharpest one, with your face relaxed and your shoulders straight. Remove hats, headphones and anything that covers part of your face; keep the whole face visible from chin to hairline. Wear normal clothes in a colour that differs from white, so your shoulders do not blend into the background of the photo.
Printing the photo
When you need paper photos, print the file on glossy or matte photo paper at 600 DPI, without letting the printer scale the image to fit the page. Print a few copies at once, so you have an extra photo for later. Cut along the guide lines with a sharp blade, keep the edges straight, and do not write on the back with a pen that presses through. Store spare photos in an envelope away from heat and moisture so the colours stay accurate.
Classes of the 驾驶证
The class on the card depends on the vehicle you drive. Class A covers large vehicles such as buses and trucks, Class B covers medium vehicles such as vans and minibuses, Class C covers small vehicles such as cars, and Class D covers motorcycles. Our maker uses the same 21×26 mm template whichever class you apply for.
How to get a China driving license, step by step
- Check eligibility. You must be at least 18, pass a medical examination and be a resident of China or hold a valid visa.
- Train at a driving school. Choose a school that teaches the class you need and complete the classes and practical sessions.
- Pass the written test. It covers traffic rules, road signs and safe driving, and you take it at the local traffic management bureau (交警队).
- Pass the practical test. You show parking, turning and obeying traffic signals in a controlled setting.
- Submit the application. Bring the application form, the medical report, your passport or residence permit, proof of residency, and the driving school completion certificate, and hand them in at the local traffic management bureau.
- Pay the fees and collect the card. Fees vary by region, and the whole process may take a few weeks.
Renewal and a new photo
The standard validity of the card is 6 years. To renew it, you pass a health check and submit a renewal application at the local traffic management bureau, and a renewal is a good moment to bring a fresh photo that looks like you today. Fees vary by region, so check the Ministry of Public Security website or ask your local bureau before you go.
Photo checklist
- Photo of 21×26 mm.
- Head about 75% of the photo height, small margin above the hair.
- Plain white background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred, face outline visible.
- Sharp colour photo with no filters, printed at 600 DPI.
How our tool checks your photo
After you upload a photo, the AI measures the head against the 21×26 mm frame, checks the gap above the hair, and looks for shadows on the background, closed eyes and blur. If the photo passes, you download it straight away. If something is off, you see which part of the photo needs fixing, so you can take a new photo or let the retouch correct the light. You can repeat the check as often as you like before you print the photo or upload it.
Other documents
If you also need a photo for another document, see our resident ID card photo page and the visa photo page for online applications. Each document has its own photo size, so make a separate photo for each one instead of reusing this 21×26 mm photo.
