In applying for an International Driver's License at the Land Transportation Office in Chiang Mai this week, I was confronted, for the first time, with the "no glossy picture" requirement, my first time in three years of obtaining enless photos for government documents.

Even the pictures taken by the photo shops at the Transportation Department or Immigration Department were unsatisfactory. Very wonderful English speaking lady explained that she had to be able to ink stamp on the face of the picture. She showed me how her stamp on my glossy finished photo just rubbed off. Had obtained them both at the land transportation department photo vendor and the immigration office photo vendor.

Went to Airport Plaza Shopping Center and a digital shop produced the matte finish with no difficulty. Obviously, I wonder why the official department specific

vendors don't produce matte finish when so many government documents speicfy "no glossy photos".

Never heard of that rule before.

Sound like that office has an "arrangement" with the local shop.

See my other post on the subject and print your own on your computer.