What size is a Japanese passport photo?

35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. Head height from chin to top of hair must be 32–36 mm. One photo required.

What size is a Japanese visa photo?

35×45 mm for most consulates. US consulates also accept 2×2 inch. Some Asian consulates accept 45×45 mm. Check your consulate.

Can I wear glasses in a Japanese passport photo?

Prescription glasses are technically allowed if both eyes fully visible, no glare, frames don't obstruct. Sunglasses never allowed. Recommend removing glasses — they often fail biometric checks.

Can I renew my Japanese passport online?

No. In-person visit to a Japanese embassy or consulate required. No mail or online option. Processing about 3–4 weeks.

What are the Japan e-Visa digital photo requirements?

JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or HEIC. Max 2 MB (240 KB recommended). Min 600 DPI. White background, neutral expression, 70–80% face coverage.

How many photos do I need for a Japanese visa?

Most applications need 1 photo. Some need 2. Check your visa type and consulate.

What background colour for a Japanese passport photo?

Plain white. Uniform, shadow-free, no patterns. Off-white is not accepted.

How recent must a Japanese passport photo be?

Within the last 6 months, reflecting current appearance.

Can I take a passport photo at a convenience store in Japan?

Yes. Most Family Mart, Lawson, 7-Eleven have Ki-Re-i or DNP booths. ¥700–¥900, compliant output in about 2 minutes.

What is a MyNumber card and what photo does it need?

MyNumber (個人番号カード) is Japan's national ID. Uses 35×45 mm, white background, same requirements as passport. One photo, printed or digital via MyNumber Portal.

Japan Passport & Visa Photo Requirements — Complete Guide

Quick reference

Document	Size	Background	Photos required
Passport	35×45 mm	Plain white	1
Visa (consulate)	35×45 mm	Plain white	1–2 (varies)
e-Visa	35×45 mm	Plain white	1 digital upload
MyNumber card	35×45 mm	Plain white	1

Passport photo requirements

Size and dimensions

Photo size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall
Head height: 32–36 mm from chin to top of hair (not crown)
Top margin: 2–6 mm between the top of the hair and the top edge of the photo
Face coverage: 70–80% of the photo area
Eye position: both eyes level, centred horizontally in the frame
Shoulders: top of both shoulders visible

Background

Plain white, uniform, shadow-free. No patterns, textures, gradients, or colour tints. Off-white is not accepted. Avoid wearing white clothing — it blends into the background.

Expression and appearance

Expression: Neutral, mouth closed. No smiling — even a slight smile can cause rejection.
Eyes: Both open, looking directly at camera. No red-eye or glare.
Head position: Face the camera directly, no tilt or turn.

Glasses

Prescription glasses are allowed with conditions: both eyes must be fully visible, no glare or reflections on lenses, frames must not obscure the eyes. Thick-framed glasses are risky. Sunglasses and tinted lenses — including medical tinted lenses — are never permitted.

Recommendation: remove glasses entirely. Even technically compliant glasses often fail automated biometric checks.

Head coverings

Not permitted unless worn daily for religious reasons. If worn for religious reasons, the full face must be visible from chin to forehead with no shadows on the face. Hats and caps are always prohibited.

Clothing

Everyday attire. Uniforms, camouflage, and clothing resembling official attire are prohibited. Avoid white tops (background blending). Modest jewellery is permitted if it does not cover any part of the face.

Photo quality

Colour: full colour only. Black and white not accepted for passports.
Resolution: 600 DPI minimum for print. Digital file: minimum 827×1063 pixels.
Format: JPEG, no filters or digital alterations.
Paper: matte or glossy professional photo paper. Home-printed photos on regular paper are not accepted.
Recency: taken within the last 6 months, reflecting current appearance.

Visa photo requirements

For visa applications submitted in person at a Japanese consulate or embassy, the standard is 35×45 mm, same face and background requirements as the passport.

Important — size varies by consulate location:

Region	Accepted size
Japan consulates in Europe	35×45 mm
Japan consulates in the US	2×2 inch (51×51 mm) or 35×45 mm
Japan consulates in India/Asia	35×45 mm or 45×45 mm
Japan consulate in Australia	35×45 mm

Always check the specific requirements of the consulate handling your application. When in doubt, 35×45 mm is the MOFA standard and is accepted everywhere.

Most consulate visa applications require 1 photo. Some applications (tourist groups, certain visa types) require 2.

e-Visa — digital photo requirements

Japan's e-Visa system (evisa.mofa.go.jp) is available for tourists from a growing list of countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and others. The photo is uploaded digitally — no printed copy required.

Format: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or HEIC
File size: maximum 2 MB (240 KB recommended for fastest upload)
Resolution: minimum 600 DPI
Background: plain white
Face requirements: same as passport — neutral expression, 70–80% face coverage, no glasses

Important: the e-Visa portal uses the same face verification as consulate submissions. A PixID-generated JPEG meets all technical requirements for e-Visa upload.

e-Visa is for tourism only — single entry, up to 90 days. For business, study, work, or visiting relatives you must apply on paper at a Japanese embassy or consulate.

MyNumber card (個人番号カード)

Japan's national ID card uses the same 35×45 mm format with the same face, background, and quality requirements as the passport. One photo required.

MyNumber card photos can be submitted in person at your local municipal office (市区町村) or via the MyNumber Card Portal (マイナポータル) using your smartphone's NFC chip. For digital portal submission: JPEG format, minimum 600 DPI.

Japanese passport renewal — no online option

In-person only

Japanese passports cannot be renewed online or by mail. An in-person visit to a Japanese consulate or embassy is required. Processing takes approximately 3–4 weeks from submission.

What you need for renewal: current passport, application form (filled in Japanese), two passport photos (35×45 mm), renewal fee, proof of residency in the consulate's jurisdiction.

Japanese consulates in the US (each serves specific states — check us.emb-japan.go.jp for full jurisdiction list): Embassy (Washington DC), Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Houston.

Children and infant photos

Same 35×45 mm size and white background requirements apply. Additional rules:

The child must be the only person in the photo — no hands, arms, toys, dummies, or pacifiers visible.
Infants who cannot sit upright can be photographed lying on a plain white sheet, or seated in a car seat covered with a plain white sheet.
Children under 6: relaxed expression and eye position requirements — open eyes preferred but not always required.

Tip: photograph infants shortly after feeding when they're calm. Use natural daylight from a window. Place the infant on a white sheet on a flat surface and photograph from directly above.

Photo booths in Japan

Japan has the highest density of passport photo booths (証明写真機) in the world — at nearly every train station, convenience store (コンビニ), and shopping mall. Major brands: Ki-Re-i (Fujifilm) and DNP (Dai Nippon Printing).

Cost: ¥700–¥900 per session, results in about 2 minutes, compliant output guaranteed. For applicants outside Japan, PixID generates a compliant 35×45 mm file ready for both print submission and e-Visa digital upload.

Common rejection reasons

Glasses with glare or thick frames — automated biometric checks fail even technically permitted glasses
Background off-white or has shadows
Head too small or too large — must be 32–36 mm in the 45 mm frame
Smiling — even a slight smile fails biometric checks
Head tilt or turn
Photo printed on regular paper — professional photo paper required
Photo older than 6 months
Colour cast or poor lighting
White clothing — blends into background

Official source: MOFA. Always confirm latest requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Japanese passport photo?: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. Head height from chin to top of hair must be 32–36 mm. One photo required.
What size is a Japanese visa photo?: 35×45 mm for most consulates. US consulates also accept 2×2 inch. Some Asian consulates accept 45×45 mm. Check your consulate.
Can I wear glasses in a Japanese passport photo?: Prescription glasses technically allowed if eyes fully visible, no glare. Recommend removing — they often fail biometric checks.
Can I renew my Japanese passport online?: No. In-person visit required. No mail or online option. Processing about 3–4 weeks.
What are the Japan e-Visa digital photo requirements?: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or HEIC. Max 2 MB (240 KB recommended). Min 600 DPI. White background, neutral expression, 70–80% face coverage.
How many photos do I need for a Japanese visa?: Most need 1. Some need 2. Check your visa type and consulate.
What background colour for a Japanese passport photo?: Plain white. Uniform, shadow-free. Off-white not accepted.
Is a black and white photo acceptable?: No for passport. Colour only. Children's photos can be B&W for some documents.
How recent must a Japanese passport photo be?: Within the last 6 months, reflecting current appearance.
Can I take a passport photo at a convenience store in Japan?: Yes. Family Mart, Lawson, 7-Eleven have Ki-Re-i or DNP booths. ¥700–¥900, compliant output in about 2 minutes.
What is a MyNumber card and what photo does it need?: MyNumber (個人番号カード) is Japan's national ID. 35×45 mm, white background, same as passport. One photo, printed or digital via MyNumber Portal.