Japanese Passport Photo Requirements — Complete Guide 2026

Country guide · 🇯🇵 Japan · Last verified: February 2026

Japanese passport photos use a 35×45 mm format with a plain white background. Japan's requirements are mostly standard — but several rules differ from the US and European defaults, particularly around glasses and recency. This guide covers the complete specifications, the e-Visa digital requirements, and what Japanese nationals abroad need to know about renewing their passport without an online option.

Quick facts


Size	35×45 mm
Background	Plain white
Head height	32–36 mm (chin to crown)
Top margin	2–6 mm above hair
Photos required	1
Recency	Within 6 months
Glasses	Conditionally allowed (see below)
Source	mofa.go.jp

Photo specifications

Size and dimensions

Photo size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall
Head height: 32–36 mm from chin to crown (top of head including hair)
Top margin: 2–6 mm between top of hair and top edge of photo
Face coverage: 70–80% of the photo area
Eye position: both eyes level and centred horizontally
Shoulders: top of both shoulders visible

Background

Plain white. Uniform, shadow-free. No patterns, textures, gradients, or borders.

Avoid white or very light grey clothing — it blends into the white background.

Expression and appearance

Expression: strictly neutral, mouth closed. No smiling — even a relaxed smile will fail automated biometric checks.
Eyes: both open, looking directly at camera. No red-eye or glare.
Head position: straight, facing camera directly, no tilt or rotation.
Glasses: Japan is more permissive than the US and most EU countries on glasses. Prescription glasses are allowed if: both eyes are fully visible, there is no glare or reflection on lenses, frames do not obstruct eyes or cast shadows. Tinted lenses and sunglasses are never permitted. However: in practice, automated biometric checks frequently flag glasses even when technically compliant — removing glasses is the safest choice.
Head coverings: not permitted except for religious reasons. Full face visible from chin to forehead with no shadows.
Clothing: everyday attire. No uniforms.
Hair: must not cover eyes or any part of the face.

Quality

Full colour only — black and white not accepted
Sharp, in focus, no blur
Even lighting, no shadows on face or background
Printed on professional matte or glossy photo paper
Resolution: minimum 600 DPI recommended
No digital retouching, beauty filters, or AI alterations

How many photos are required?

1 photo — Japan only requires one printed photo for passport applications (unlike most countries that require 2). This is worth confirming as many photo labs will automatically print pairs.

Japanese e-Visa — digital photo requirements

Japan's e-Visa system (evisa.mofa.go.jp) allows eligible nationalities to apply for tourist and some business visas online. Digital photo requirements:

Format: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or HEIC
File size: maximum 2 MB (240 KB recommended for fastest upload)
Background: plain white
Face requirements: same as passport — 35×45 mm proportions, head 32–36 mm, neutral expression
No editing of any kind

Even with e-Visa, you may still need a printed photo. Check the specific e-Visa portal requirements — some applications also require a printed photo for in-person submission at the consulate.

No online passport renewal for Japanese nationals

Japanese passports cannot be renewed online or by mail. An in-person visit to a Japanese consulate or embassy is required. This is one of the most common questions from Japanese nationals living abroad.

Japanese passport renewal process:

Visit your jurisdictional Japanese consulate in person
Bring current passport, completed application form, 1 passport photo, and applicable fee
Processing takes approximately 3–4 weeks
Return to the consulate to collect your new passport

There is no mail-in renewal, no online renewal, and no authorised third-party agent system. The consulate visit is mandatory.

Japanese consulates in the US (by jurisdiction)

Consulate	States served
Embassy (Washington DC)	DC, MD, VA, WV
Los Angeles	Southern CA, AZ, CO, UT, HI, NM, Guam
San Francisco	Northern CA, OR, WA, AK, ID, MT, NV
New York	NY, NJ, CT, PA, DE
Chicago	IL, IN, OH, MI, MN, WI, ND, SD, NE, IA, KS, MO
Houston	TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, TN, AL, GA
Boston	MA, RI, NH, VT, ME
Nashville	KY, WV, NC, SC
Denver	CO, WY
Atlanta	FL, GA, SC, NC
Anchorage	AK

Verify your jurisdiction at the specific consulate's website before visiting.

MyNumber Card (マイナンバーカード) — same format

Japan's national ID card uses 35×45 mm with the same white background and face requirements. Applications can be submitted digitally via the MyNumber Card Portal using your smartphone — the photo is uploaded digitally. Same specifications apply.

Photo booth culture in Japan

Japan has the highest density of passport photo booths (証明写真機) in the world — at virtually every train station, convenience store, and shopping centre. The two main brands are Ki-Re-i (Fujifilm) and DNP. Cost: ¥700–¥900, results in about 2 minutes.

For Japanese nationals currently outside Japan, Ki-Re-i and DNP booths are available in some Asian cities. Otherwise, use an online service (PixID) and print at a local photo lab.

Child and baby passport photos

Same 35×45 mm size, 1 photo required.

Child must be alone in the photo — no hands, toys, or other people visible
Infants: photograph lying on a plain white sheet, taken from directly above
Very young children: eyes do not need to be fully open
Same white background and quality requirements apply

Common rejection reasons

Head size outside 32–36 mm range
Glasses with glare or thick frames — even technically allowed glasses frequently fail biometric checks
Background not white — shadows or off-white tint
Non-neutral expression — any expression beyond completely flat neutral
Hair covering any part of face or eyes
Photo older than 6 months
Selfie — angle and distance are typically wrong
Digital retouching or filters
Wrong size — using 2×2 inch US format instead of 35×45 mm

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Japanese passport photo?

35 mm wide × 45 mm tall. Head height 32–36 mm from chin to crown. One photo required (not two).

Can I wear glasses in a Japanese passport photo?

Japan allows prescription glasses if both eyes are fully visible with no glare. However, automated biometric systems frequently reject glasses even when technically compliant. Removing glasses is the safest choice.

Can I renew my Japanese passport online?

No. Japanese passport renewal requires an in-person visit to a Japanese consulate. There is no online or mail renewal option. Processing takes approximately 3–4 weeks.

What are the e-Visa digital photo requirements?

JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or HEIC format. Maximum 2 MB file size. White background. Same face requirements as the printed passport photo.

How many photos do I need for a Japanese passport?

One — Japan only requires one printed photo, which is less than most countries.

Is a Japanese passport photo the same as a US passport photo?

No. Japan uses 35×45 mm; the US uses 51×51 mm (2×2 inches). Always specify 35×45 mm when getting photos in the US.