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Japan Passport Photo Requirements 2026

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Official requirements from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外務省), checked against the source on the date above.

Quick Summary

35×45 mm borderless photo, plain light background (white recommended), neutral expression, glasses off if possible. Face must measure 32–36 mm from crown to chin. Taken within 6 months.

Photo Dimensions

Japanese passport photos must be 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall, printed without any border. The standard is set out in the photo regulations published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), most recently updated in March 2025, and is based on the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) — the same 35×45 mm format used by the UK, EU, Australia, and many other countries. If keeping the exact aspect ratio proves difficult, MOFA instructs that the 35 mm width takes priority. Photos must be printed on dedicated photographic paper of consistent quality, and for paper applications your name should be written on the back of the photo (without the writing showing through on the front).

Japan introduced an online passport renewal system in 2023 for eligible renewals. A digital photo uploaded through the MynaPortal (マイナポータル) system must additionally meet file-format rules (see below). For other application types, physical photos must be submitted at a municipal passport office.

Japan passport photo proportions A 35 by 45 millimeter photo frame. Face height 32 to 36 millimeters measured from crown to chin, with a 2 to 6 millimeter margin above the head and the face centered horizontally.
35 × 45 mm frame — face height 32–36 mm from crown to chin (red = crown, blue = chin, green = center, matching the tool's guide lines)

Face and Head Position

The face — measured from the crown of the head to the bottom of the chin — must be 34 ± 2 mm (32–36 mm) within the 45 mm frame height. The gap between the top of the head and the top edge of the photo must be 4 ± 2 mm (2–6 mm), which leaves roughly 7 ± 2 mm from the chin to the bottom edge. The face must be centred horizontally — photos where the head sits off to one side are rejected.

Eyes must be at the same height in the frame (no head tilt) and the face must look directly at the camera. The area around the eyes must be completely clear: hair, mask edges, glasses, false eyelashes, eyelash extensions — and even the shadows they cast — must not intrude on the eye region. For voluminous hairstyles, MOFA's notice says to measure a distance equal to your eye-to-chin height upward from the eyes and treat that point as the crown when sizing the photo.

Background Requirements

The photo must have no background at all — meaning a single plain surface with nothing else visible, including shadows. MOFA recommends white, while the traditional plain pale blue and similar light backgrounds remain acceptable. Gradients are explicitly ruled out, and so are patterned backdrops, textured cloth, visible objects, and dark background colours.

MOFA also requires clear contrast between the background and your head, hair, and clothing — photos where the boundary between the subject and the backdrop is indistinct are listed among the unacceptable examples. Keep the backdrop evenly lit so no shadow falls behind your head or shoulders.

Expression and Pose

Your expression must be neutral, with the mouth closed. MOFA's list of unacceptable photos includes shots where raised mouth corners noticeably change the applicant's appearance — in other words, no smiling. Both eyes must be fully open, looking directly at the camera, and the head must face straight forward — not turned or tilted.

Watch out for camera apps that mirror the image: left-right flipped photos are rejected. Retouching is also prohibited — enlarging the eyes, skin whitening, or editing out moles and wrinkles all count as changing your appearance and can cause trouble at immigration. Coloured contact lenses and iris-enlarging (circle) lenses are not accepted, and red-eye from the flash must not be present.

Glasses and Accessories

Glasses are not banned outright, despite what many photo studios say — the official MOFA photo notice (PDF) recommends removing them for more reliable identity verification. If you do keep glasses on, the lenses must be untinted, free of reflections and shadows, and the frames must not cover any part of the eyes. Sunglasses and non-prescription tinted glasses are not accepted unless medically necessary. In practice, taking them off is the safest option.

The photo must be taken bare-headed: hats, caps, and headbands are not allowed, and neither are large accessories or ornaments that hide the eyes, ears, nose, or lips. On request, a head covering worn for religious or medical reasons may be permitted under the passport regulations, provided the outline of the face remains visible. Wigs or hairpieces that change your actual appearance, and clothing that hides part of the face — turtlenecks, hoodies, scarves covering the chin — are all grounds for rejection.

Photo Recency and Quality

The photo must have been taken within 6 months of the application date. Photos must be clear, in focus, and free of camera shake; a shiny or unevenly lit face is also unacceptable. On the print side, MOFA rejects photos showing compression noise, jagged edges, visible printing dots, or ink bleed — use dedicated photo paper and print at high quality. The photo must also match how you look at the time of application.

Digital Photo Specifications (Online Applications)

You can photograph yourself in the app during an online application, but if you upload a photo taken in advance at a studio, the file must follow the format rules MOFA publishes for online applications:

Complete Specifications Table

Requirement Specification
Photo size35 × 45 mm, borderless
Face height34 ± 2 mm (32–36 mm, crown to chin)
Crown to top edge4 ± 2 mm (2–6 mm)
BackgroundPlain, no shadows — white recommended, pale blue accepted
ExpressionNeutral, mouth closed
GlassesRemoval recommended; no tint, glare, or frames over eyes
RecencyWithin 6 months of application
EditingNo retouching, no mirrored images
Digital uploadJPG ≤ 600 KB (domestic) / JPG, BMP or PNG, 20 KB–2 MB (overseas)

Common Rejection Reasons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear glasses in a Japanese passport photo?

MOFA recommends removing glasses for a more reliable identity check. If you keep them on, the lenses must be untinted with no reflections or shadows, and the frames must not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses and tinted glasses without a medical need are not accepted.

Does the background of a Japanese passport photo have to be white?

White is the background colour MOFA recommends, but the traditional plain pale blue and similar light backgrounds are still accepted. The background must be a single flat colour with no shadows — gradients, patterns, and dark colours are grounds for rejection, and there must be clear contrast between your hair and the background.

Can I smile in a Japanese passport photo?

No. A neutral expression is required. MOFA's photo notice lists raised mouth corners that noticeably change your appearance among its examples of unacceptable photos, so keep your mouth closed and your expression relaxed.

Where can I print a Japanese passport photo?

You can print a correctly sized 35×45 mm photo at a convenience store (konbini) multi-copy machine, a photo lab, or at home on photo-quality paper. MOFA requires photo-grade print quality — visible dots, ink bleeding, or jagged edges will get the photo rejected. Always print at 100% scale so the dimensions stay exact.

Sources