Japanese Passport Photo
Get your perfect biometric photo (compliance guaranteed)
What do you get?
You save time and money - take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home
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Photo for Japanese Passport-size and requirements
Height: 45 mm
- Head height: 34.5 mm
- Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
How to take a photo?
Photo for Japanese Passport - size and requirements
The Japanese passport is considered to be the “strongest” in the world. This means being a holder allows you to travel visa-free, or with a visa on arrival, to 192 countries and territories of the world.
We will guide you through the process of taking a perfect picture for the Japanese passport, since all you need is:
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a tablet or smartphone with a camera,
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someone to take your picture for you or a tripod (selfies are not allowed),
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an online passport photo tool or application that will make this task easier.
Requirements for a Japanese passport picture
There are standards your photo has to comply with so that a Japanese passport application can be accepted. Your picture has to be original (no cutouts from bigger pictures) and of good quality. Below there are some requirements described in more detail.
Japanese passport photo size
A picture for a Japanese passport has to be 3.5 cm (width) x 4.5 cm (height) (35 mm x 45 mm).
Photo color
Japanese passport photos can be in color or black and white.
Facial expression
Your facial expression should be neutral. In other words, you cannot smile or frown. Remember also to keep your eyes open and your mouth closed.
Frontal photo
The photo must be taken from the front, with you looking directly into the camera lens. Make sure your face isn't tilted sideways or to the left or right.
Background
The background should be completely empty and you must make sure that no objects or other people are visible. A white or light grey background color is recommended.
Recent photos
People's faces change over time, attaching old photos to your passport application will make it impossible to identify you, so pictures that are more than 6 (six) months old cannot be used when applying for a Japanese passport.
Lighting
When taking passport images, make sure there is enough light in the room, where the photo will be taken, so that there are no shadows.
Photo quality
Make sure that the photo is of high quality - it cannot be blurry. It is also advisable to print on photo quality paper. Make sure not to damage the printed photo.
Glasses and hats
Glasses (but not sunglasses or tinted glasses) are allowed in Japanese passport photos, while hats and other head coverings are only allowed for religious reasons.
Outfit
There exists no formal requirements concerning your attire in a Japanese passport picture, except this one: uniforms and clothes that potentially resemble uniforms (with camouflage patterns or having insignia) are not allowed.
Avoid white tops, as they might make you blend in with the background, as well as big accessories such as earrings or headbands that could potentially cover any part of your face.
Photos for the Japanese passport - common mistakes
If you want assurance that you are well prepared for taking a passport picture for your Japanese travel document, take a moment to read our list of the most common mistakes made when taking passport photos.
What people often get wrong when taking passport pictures is:
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choosing the wrong size and format
Getting the size of your passport photo wrong is probably the most common mistake. A Japanese passport image needs to be 35 x 45 mm in size.
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poor photo quality
Often, passport photos are damaged when they are printed. Do not use images that are blurry, pixelated, or damaged.
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unnatural facial expression
Another common mistake is having the wrong facial expression. Do not smile or frown in passport photos. You need to maintain a neutral expression with your eyes open and mouth closed.
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using a photo that is not recent
Japanese passport photos must be recent, no more than 6 (six) months old.
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using a photo that is not a biometric passport image
A Japanese passport photo has to comply with biometric standards, such as looking straight into the camera lens, not tilting your head, or avoiding accessories.
Take your passport photo at home
Just take a picture using a digital camera or the one in your tablet or smartphone and upload it to the PhotoAiD website or app. When you upload your photo to PhotoAiD, any mistakes will be automatically detected and you will be able to correct any issue with your picture. As a next step, the tool will resize the photo to the size you need and either remove the background completely or change it to the color you need.
The result is a perfect Japanese passport photo with the head centered and a plain background, all in the required size and in a mere 3 seconds.
Last update: 5/24/22
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the required size for a Japanese passport photo?
The required dimensions of a picture for a Japanese passport are 35 x 45 mm.
❓ How big must the head be in a Japanese passport photo?
The maximum size of the head from the chin to the top of the head should be 36 mm and the minimum - 32 mm. The head must take up 70-80% of the image.
❓ I wear eyeglasses. Should I take them off for the picture in my passport of Japan ?
No, you can keep them on, just make sure that the frames do not cover your eyes and there is no glare. You can’t wear sunglasses or glasses with tinted lenses.
❓ Does the Japanese government require biometric photos for its country’s passport?
Yes. All passport photos regardless of the country must comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization Standards.
❓ Can I smile in my passport picture for Japan?
No, you can’t smile in biometric photos. You are expected to have your mouth closed, both eyes open, and maintain a neutral facial expression.
❓ Can the Japanese passport image be black and white?
Yes, both color and black and white pictures are accepted.
❓ Does the background in my Japanese passport picture have to be white?
Yes, white or light grey is the only background color required by Japanese Passport Offices. If you are not able to capture a picture against a plain white background, don’t worry! Just download the Passport Photo Online app, upload your picture, and have the background removed in a second!
❓ How can I resize and crop an image for my Japanese passport?
You can easily do it in just a moment using the cropping and resizing feature of our Passport Photo Online website or app.
About the document
Japanese passport
The Japanese passport is issued by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to its citizens, both by birth and naturalised. It is a biometric document, can be read by a machine and contains a photo of the holder, their signature, birthdate and registered domicile along with other personal information, as well as a chip with data.
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