Japanese Passport Photo
Prepare a perfect passport photo with guaranteed acceptance!
What do you get?
You save time and money - take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home
What do our users write about us?
The reviews come from our customer satisfaction surveys.
I downloaded PhotoAid app because I needed passport photos and wanted the option of taking my own photo so I can choose my final pic, as well as save a substantial amount of money. I ordered my digital print and they fixed my background color to white, added my shoulder back in when it was cut out of frame, fixed everything so it is now passport acceptable, and even offered to ship my photos to me free of charge when I contacted them. I saved a ton of money and saved time too since I didn't have to edit the photo myself. Awesome company with exceptional customer service! Highly recommended!
Service was great. We sent 2 photos for 2 different passports. One of them they were able to make good enough to submit, but the other just wasn't good enough quality (our fault). They were so nice and great with communicating what we needed to do-and they even offered us a 2nd free photo, even though it was my fault. The final product was great and we were able to use the photos for our Japanese passport renewals. Thanks!
Great company. They've been helping especially during this pandemic where businesses are closed and I needed a passport picture for my kids. It was so difficult gettu6the right shot from the kids but their human robot was able to correct most of my shots to a standard passport pict.. They, sent me both hard and soft copies.
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Japan Passport Photo Online - Size & 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?
Japan passport photo guidelines
Did you know that the Japanese passport is the “strongest” in the world? It allows its holder to travel visa-free to 191 countries. If you are eligible, you may consider yourself the luckiest traveler in the world! What to do to get this powerful document? It’s easy if you are a citizen of Japan. You only need to submit some documents, attach 2 color passport-style photos and fill out and sign an application form. If you want to get your travel document quickly and without any problems, make sure that your attached photo is biometric and complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization Standards. Our easy-to-read guidelines will help you to produce a perfect photo on your own without pressure and stress. Nowadays you don’t need to look for a photo studio or photo booth, wasting your time and overpaying for a passport photo. You can do it by yourself, because all you need is:
- a smartphone with a camera or tablet,
- a person who will help you (selfies are unacceptable),
- a tripod if you prefer to do it on your own,
- the Japanese passport photo list of requirements that we’ll provide you with
- a smart online passport photo maker to facilitate your work
Japanese passport photo requirements
There are some standards your photo must comply with in order to be accepted by the Passport Office. Your passport photo must be:
- of good quality
- taken within the last 6 months
- printed in color
- original - not cut out from a bigger picture
There are some more criteria we will present in the next paragraph. With our handbook, you’ll be able to create a photo of the same quality as taken professionally, but you’ll save time and money doing it. We have much lower prices than photography studios and, at the same time, the picture prepared with our Passport Photo App always meets all requirements thanks to the photo verification process.
Japan passport photo size (dimensions in mm)
The correct size of the passport photo is 35 x 45 mm (width x height).
Your head from the tip of the chin to the top of the head, as well as its both sides, must be fully visible in the image. The head (with the hair in the picture) must take up approximately 70 - 80% of the image (between 32 and 36 mm). Keep in mind that the height of the face cannot be less than 32 mm, otherwise the photo will not be accepted.
Light and colors
Your face must be evenly illuminated, so we recommend you snap the picture facing a window. There are also a couple more good reasons as to why daylight is the best for this kind of pictures - it doesn’t produce glares or the red eye effect as opposed to flash, and it helps to show your natural skin tones.
Remember that the photo must be in color. Black and white photos are forbidden, as are unnatural colors.
Background
Your passport photo requires a white background. No other persons, objects, or patterns must be visible. Only your face, neck, and the upper part of your shoulders should be seen in the picture. Does this mean that you have to paint your wall now? Absolutely not! Actually, you can take your picture wherever you want! You can then use our app’s smart background removing tool. It erases any unsuitable background and replaces it with a white and plain one in just one second! It also crops the image, so even if your head is too small in the picture, or too much of your body is visible, don’t worry - this passport photo tool will help you obtain the correct crop automatically.
Composition and facial expression
The composition in biometric passport photos in Japan and in other countries is strictly specified: the candidate’s head must be positioned in the central spot of the image and not tilted in any direction.
Also, the facial expression is predefined:
- you must look straight at the camera and keep your eyes open,
- you cannot smile or frown,
- your mouth must be closed, but not tightened.
Keep in mind that your whole face must be clearly visible, so make sure that your hair or head covering does not obscure your jawline.
Headwear
If you cover your head for religious reasons and travel wearing your headgear internationally, you may keep your head covered while capturing your Japanese passport photo. But even if you keep it on, your face must be clearly visible including the forehead and cheeks.
Fashion headwear such as hats, caps, headbands, and such is prohibited.
Dress-code
The Japanese passport photo specifications don’t mention any requirements regarding the attire, with one exception: uniforms and clothes that may potentially resemble uniforms (with military patterns or visible insignia) are prohibited.
Our recommendation, however, is a simple blouse or shirt with a collar or a v-neck. White is not recommended, because it may make you blend in with the background. If you like jewelry, you can put on a necklace and a small pair of earrings. Huge earrings or hair decorations can obscure the face, and in such a case your picture will not be accepted.
The do’s & don'ts
It’s the responsibility of the candidate to know and meet all the requirements about passport photos. Photos taken with mistakes cannot be accepted and will cause delay or rejection of the application process altogether. How to avoid the most common mistakes? We have prepared a list of things you should avoid when taking your own photo for your Japanese passport.
Avoid:
- tilting your head in any direction (down, up, sideways)
- looking sideways
- keeping your eyes closed
- keeping your mouth open
- smiling!
- wearing eyeglasses with tinted or black lenses
- having your eyes obscured by frames
- wearing a fashion head covering
Remember also that it is obligatory for your picture to be:
- taken within the last 6 months
- printed on photo-quality paper
- in-focus, clear, and properly exposed (not grainy or pixelated)
- original (not altered or cut out from a larger picture)
A smart online Passport Photo Online to take your Japanese passport photo
When preparing your perfect picture for the Japanese passport, you need to remember about resizing, cropping, adjusting the background, etc. If you want to be free of this hassle, and focus on the proper composition and facial expression instead, you may use the Passport Photo Online app based on Artificial Intelligence.
In just a quick moment you will get your perfect passport or Japanese visa photo ready to print!
The app is available for both iOS and Android based smartphones, it’s easy to use, and helps its users save money and time. How is that possible? It’s because you pay only for the correctly prepared and verified photos that have a guarantee of acceptance by your Passport Office.
Last update: 5/18/22
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the required size for a Japanese passport photo?
The required photo dimensions 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.
❓ 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.
❓ How to take a biometric passport photo at home?
It’s easy. You need to know the requirements for a biometric photo and have a smartphone or digital camera at your disposal. The rest you can get done thanks to the Photo AiD App - a smart passport photo maker.
❓ I am Muslim. Can I wear a headscarf while taking a photo for my Japanese passport?
Yes, you can pose wearing your head covering if you wear it for religious reasons on a regular basis. It applies to all religious attire. But keep in mind that your whole face must be clearly visible, and the head covering must not cover any part of it.
❓ I wear eyeglasses. Should I take them off for my passport photo?
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 tinted lenses for your photo.
❓ Can I smile in my Japanese passport photo?
No, you can’t smile in biometric photos. You are expected to have your mouth closed, both eyes open, and relax your facial muscles.
❓ Can the Japanese passport photo be black and white?
No. The photo must reflect your natural skin colors, so a color one is required.
❓ Can I take a Japanese passport photo with my smartphone?
Yes. You can take your own photo with your smartphone, tablet, or a digital camera if you like. To adjust your picture to passport photo requirements, download our passport photo maker to make it easier!
❓ Can I wear jewelry in my passport photo?
Yes, you can wear a necklace or earrings, also a facial piercing if you wear it permanently. Any jewelry that you wear cannot cover your face and jawline, or produce any glares. Scarfs, headbands, and huge hair accessories could obscure your facial features as well, so they are not recommended.
❓ Can I wear makeup in my Japanese passport picture?
Yes, you are allowed to wear makeup, but only if it does not change your appearance.
❓ Can I retouch my passport photo with some photo editing program?
No, editing your passport photos is not allowed. You can’t use Photoshop or filters to make your photo prettier or free of blemishes. Any altered photos will be automatically rejected.
❓ Does the background in my Japanese passport photo have to be white?
Yes, white 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 app, upload your picture, and have the background removed in a second!
❓ How can I resize and crop an image for my Japanese passport photo?
You can easily do it in just a moment using the cropping and resizing feature of our passport photo app.
❓ How much does it cost to take a passport photo at home?
Not as much as a session in a professional photo studio. Our tool is based on Artificial Intelligence and the entire process of producing a picture is automatic, so we can offer you really low prices! Check out our price list and stay with us!
About the document
Japanese passport
The Japanese passport is a travel document issued by Japan to its citizens. The passport allows Japanese nationals (both born and naturalized) to travel to 193 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. This makes it no. 1 in the ranking of the most powerful passports in the world. If you are a citizen of Nippon you are one of the most privileged travelers worldwide. The Japanese passport is a biometric document. It contains the holder’s photo, signature, and fingerprints. It has a machine-readable page and a chip with encrypted data. There are 4 different types of Japanese passports. Ordinary passports are issued for 5 years to children and teenagers up to 19 years of age, and for 10 years to citizens who are 20 years or older. However, adults can choose either a 5-year (blue) or 10-year (red) passport for different registration fees.
Types of Japanese passports
- Ordinary passports issued to normal Japanese citizens (born from one or two Japanese parents, or naturalized).
- Official passports issued to public servants and members of the National Diet
- Diplomatic passports issued to members of the Imperial Family, diplomats and their family members, and high-level government officials.
- Emergency passports issued to overseas Japanese nationals when diplomatic missions of Japan are unable to issue ordinary biometric passports due to a malfunction and there is no time to wait. Emergency passports are valid for 1 year from the date of issuance.
There is also a Travel Document for Return to Japan. This is a kind of emergency, single-use travel document issued to overseas Japanese nationals to return to Japan.
Required documents
To apply or renew your passport, you need to set an appointment at a Japanese Passport Office or Japanese Passport Agency. If you live abroad, find the closest Japanese embassy or consulate, and book an appointment there. Before going to the appointment, prepare the following documents to take with you:
- a downloaded application form filled out in black ink
- your current or expired Japanese passport
- one color photo taken within the last 6 months
Koseki Tohon or Koseki Shohon (Family Registry) - only if your previous passport is lost or expired, or you have changed personal data such as name or registered address.
The waiting times for your new passport may vary. It depends on the time of year and the office/consulate/embassy where you apply, but it is never longer than 5-6 weeks. Fees are different and depend on the validity period of the passport.
Interesting facts about Japanese passports
The Emperor and Empress of Japan do not hold passports.
Japanese passports have the inscription in the center of the front cover in the shape of the Chrysanthemum Imperial Seal and the text in Japanese “Nipponkoku Ryoken (日本国旅券)”, which is Japanese for “Japanese passport”.
Ordinary passports valid for five years feature dark blue covers and those valid for ten years - crimson colored covers. Additionally, official passports feature dark green covers, and diplomatic passports dark brown covers.
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