Get Your Japanese Passport Photo Done Right [In 3 Mins]

It’s now possible to get Japanese passport photos without the drive to the photo studio—all in 3 minutes start to finish.

1M+
approved
ID photos
200%
Guarantee of
acceptance
Get Your Japanese Passport Photo Done Right [In 3 Mins]
1M+
approved
ID photos
200%
Guarantee of
acceptance

How does it work?

Get the perfect biometric photo in 3 minutes or less.

Check out just how simple it is!

Snap or upload a photo

Snap or upload a photo

That's the only thing you need to do. Snap or upload a photo - we'll take care of the rest.

AI prepares the photo

AI prepares the photo

Artificial Intelligence will check your photo, crop it to the right size and remove the background.

Expert verification

Expert verification

Our Photo Expert will make additional verification to check if your photo meets the official requirements.

Digital or print photos

Digital or print photos

You can download a digital version and order a printout which we will send within 2-4 days. Delivery is free!

Why?

Take a biometric photo conveniently without leaving home

You save time and money

Convenience

Don't waste time, effort or money. You can take your passport photo without leaving home.

Professional service

Over 1 million people have used our services within the past 11 years. Our Photo Experts are available 24/7.

Money-back guarantee

We guarantee the authorities will accept your photo(s) or we will refund double your purchase cost!

Satisfaction guarantee

Take as many photo shots as you want - you pay only when you are satisfied.

How to take a photo?

Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.

Follow these simple instruction to take the perfect ID photo.

1

Body-camera distance

The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.

2

Posture: Straight ahead

Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.

3

Lighting

Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.

Japanese passport photo—specifications

Get Your Japanese Passport Photo Done Right [In 3 Mins]
Size
Width: 35 mm
Height: 45 mm
Resolution
600 dpi
Is it suitable for online submission?
Yes
Image definition parameters
Head height: 34 mm
Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 3 mm
Is it printable?
Yes
Background Color
Show more

Was this helpful?

Rating: 4.80
Votes: 99

Japanese Passport Photo - All You Need to Know

Are you living in the US and need a photo for a Japanese passport? Discover all the important information about getting Japanese passport photos in the US, including their requirements, finer details (e.g., Japanese passport photo size in pixels), and where to purchase them in person and online. 

Understanding Japanese passport photo requirements

Japanese passport photos have requirements that differ from US passport photos. 

Readers can find the official guidelines posted in PDF format and available via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Here at Passport Photo Online, we’ve prepared this detailed guide to inform you about all the Japanese passport photo requirements—complete with pictures. This way, you can feel confident your photo meets all the official guidelines mandated by Japanese passport agents.

Don’t have time to study the mandatory specifications in detail? Need a Japanese passport photo that’s guaranteed to comply with all official rules (or double your money back) right now? Download our Passport Photo Booth App for iOS or Passport Photo Maker App for Android and get your photo in only 3 minutes!

Japanese Passport Photos Explained

Requirement

Physical Prints & Digital Photos

Color

In color and showing natural skin tone

Recency

Taken within the last 6 months

Image clarity

Clear image of the subject’s face, not blurry, grainy, or pixelated. Lighting must be evenly distributed with no glare or shadows present. 

Filters

Common social media filters of any kind are strictly prohibited

Background

Uniform background with no gradation present; either white, off-white, or light blue in color

Size

35mm in width by 45mm in length (1.38” x 1.77”). The head must be between 32mm–36mm (1.26”–1.42”). A 2mm–6mm (0.08”–0.24”) gap from the top of the head to the edge of the photo is also mandatory

Print Quality

Printed on photo-quality paper

Resolution

Minimum of 600 DPI

Digital Alterations

Strictly prohibited

Note: Digital photos must have a minimum resolution of 827x1063 pixels.

The fine details: specifics of Japanese passport photos

Besides the technical details mentioned above, there are also finer details that must be followed to ensure compliance with official requirements. Check out the following list to make sure your Japanese passport photo doesn’t break the rules:

  • Smile: Neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling is not allowed
  • Eyes: Must be open and depict the subject’s natural eye color (contact lenses changing the eye color are prohibited). Hair, false eyelashes, or eyelash extensions cannot obscure the eyes in any way
  • Glasses: Thick-rimmed or tinted glasses are not allowed. Eyes must be in focus 
  • Headgear: None allowed unless for religious purposes; cannot obscure the face in any way
  • Attire: Cannot blend in with the background
  • Beard: Permitted 
  • Head position: Centered and facing the camera. Portrait-style photos are strictly prohibited

Negative space: 2mm–6mm (0.08”–0.24”) of space between the top of the subject’s head and the top border of the photo. Does not apply to subjects with voluminous hair

Important! Japanese passport applications require the submission of two passport photos.

Become an expert on Japanese passport photos with these related articles:

Japanese passport photo sizing details

Getting Japanese passport photos in the correct size (35x45 millimeters) is extremely important as most in-store photo centers located in the US only provide US-sized passport photos (51x51 mm / 2x2”).

As displayed in the example picture above, Japanese biometric photographs must have a width of 35mm and a length of 45mm (1.38” x 1.77”). Furthermore, the head must be between 32mm–36mm (1.26”–1.42”). 

Lastly, the negative space rule, i.e., the 2mm–6mm (0.08”–0.24”) gap from the top of the head to the edge of the photo (unless the subject’s hair has a lot of volume) is an important aspect that cannot go overlooked by readers or passport photo technicians.

Online services for Japanese passport photos 

National pharmacy chains such as Walgreens and CVS may offer Japanese passport photos at specific locations—but do you want to risk getting non-compliant passport photos with all these confusing sizing requirements? 

You also have to spend time and money getting to the stores in addition to the $16.99 price tag—surely, there must be a better way!

Luckily, there is.

Now you can get quality Japanese passport photos with online passport photo apps. Just look at the chart below outlining some of the features offered by five popular providers:

Provider

User-

friendliness

Essential features

Large country database

Compliance guarantee & refund

Printing service

Price

Passport Photo Online

5/5 

$16.95

Passport Photo & ID Maker

5/5

$6.99

ID Photo For Passports And IDs

4/5

Free

iVisa Passport Photo

3/5

Unclear 

Passport Photo-ID Photo

4/5

$6.99

In 3 minutes or less, Passport Photo Online delivers two Japanese passport photos directly to your inbox—all done with only a few taps on your smartphone. 

Best of all, every biometric photo has an acceptance guarantee, so you can rest easy knowing Japanese passport agents will accept your picture. 

Why try your luck with a pharmacy or independent photo studio when you can get quality passport photos from home?


Using our highly-rated service, you get your Japanese passport photo appropriately done the first time! 


Our reviews speak for themselves:

Last update: 9/30/23

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Where to get Japanese passport photos?

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Search “Japanese passport photo near me” in your favorite search engine to find a few local providers offering Japanese passport photos. 

Passport Photo Online’s service is another option, as it will deliver Japanese passport photos directly to your inbox in only 3 minutes!

How do I take a Japanese passport photo?

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Readers wishing to take Japanese passport photos have several options: 

  1. Visit a national pharmacy chain or independent photo studio and have your photo taken.
  2. Try to navigate the official requirements while snapping your own Japanese passport photo.
  3. Use your smartphone and Passport Photo Online to get a compliant passport photo in 3 minutes or less.

What is the size of a Japanese photo?

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35mm width by 45mm length (1.38” x 1.77”). The subject’s head must be between 32mm–36mm (1.26”–1.42”). A 2mm–6mm (0.08”–0.24”) gap from the top of the head to the edge of the photo is also mandatory.

Japanese passport photo requirements are extensive. For instructions in English, click on the link mentioned earlier. Alternatively, you can visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for a full list of guidelines (in Japanese) with picture examples.