Official requirements
| Print size | 45 × 45 mm (some consulates also accept 35 × 45 mm — check yours) |
|---|---|
| Digital size | Our export is 531 × 531 px at 300 DPI |
| Head framing | Head and face should fill roughly 70–80% of the frame height (consulate guidance), with about 2–6 mm of space above the head |
| Background | Plain white, uniform, no shadows, patterns or objects |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, no smile, both eyes open and looking directly at the camera |
| Glasses | Not accepted in almost all cases — remove them; tinted lenses are never allowed |
| Head coverings | Only for religious or medical reasons, and no part of the face may be hidden or shadowed |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Other rules | Colour, sharp and in focus, one photo attached to the application form; no borders around the photo |
How to take a compliant Japan Visa photo at home
- Use a plain wall in the required background colour if you can — replacing a background digitally is a fallback, not the first choice, and a couple of authorities (Australia, and Canada for digital uploads) require an unaltered photo.
- Stand roughly half a metre in front of the wall so your shadow does not fall on it, and face a window or another even light source so both sides of your face are lit the same.
- Have someone else take the photo from about 1.5 metres away, holding the phone at your eye level. Arm’s-length selfies widen the face and tilt it, and are a quiet cause of rejections.
- Shoot head and shoulders with clear space on every side of your head. The maker scales and centres you; a tight original crop leaves it nothing to work with.
- Look straight at the lens, keep your head level, close your mouth unless your spec allows a natural smile, and take several shots — then use the sharpest one with no shadow on the face or the wall.
Then open the passport photo maker with the Japan Visa preset selected, drag your photo until the top of your head sits between the dashed crown lines, your chin rests on the lower line and your eyes fall inside the shaded band, and download the photo at exactly 531 × 531 pixels — or a print sheet with the copies laid out at 45 × 45 mm each.
Common reasons Japan Visa photos are rejected
- A US 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) photo — close in spirit, wrong in size; Japan specifies 45 × 45 mm.
- Smiling, including a closed-mouth smile showing a raised expression — Japan wants strictly neutral.
- Glasses, which Japanese consulates refuse in almost all cases.
- A head that is too small in the frame; the face should fill about 70–80% of the height.
- Any background other than plain white, or shadows on it.
- A photo older than six months.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies the 45 × 45 mm size, plain background and six-month recency; the 70–80% head coverage and the 2–6 mm gap above the head are the figures Japanese consulates and visa centres publish as guidance. The maker uses them as its guide band and labels them as guidance on this page.
Open the maker with the Japan Visa preset
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Japan visa photo?
45 × 45 mm — a square smaller than the US 2 × 2 inch format — with a plain white background, taken within the last six months. One photo is attached to the visa application form.
Can I use a 2 × 2 inch photo for a Japan visa?
No. 2 × 2 inches is 51 × 51 mm, which does not meet the 45 × 45 mm specification. Crop to the Japan preset instead.
Can I wear glasses in a Japan visa photo?
In almost all cases, no — Japanese consulates ask applicants to remove glasses entirely, even prescription ones. Tinted lenses are never acceptable.
How much of the frame should my head fill?
Consulate guidance says about 70–80% of the height, with a small gap of roughly 2–6 mm between the top of your head and the edge of the photo. The maker’s guide band is set to exactly that.