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🇯🇵 Japan Passport Photo Online

Japan writes its passport photo rule down to the millimetre. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires a borderless 45 mm by 35 mm print with the head measuring 34 mm from crown to the underside of the chin, give or take 2 mm, about 4 mm of space above the hair and at least 2 mm at either side. The specification was last revised on 3 March 2025, and counters apply it closely because the print you submit is transferred directly onto the passport page.

Two Japanese quirks are worth knowing before you book a photo booth. Black and white images are still accepted alongside colour, and prescription glasses may be worn provided the lenses are clear and no reflection covers the eyes. Staff reject a large share of smartphone photos, most often selfies that were saved mirror flipped, and there is a written allowance for infants and round faces whose head cannot fit the width at the 32 mm minimum.

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Japan Passport Photo Online requirements

Official specification: 35 x 45 mm

Dimensions35 x 45 mm
Head height32 to 36 mm (chin to crown)
BackgroundNo background at all: plain, free of shadows, patterns, objects and gradients. White is recommended.
Issuing authorityMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省), with applications processed by prefectural passport centres and municipal counters
GlassesPermitted if no glare

Photo rules

Common reasons photos get rejected

How SnapIDs gets it right

Most rejections come from the wrong head size, a bad background, or glare. SnapIDs solves this before you even take the shot. A live coach checks your distance, centering, head angle, eyes, expression and lighting in real time, and only captures when every check passes. The photo is then framed mathematically to the exact 35 x 45 mm specification, and the background is cleaned to a compliant white, while your face is never altered.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Japanese passport photo?

45 mm tall by 35 mm wide, borderless, with the face measuring 34 mm from crown to chin plus or minus 2 mm and roughly 4 mm of space above the head.

Can I wear glasses in a Japanese passport photo?

Yes, unlike most countries. Prescription glasses are allowed as long as the lenses are clear rather than dark or tinted and no light reflects off them across your eyes.

Is a black and white photo acceptable for a Japanese passport?

Yes. MOFA accepts both colour and black and white prints, provided the image is sharp, correctly exposed and has no background, shadow or gradient behind you.

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