Who needs a Japan passport photo
The passport is the travel document for Japanese citizens. Anyone who applies at a prefectural passport centre, a municipal office in Japan, or a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad must hand in a passport photo that meets the rules. Japan uses its own format, not the US one: the correct passport photo size is 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall. A passport photo with the wrong dimensions, a head that is too small or a busy background can delay your application, so check the passport photo before you go to the counter.
The 35×45 mm passport photo size explained
The 35×45 mm size is not interchangeable with the 51×51 mm (2×2 inch) square used for US passports. An applicant who brings a US-standard passport photo can be turned away. This happens often to Japanese nationals who had passport photos taken abroad. Our template places the head at about 29 mm from chin to crown, with about 5 mm of space between the top of the hair and the top edge. Guides that cite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) give a range of 34 mm ± 2 mm from chin to crown, so a face that sits too low or is cropped too tightly at the top may be questioned. Print the passport photo at 600 DPI so it stays sharp at this small size.
Passport photo background and colour
The background must be plain and uniform, with no patterns, shadows or gradients. White is the reference, and off-white or a very light tone is also accepted. Clothing that blends into the background, or a shadow behind your head, is a common reason a passport photo is refused. Our online tool replaces the background for you, so any wall at home will do. The passport photo must be in colour; black-and-white prints are not used. Do not retouch the photo yourself: filters that change your features get a passport photo rejected.
Digital passport photo for MynaPortal
As of March 2025, MynaPortal online applications are available in every prefecture of Japan, including new applications. The digital passport photo for this online channel must be exactly 600×730 pixels, JPEG format and under 600 KB. These pixel rules apply only to the online upload; the printed passport photo size for an in-person application stays 35×45 mm. Renewal through MynaPortal needs a valid My Number Card, a compatible smartphone and a passport with less than 1 year of validity left or 3 or fewer blank visa pages.
First-time applicants, people whose passport has already expired and those who recently changed their name or registered address in the Japanese family register must apply in person and cannot renew online. For them, the printed 35×45 mm passport photo is the one that matters.
Where to apply in Japan and abroad
Domestic applications go to prefectural passport centres or municipal offices in Japan. Japanese citizens who live outside Japan apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate, such as the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles (official passport page: la.us.emb-japan.go.jp). The Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco estimates that processing takes about one month; other offices may issue sooner. Inside Japan, domestic processing takes about two weeks, and an online application via MynaPortal takes around 11 business days. Collect the new document within 6 months of the issue date, or it becomes void.
Passport types, validity and fees
Japanese adults aged 18 and older can get a 10-year passport with a crimson cover; the age was lowered from 20 to 18 on April 1, 2022. Anyone under 18 receives a 5-year passport with a dark blue cover. Japan began issuing its current version on March 24, 2025. Fees are about ¥16,000 for a 10-year adult passport, ¥11,000 for ages 12–17 and ¥6,000 for children under 12. Japan has announced plans to lower these fees by up to ¥7,000, with no confirmed date at the time of writing. The passport photo rules are the same for every passport type and every age.
Children, glasses and head coverings
Children follow the same passport photo rules for size, expression and background as adults. MOFA does not explicitly ban prescription glasses but strongly recommends removing them. If you keep them on, the lenses must be clear, with no tint and no glare, and the frames must not cover your eyes. Sunglasses and coloured contacts are not allowed in a passport photo. Head coverings are generally not permitted, except for religious or medical reasons when the full face from chin to forehead stays visible. Military and uniform clothing is not allowed either.
A passport photo of a baby or a small child is easier at home: lay the baby on a plain light sheet and take the photo from above, or let the child sit on a chair in front of a wall. Our online tool replaces the background and crops the photo to the Japanese size, so you can take several photos and keep the best one.
Where to get passport photos in Japan
In Japan you can get passport photos from a photo studio, a self-service booth, a photo machine at a pharmacy or convenience store, or an online tool. Studios that know the Japanese rules give the most reliable result but need an appointment. Booths and machines are quick and cheap, but they give little guidance on head size or background. An online passport photo maker lets you take the photo at home and check it against the size and background rules before you print it or order passport photos by mail.
Passport photo vs visa photo for Japan
This page is for the passport issued to Japanese citizens. Foreign nationals who travel to Japan need a different document; see our Japan visa photo page. Residents of Japan may also need a photo for a residence card or certificate of eligibility. Each document has its own photo size, so pick the right one before you print. If you apply for several documents in Japan, make a separate photo for each in our online tool.
How to check the passport photo size before you print
A passport photo for Japan is small, so a few millimetres matter. Before you print, open the passport photo file and make sure it keeps the 35:45 ratio of width to height. When you print, choose actual size, not "fit to page", or the printer will scale the passport photo and change its size. After printing, measure the passport photo with a ruler: it should be 35 mm wide and 45 mm tall, with the head about 29 mm tall in our template. If the size is off, print the passport photo again rather than trimming the face by hand.
Printing passport photos at home or in a shop
Our free download gives you a digital passport photo and a print-ready sheet. Print the sheet at 600 DPI on glossy or matte photo paper, at home or in a photo shop in Japan or abroad, and cut out the passport photos along the edges. Keep spare passport photos in an envelope: a clean, unbent passport photo looks better at the counter. If you do not have a printer, order passport photos delivered by mail.
Passport photos for Japanese citizens living abroad
Japanese nationals who apply at an embassy or consulate outside Japan use the same 35×45 mm passport photo. Local photo shops in many countries only know their own passport photo size, so ask for the Japanese format or make the passport photo online yourself. A US-size passport photo is a frequent reason a print is refused at the counter.
Japan passport photo checklist
- Correct passport photo size: 35×45 mm, no border.
- Head centred, about 29 mm from chin to crown in our template.
- Plain, light background with no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, head straight.
- No glasses glare, no filters, no beauty mode.
- Passport photo taken within the last 6 months.
