Why the visa photo matters
A South Korea visa is the official permission the Korean government gives foreign nationals to enter, stay in and leave the country for a set purpose and period. The official requirements for a Korea visa application list a recent photo next to the passport and the application form, and the Korean consulate publishes the details. A visa photo in the wrong size, with a dark background or a tilted head can hold up the whole Korean visa application, so it pays to get the photo right before you submit anything. The photo is also the one item you can fully control at home in a few minutes.
South Korea visa photo size explained
The photo size for a South Korea visa is 35×45 mm, which is 3.5×4.5 cm: a portrait photo size, taller than it is wide. In our template the head size is about 34.5 mm from the chin to the top of the head, and there is about 3 mm of space between the top edge of the photo and the hair. This makes the face large and clear in the frame, much larger than in an ordinary portrait. For a printed visa photo we prepare the file at 600 DPI, so the print stays sharp when you cut it to size. If you upload the photo online, the same 35×45 mm proportions apply to the digital photo file.
Size matters more than most people expect. A photo cut a few millimetres too small, or a head that fills only half of the frame, can be enough to have a visa photo sent back. The 2×2 inch square used for some other countries is a different size and shape, so a print made for another visa will not fit the 35×45 mm frame.
Background, face and expression
Use a plain white or very light grey background with no shadows, patterns or objects behind you. Look straight into the camera with a neutral expression, your mouth closed and both eyes open. Keep your head straight and centred, with your whole face and the top of your hair inside the photo. Take off glasses and keep hair, scarves and anything else away from the face, so the whole face stays visible. The photo should be recent, in colour and without filters or heavy retouching, so the visa officer can compare it with your passport photo.
Clothing and hair matter too. Wear everyday clothes in a darker or richer colour, because a white shirt can blend into a light background and make the outline of your shoulders hard to see. Leave hats and large jewellery aside, since they can hide the outline of the head or reflect light. Keep your hair off the eyes and away from the edges of the face, and make sure the ears and jaw line are not hidden by shadows. Even, frontal light from a window gives the best result: the face looks natural, both sides are equally bright, and there are no dark areas under the eyes or the chin.
Types of South Korea visas
The Korean visa you need depends on the purpose of your trip, and the same visa photo standard applies to each of these visas:
- Tourist visa (C-3): short visits for tourism, family visits or events.
- Business visa (C-2): meetings, conferences and trade fairs.
- Student visa (D-2): international students in academic programs.
- Work visas (E series): foreign workers in education, technology, entertainment and other sectors.
- Family visas (F series): family members of South Korean citizens or residents.
Whichever Korean visa you apply for, prepare a photo in the 35×45 mm size. Once you live in the country, the immigration office also asks for a photo for the alien registration card and the residence card, and Korean citizens renewing a passport can use our passport photo page.
What else goes with the Korea visa application
The photo is one part of the file. A typical South Korea visa application, according to the official sources, also includes:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
- A completed and signed visa application form for your visa type.
- Proof of financial means, such as bank statements or proof of income.
- A travel itinerary with flight and accommodation details.
- Extra documents for some visas, such as an invitation letter, an enrolment letter or an employment contract.
How to apply for a South Korea visa
First choose the Korea visa type that matches the purpose of your trip, then collect the documents and fill in the visa application form, which you can usually download from the website of the South Korean embassy or consulate. Some offices need an appointment, others accept walk-in applications. You submit the form with the documents, the visa photo and the visa fee; some visa types also include an interview about your travel plans. Processing times depend on the visa type and the workload of the office, so apply well before your travel date. When the Korean visa is approved, you collect your passport with the visa and check every detail on it.
Plan the timing with care. Gather the documents first, and leave the photo until close to the date you apply, so that it is recent and matches how you look now. If your appearance has changed a lot, for example after a new beard or a big change of hair style, take a new picture rather than reusing an old one. Check every page of the form for spelling, dates and passport numbers before you sign it; a small mistake in the form can delay the decision as much as a wrong picture.
Official sources: the Korea Visa Portal, the Embassies of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Immigration Service.
Printed photo or online upload
A visa photo can be printed or uploaded online, depending on where and how you apply. For a paper application at an embassy or consulate, print the photo at 600 DPI on photo paper and cut it to exactly 35×45 mm. For an online application, upload the digital photo file and check the format and file size limits the visa website shows. Our online tool gives you the digital photo for free, and you can print the same visa photo at home or at a print shop.
If you print at home, use glossy or matte photo paper rather than plain office paper, and print at 100% scale so the printer does not shrink the photo. Measure the print with a ruler before you cut it: the photo should be 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Cut along the guide lines with a sharp blade so the edges are straight, and keep the visa photo flat and clean until you hand it in. Do not staple through the face or write on the front of the photo.
Taking the photo step by step
Stand about one metre in front of a plain light wall, or simply in a bright room, since the AI replaces the background later. Ask a friend to hold the phone at the height of your eyes, or use a selfie with your arm stretched out. Pull your hair away from your face, take off glasses and earphones, and relax your shoulders. Take several photos in a row and pick the sharpest one with both eyes open and a calm, neutral face. Use the main camera rather than a beauty mode, and turn off any filter, so the visa photo shows your real skin tone and features.
Visa photos for children
If a child is part of the visa application, check with the embassy or consulate whether the child needs a separate photo; our tool makes it in the same 35×45 mm size. A baby or a small child can be photographed lying on a plain light sheet, or sitting on a parent's lap with the parent out of the frame. Wait for a calm moment with the eyes open and the face turned to the camera. Our online photo tool crops the photo to the correct size and replaces the background, so you only need a sharp photo with even light.
Getting your Korea visa photo right the first time
Most problems with the photo in a Korean visa application are easy to avoid. Before you hand in or upload the visa photo, compare it with the requirements above: the size, the head height, the light background and the neutral face. Look at the photo at full size on screen and zoom in on the eyes; they should be sharp and free of glare. Check that the skin tone looks natural and that a filter has not shifted the colours. If something looks wrong, take a new photo rather than editing the old one, because a heavily edited visa photo can be refused. Our AI runs these checks online and shows what to fix before you download the file.
Keep a copy of the digital photo file after you finish the Korea visa application. If the embassy or consulate asks for another print, or you later apply for another Korean visa, you can print the same visa photo again as long as it is still recent and still looks like you.
Visa-free entry and stay extensions
Citizens of some countries can enter South Korea without a visa for a short stay; check your eligibility on the official Korea Visa Portal before you apply for a Korean visa and prepare a visa photo. If you are already in the country and want to stay longer, apply for an extension at the local immigration office before your current visa expires.
Visa photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm).
- Head about 34.5 mm tall, with a small gap above the hair.
- Plain white or light grey photo background, no shadows.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred, no glasses.
- Recent, sharp colour photo without filters.
- Printed at full size on photo paper, or a digital photo file for the online upload.
