Japan Passport Photo Requirements & Guidelines

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) applies very precise passport photo rules, right down to the few millimetres of space above your head. A photo that is roughly the right size can still be rejected if the head is too large, too small, or sits too high in the frame.

This guide breaks down every current Japan passport photo rule for 2026 — the 35 × 45 mm size, the 32–36 mm head height with 2–6 mm of headroom, the plain light background, and the no-glasses rule.

Japan Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

Here are the core specifications set by MOFA for the Japan passport photo:

Get any one of these wrong and the photo can be rejected, so it is worth checking each before you submit.

Passport Photo Dimensions and Head Position Rules

Exact Passport Size Photo Dimensions

The finished photo must be 35 mm wide by 45 mm tall in a portrait format — the same overall size used across much of the world, but with Japan's own strict framing tolerances.

Head size and headroom

Your head must measure 32–36 mm from chin to crown, with 2–6 mm of blank space above the top of your head. This precise headroom rule is unusual and is a frequent reason photos are rejected, so it is worth getting exactly right.

Measuring this by hand is where most people slip up. The simplest fix is to create your Japan passport photo with a tool that crops and resizes to the exact official spec automatically.

Background Requirements

Acceptable backgrounds

The background must be plain white or light-coloured, uniform, with no patterns, gradients, shadows, or objects. Stand a short distance in front of a clean wall and light it evenly.

Common background mistakes

• Coloured, patterned, or textured walls
• Shadows falling behind the head or shoulders
• Gradients or uneven lighting on the background
• Other people or objects in the frame

Pose, Expression, and Lighting Rules

Expression and eyes

Keep a neutral expression with no smiling and your mouth closed. Your face must be centred and looking directly at the camera, with both eyes open and clearly visible.

Lighting

Use even, front-facing light so there are no shadows on your face or under the chin. Keep your hair clear of your eyes and make sure both edges of your face are visible.

Glasses, Head Coverings, and Other Passport Photo Criteria

Glasses

Glasses are not allowed in Japanese passport photos — all eyewear, including prescription glasses and sunglasses, must be removed. The eyes must be fully visible with no glare.

Head coverings

Head coverings are not permitted except for documented religious or medical reasons, and even then the full face must be visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead.

Digital vs. Printed Passport Photo Specifications

Printed photo

For counter applications, bring a recent 35 × 45 mm colour print on photo-quality paper with a plain light background and the correct head position.

Digital photo

Where a digital photo is used, it should be high resolution (around 600 DPI) with the same plain background, neutral expression, and 32–36 mm head height. Only the delivery format changes — the composition rules are identical.

Top Reasons Japan Passport Photos Get Rejected

• Head too large or too small — outside the 32–36 mm range
• Wrong headroom — not 2–6 mm of space above the head
• Background not plain or light enough, or shadows behind the head
• Glasses left on (all eyewear must be removed)
• Smiling or a non-neutral expression
• Hair covering the eyes or face edges
• Old photos taken more than six months ago

How to Meet Japan's Passport Picture Requirements at Home

1. Stand 2–3 feet from a plain white or light wall in even light, with no shadows behind you.
2. Have someone photograph you at eye level from about 4 feet away, or use a tripod and timer.
3. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, and no glasses.
4. Shoot in colour at the highest resolution your phone or camera allows.
5. Upload it to a tool that crops to the exact 35 × 45 mm size with a 32–36 mm head height and 2–6 mm headroom.
6. Download the print-ready file, or a high-resolution version for digital use.

Beyond Japan: Other Countries' Requirements

Specifications differ widely between countries — Japan shares the 35 × 45 mm size with Europe but adds a strict headroom rule, while the US uses a 2 × 2 inch square and Canada a 50 × 70 mm photo. If you travel or apply internationally, you can check the rules and generate a compliant photo using our passport photo tool for 150+ countries.

Conclusion

A compliant Japan passport photo comes down to three things: the 35 × 45 mm size with a 32–36 mm head height and 2–6 mm of headroom, a plain light background with no shadows, and a neutral, glasses-free photo taken within the last six months. Nail those and you avoid the most common rejection reasons.