Japan Visa Photo Specs
Japan is one of the few Asian countries using a square photo. The complication is that consulates and visa agencies do not all state the same size, so confirming first saves a reshoot.
Generate a photo that matches the spec above — processed locally, never uploaded, no sign-up, with a 6-inch print sheet if you need paper copies.
Make a photo to this specSpecification · Japan Visa Photo Specs
| Embassy standard | 45 x 45 mm (531 x 531 px at 300 dpi), square |
|---|---|
| Also accepted by some consulates | 35 x 45 mm (413 x 531 px) — check your visa centre checklist |
| Background | Plain white, with no shadows or texture |
| Space above head | About 7-7.5 mm from the crown to the top edge |
| Head height | Roughly 60%-75% of the frame height |
| Recency | Usually within 6 months; some business visa routes ask for within 3 months |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, facing the camera directly |
| Glasses & headwear | Glasses discouraged; hats and head coverings not recommended except for religious reasons |
| Framing | No profile or half-turned shots, and no half-body crops cut off below the chest |
| Back of photo | Some consulates ask for the applicant name written on the back in pencil |
How to shoot a photo that matches
- Check which size your submission checklist states —— If it says 45 x 45 mm, go square. If it says 2 inch or 35 x 45 mm, go portrait. If both, 45 x 45 mm is the safer bet.
- Shoot frontally against a white wall —— Do not turn your body. Japan rejects profile shots and half-body crops that cut off below the chest.
- Generate the matching preset in our tool —— Both the 45 x 45 mm square and the 35 x 45 mm portrait are built in.
- Set the headroom to about 7-7.5 mm —— Leave a small gap between the crown and the top edge, with the head filling roughly 60%-75% of the frame.
- Write your name on the back in pencil —— Some consulates require it. Pencil rather than pen, so it does not show through.
The uncertainty around Japanese visa photos is not the standard itself but the local interpretation. MOFA's standard is a 45 x 45 mm square, yet consulate and agency checklists in several countries describe "2 inch (35 x 45 mm)", and some explicitly note that either is acceptable.
The safe approach is to follow the checklist of the visa centre you actually submit to. If it is ambiguous, go with 45 x 45 mm — the embassy standard, which has the widest acceptance.
Two more points get missed: some consulates want your name written on the back in pencil, and profile and tight half-body shots are not accepted — the framing must be frontal and still show the shoulders.
FAQ
Is a Japan visa photo 45x45 mm or 35x45 mm?
The MOFA standard is 45 x 45 mm square. Some consulates and agencies also accept 35 x 45 mm. Follow your specific submission checklist; if it is unclear, 45 x 45 mm is the safest choice.
The agency said "2 inch" — which is it?
"2 inch" in this context means 35 x 45 mm, but the Japanese square standard is 45 x 45 mm, which is wider. They are not the same thing.
Can the background be light grey?
No. Japan requires plain white. This is the opposite of Schengen and the UK, which favour light grey.
Do I need to write on the back of the photo?
Some consulates ask for your name in pencil on the reverse. Writing it costs nothing and may save a resubmission.
Is there a hard recency rule?
Tourist visas usually ask for a photo taken within 6 months, while some business visa routes specify 3 months. Prepare to the stricter of the two.