# Japan Passport Photo Maker, 35x45 mm

Country: Japan

Document: Passport

Page language: en

Page: [Japan Passport Photo Maker, 35x45 mm](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/jp/passport/)

Requirements last verified: 2026-01-25

## Photo specifications

These are document-specific values from the page data. Printed and digital requirements may apply to different application routes; consult the guide and sources below.

| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo dimensions | 35 × 45 mm |
| Photo paper | Glossy or matte |
| Digital pixel dimensions | 827 × 1062 px (see guide/source for applicability and minimum vs exact sizing) |
| Digital file format | JPEG |
| Maximum digital file size | 1024 KB |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months |

## Appearance and composition

- Background: Plain white or off-white background, no patterns or textures
- Head size: 32-36mm from chin to crown (70-80% of photo height)
- Glasses: Permitted; check the source for restrictions.
- Even lighting; no harsh shadows.
- Filters, beauty modes and retouching are forbidden.
- Color photo.
- Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons; check the source for conditions.
- Uniforms are restricted; check the source for exceptions.
- No earphones or wireless devices.

## Common rejection reasons

- Wrong photo size — Must be 35×45mm, different from US 2×2 inch format

- Head size incorrect — Face must measure 32-36mm from chin to crown

- Non-white background — Background must be plain white with no patterns or textures

- Black and white photo — Only color photographs are accepted

- Photo too old — Must be taken within the last 6 months

- Glasses with glare — If wearing glasses, there must be no glare or reflections on lenses

## Source for the document requirements

[Source linked by the document page](https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/passport/pass_5.html)

The complete guide below includes additional sources and application-specific qualifications when available.

## Create a photo with One Dollar Passport Photo

The service sizes, crops and checks a photo for the selected document. Its output settings are service choices, not additional government requirements.

- Digital photo download: $1 USD.
- Print-ready sheet download: $5 USD. Printing is separate.
- Optional human expert review: +$4.99 USD.

[Open the photo tool](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/jp/passport/)

Complete Guide

## Japan passport photo: requirements and where to get one

What a compliant Japanese passport photo needs, how to shoot one that won't be returned, and a straight comparison of where to get it — booth, konbini print, or online.

Written by

Jake

Community & Writing, One Dollar Passport Photo

Reviewed by

Lisa

Expert Reviewer, One Dollar Passport Photo

Fact-checked & verified

May 17, 2026

## The official requirements

Japan permits glasses but returns more photos for lens glare than for any other glasses problem, so the spec below is only half the battle. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs standard:

-   **Size:** 35×45 mm (width × height), portrait
-   **Background:** plain white or off-white, no patterns or textures
-   **Head size:** 32–36 mm from chin to crown
-   **Expression:** neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open
-   **Glasses:** allowed, but the lenses must show no glare or reflection and must not hide the eyes
-   **Recency:** taken within the last 6 months
-   **Color:** color photo only — black and white is not accepted

For a digital application, the file must be a JPEG, 827×1062 pixels, and no larger than 1 MB.

## How to take a compliant photo

Japan’s 32–36 mm head-height window is narrow, so framing matters more than camera quality. The setup that works:

1.  Stand 4–6 feet from a plain white or pale wall, far enough that no shadow falls behind you.
2.  Light yourself evenly from the front — face a window. Side or overhead light leaves shadows.
3.  Have someone else take it from chest height, straight on. A selfie distorts proportions.
4.  Look straight at the camera, neutral expression, hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
5.  Crop to 35×45 mm with the head at 32–36 mm chin to crown — or upload the shot to a tool that measures and crops to the Japanese spec.

## Why photos get rejected

Passport counters return the same problems again and again. Each one, and the fix:

-   **Wrong size** — submitting the US 2×2 inch format. It must be 35×45 mm.
-   **Head outside the 32–36 mm window** — too large or too small. Re-crop, or re-shoot from the right distance.
-   **Glare on glasses** — reflections that hide the eyes get the photo bounced. Tilt the head slightly, or remove the glasses.
-   **Background not white** — a patterned or shadowed wall reads as off-spec. Use a plain white wall.
-   **Black and white photo** — only color is accepted.
-   **Photo older than 6 months** — it must reflect your current appearance.

## What to wear (and not wear)

Japan allows glasses, so the real wardrobe risk is a pale top against the off-white background that softens your outline. Choose a darker, solid color.

**Avoid:** hats or caps, anything covering the hairline or face, accessories that cast a shadow, and a white or pale top against the background.

**Fine:** ordinary everyday clothing, light makeup that keeps your everyday appearance, glasses (provided the lenses are glare-free and the eyes stay visible), religious head coverings worn daily with the face fully visible.

Glasses are allowed in Japan, but glare is the most common glasses-related rejection. If your lenses reflect even slightly, it is safer to take them off.

## Where to get your photo

The speed photo booth in stations and stores is the dominant channel. Common options and trade-offs:

| Where | Price (JPY) | Appointment | Speed | Digital file |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Speed photo booth (証明写真機) | ~900 (700–1,000) | No | A few minutes | Some booths only |
| Convenience-store app print (7-Eleven / Lawson / FamilyMart) | ~250 | No | Same day | Yes (you supply it) |
| Photo studio (写真館) | ~4,000 (3,000–5,000+) | Sometimes | Same day | Usually |
| Online tool (this site) | ~$1 | No | ~2 minutes | Yes |

A booth is fast and everywhere; a studio costs more but checks the framing for you. Online is cheapest and gives you a JPEG plus a print-ready file you can run through a konbini printer. Whichever you pick, the photo only counts if it meets every rule above.

## Submitting your photo

Japan asks for a single print at the counter, with an online route opening up where it is available.

**In-person application** — You bring one printed 35×45 mm photo to the passport counter; it is checked against the standard at the desk.

**Digital application** — Where online application is available, you upload a JPEG (827×1062 px, under 1 MB). Shoot with the digital file in mind so a wrong head size isn’t caught only at upload.

## Babies, kids & special situations

**Infants and toddlers** follow the same rules — plain white background, no toys, hands, or arms in the frame, both eyes open. Lay the baby on a white sheet and shoot from directly above.

**Religious head coverings** are allowed when worn daily for religious reasons; the face must stay fully visible from forehead to chin.

**Glasses** are allowed but must be glare-free with the eyes clearly visible. If your lenses reflect, take them off for the photo.

### Sources & References

This guide is fact-checked against official government publications and updated regularly to reflect the latest requirements.

1.  \[1\]
    
    [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Passport photo standards](https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/passport/pass_5.html)
    
    mofa.go.jp