OFFICIAL CONSULAR SPECIFICATION● PHOTO REQUIREMENTS GUIDEJapan Passport & Visa Photo Requirements (35×45mm MOFA Specifications)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and Immigration Services Agency standards for Japanese passport issuance, Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and eVisa.
Choose the application before preparing a photo. Try the assessment first. Paid downloads include a clean JPEG and print-ready sheet; review the package price before checkout.
A small portrait can lose useful detail when the crop is made too early. Keep the complete capture until you have compared the application’s framing diagram with the final output. This is especially helpful when the top margin and head position need to be checked independently.
Who this guide is for
Use this guide when preparing a photographer brief or checking a portrait file before printing. Keep passport, visa and other application instructions separate rather than assuming a diagram for one covers every document in the title.
Key Biometric Specifications
Preparing the photo
Practical preparation tips; use the linked application instructions for requirements.
- Identify the document and open its source instructions. If there is a diagram, save it with the work folder. Read what each measurement refers to; the paper edge, top of hair and top of the head are not interchangeable landmarks.
- Start with a wider capture so the whole head and shoulders remain available. Keep the camera directly ahead and check that the subject is not leaning toward it. Avoid solving a tight crop by adding artificial background around the portrait.
- Arrange hair before taking the picture and check the eyes in the preview. A loose strand can move between a test shot and the final capture. Review each candidate at full size instead of assuming the last frame is the best.
- Use diffuse light and watch for small bright reflections on spectacles. Change the lighting arrangement without asking the subject to rotate the face. Consult the relevant application policy before choosing whether glasses remain in the photograph.
- Inspect the saved image for compression blocks around the mouth and hairline. Repeated exports can damage these edges. Make the final file from the original capture and keep that original until the application is finished.
Mandatory Consular Rules
- Dimensions must be exactly 35 mm width by 45 mm height.
- Chin-to-crown height must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (71–80%).
- Top margin between head and frame edge must measure between 2 mm and 6 mm.
- Face centered horizontally; eye line located between 28 mm and 34 mm from bottom edge.
- No head coverings except for recognized religious reasons; face must be completely visible.
Troubleshooting the photo
There is too little space above the head after cropping
A close capture or an early crop removes material needed to position the portrait within the requested frame.
Return to a wider original if one exists. Otherwise take another picture with more surrounding space, then use the source diagram to set the crop.
Top Rejection Pitfalls to Avoid
- Hair bangs covering eyebrows or eyes.
- Top margin less than 2 mm or greater than 6 mm.
- Reflective glare on eye pupils or spectacle frames.
- Blurred resolution or compression artifacts.
Japan photo requirements and document options
Digital and printed copies
Measure a paper photograph on the actual paper. For a file, inspect the pixel dimensions and image content separately. Screen zoom changes neither of those underlying properties.
Questions about this guide
Which edge should I use when checking the top margin?
Use the landmarks labelled in your application’s diagram. Do not substitute the highest strand of hair for another landmark without reading the diagram’s explanation.
Why does the hairline look blocky only after saving?
The export may have introduced compression artifacts. Compare with the original and use a new export from that source instead of repeatedly saving the damaged copy.
About this guide
ApprovaVisa editorial team
Requirements come from the linked authority source. Where our summary and the authority differ, follow the authority.
Prepare Your Japan Photo
Check the receiving authority’s instructions before preparing a photo. Use professional photography where required, and retain the original image when digital alterations are prohibited.
Choose the application before preparing a photo. Try the assessment first. Paid downloads include a clean JPEG and print-ready sheet; review the package price before checkout.