OFFICIAL CONSULAR SPECIFICATION● PHOTO REQUIREMENTS GUIDESouth Korea Passport & Visa Photo Guidelines (35×45mm MOFA)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Korea Immigration Service photo regulations for South Korean passport issuance, K-ETA, and visa applications.
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.
Check camera effects before arranging the pose. Some portrait modes change skin texture, blur hair edges or alter the apparent shape of the face before you export anything. A clean original gives you a better starting point than trying to undo those effects later.
Who this guide is for
Use these steps when inspecting a phone capture for a passport or visa-photo project. Match the source instructions to the exact application, and use the practical checks below to spot avoidable image-quality problems.
Key Biometric Specifications
Preparing the photo
Practical preparation tips; use the linked application instructions for requirements.
- Review beauty, skin-smoothing and portrait-blur settings in the camera app. Take a test frame with optional effects disabled. Compare the cheeks, jawline and ears with the preview to check that the saved picture has not introduced an artificial outline.
- Set the camera at face height and avoid reaching toward it. Ask someone to take the photo or use a supported device. Keep enough surrounding space for a later crop rather than using digital zoom to fill the screen with the face.
- Move hair away from the eyes before capture and inspect both sides of the face. Hair can fall back into place as the subject moves, so check the saved frame instead of relying only on the setup.
- Choose clothing whose edge is visible against the backdrop under the capture lighting. If the shoulder boundary disappears, change the top or lighting arrangement. Do not digitally recolour the clothing to create contrast.
- Read the source policy for anything affecting eye appearance before the session. If contact lenses or eyewear raise a question, clarify it from that source rather than assuming that a clear-looking preview answers the policy question.
Mandatory Consular Rules
- Photo dimensions: 35 mm width by 45 mm height.
- Chin-to-crown measurement strictly 32 mm to 36 mm.
- White background only; white clothing prohibited to maintain sharp shoulder outline.
- Natural expression with lips fully closed; teeth must not be visible.
- Eyebrows and both ears must be clearly distinguishable.
Troubleshooting the photo
The jawline looks different in the exported picture
An automatic beauty effect can reshape or smooth the face as part of capture processing.
Disable the effect and take a new original. Trying to reverse the change by another reshape operation compounds the uncertainty.
Top Rejection Pitfalls to Avoid
- Wearing white shirts that blend into the white background.
- Hair bangs covering eyebrows or face contour.
- Heavy digital beauty retouching altering facial symmetry.
- Colored contact lenses or circle lenses that alter pupil size.
South Korea photo requirements and document options
Digital and printed copies
Check the single digital portrait before placing it on a print layout. A layout can reproduce an altered picture very neatly; clean borders do not establish that the underlying face image is suitable.
Questions about this guide
How do I check whether my phone applied a beauty effect automatically?
Review the camera settings and compare a fresh test with effects disabled. Look closely at skin texture, the jaw and the edges around the ears rather than judging only overall brightness.
Does a sharp-looking print prove the original was unaltered?
No. Printing can faithfully reproduce an edited image. Keep and inspect the capture original before concentrating on paper quality.
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 South Korea 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.