Sukat · Passport photo · Japan

Passport photo size in Japan

A Japanese passport photo is 35 × 45 mm, borderless, with the head measuring 34 mm ± 2 mm chin to crown — MOFA's spec is unusually precise. There's a twist: the in-person print is 35 × 45 mm, but the MynaPortal online application wants 600 × 730 px — a different aspect ratio, so one photo needs two crops. Sukat crops to both, sets a plain white background, and compresses under the 600 KB online (or 240 KB e-Visa) limit — all in your browser.

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Last reviewed: July 2026
The spec

Japanese passport photo requirements

The MOFA rules, aligned with ICAO 9303 — precise on head size, and with a separate spec for online applications.

Japan uses two different photo specs. An in-person counter application takes a 35 × 45 mm borderless print, but a MynaPortal online application wants a 600 × 730 px JPEG under 600 KB — and because the aspect ratios differ, the same shot has to be cropped differently for each. Since March 2025, online applications (new and renewal) are available in all prefectures. One catch for Japanese nationals abroad: passports can't be renewed online or by mail from overseas — you must visit a consulate in person. Always confirm the current spec on the MOFA site.
Photo size (print)
35 × 45 mm (4.5 × 3.5 cm), borderless — not the 2 × 2 inch square
Head height
34 mm ± 2 mm (32–36 mm) chin to crown, with ~2–6 mm above the head; head fills ~70–80%
Online spec (MynaPortal)
600 × 730 px, JPEG, under 600 KB — a different aspect ratio to the print
Background
Plain light — MOFA recommends white; light grey or light blue also work; off-white, patterns, and shadows do not
Expression
Strictly neutral, mouth closed — no smile (even a slight one fails), both eyes open, facing forward
Glasses
MOFA strongly advises removing them; prescription only if eyes are fully visible with no glare; tinted or sunglasses never
Photos needed
One photo (in-person or online); the e-Visa portal takes one digital photo
Quality
Colour, sharp, 600 DPI or higher — no filters or retouching
Recency
Taken within the last 6 months
How to

Prepare a Japanese passport photo

One source photo, two possible outputs — the 35 × 45 mm print or the 600 × 730 px online file. Sukat handles both, plus the e-Visa version.

Upload your photo

Drop a JPG, PNG, HEIC, or WebP onto Sukat's drop zone. An iPhone HEIC works directly, with no conversion first.

Crop to your submission's spec

For an in-person print, crop to 35 × 45 mm with the head 34 mm ± 2 mm (about 70–80% of the frame). For a MynaPortal online application, crop to 600 × 730 px instead — the aspect ratio is different. Set a plain white background, and keep the face unedited (MOFA rejects filters).

Compress to the limit and download

For online, choose JPEG and set Maximum File Size to 600 KB (or 240 KB for an e-Visa upload). Sukat binary-searches for the highest quality that fits. For a print, export at 600 DPI and take it to a booth or store.

Use cases

Which Japanese application needs what

The 35 × 45 mm print, the 600 × 730 px online file, and the e-Visa upload each need a slightly different export. Here's where Sukat fits.

Japanese passport, in-person

A 35 × 45 mm borderless print, one photo — from a photo booth, a studio, or your own crop printed at a convenience store.

Japanese passport, online (MynaPortal)

A 600 × 730 px JPEG under 600 KB — available for new applications and renewals in all prefectures since March 2025. A different crop from the print.

Japan e-Visa (evisa.mofa.go.jp)

A digital photo on a white background, max 2 MB (≤ 240 KB recommended), for eligible tourists. Sukat's exact-KB compression fits it precisely.

MyNumber card

The same 35 × 45 mm spec, uploaded digitally through the MyNumber Card Portal with your smartphone.

Japanese nationals abroad

There's no online or mail renewal from overseas — a consulate visit is required, with the same 35 × 45 mm photo.

Why Sukat

Why Sukat for Japanese passport photos

Five things this tool gets right that most "passport photo online" sites get wrong.

Both specs from one photo

Japan's print (35 × 45 mm) and online file (600 × 730 px) have different aspect ratios, so one source photo needs two crops. Sukat crops to each, so you don't guess or re-shoot.

Hits the KB caps exactly

MynaPortal online is under 600 KB and the e-Visa is ≤ 240 KB. Set the cap and Sukat's algorithm finds the highest quality that fits — no bouncing off the upload.

Nails the head-size box

Japan's 34 mm ± 2 mm head height is precise, and a head out of range is the most common rejection. Crop with the head sized right so it isn't over- or under-sized.

iPhone HEIC handled

Drop an iPhone HEIC straight in — Sukat decodes it and exports a clean JPEG at the right size and weight. The e-Visa portal accepts HEIC, but a clean JPEG is safest.

Private, in-browser

Sizing, cropping, and compression all run on your device — the photo never reaches a server, and there's no account. Keep the face unedited; Sukat sets size and background, not filters.

Before you submit

Common reasons for rejection

Japan's automated face check and precise measurements catch a predictable set of faults. Clear these before you print or upload.

Incorrect dimensions

A photo that isn't 35 × 45 mm for a print, or 600 × 730 px for an online application — the two aren't interchangeable. A head outside the 34 mm ± 2 mm box, too large or too small, is the most common rejection.

Improper background

A patterned, coloured, off-white, or shadowed background. MOFA wants a plain light background — white is safest; off-white and cream fail.

Shadows

Shadows behind the head or on the face. Light evenly from the front and leave space between you and the wall.

Low image quality

Blurry, low-resolution, or filtered photos. MOFA requires 600 DPI and no filters or retouching — the face must be unedited.

Incorrect facial expression

Any smile (even slight), an open mouth, glasses with glare, or a tilted head. Japan's biometric check is strict: neutral face, mouth closed, eyes open, and remove glasses to be safe.

Questions

FAQ

What is the passport photo size in Japan?

35 × 45 mm (4.5 × 3.5 cm), borderless, for a printed photo — not a square. The head must measure 34 mm ± 2 mm (32–36 mm) from chin to crown, with about 2–6 mm of space above the head, on a plain white background. The online spec differs — see below.

Why are the print and online sizes different?

In-person applications use a 35 × 45 mm print, while MynaPortal online applications use a 600 × 730 px JPEG under 600 KB. The aspect ratios differ, so the same photo has to be cropped separately for each. Sukat can produce both from one source image.

Can I apply online?

Since March 2025, MynaPortal online passport applications — new and renewal — are available in all prefectures of Japan. Japanese nationals living abroad, however, must apply in person at a consulate; there is no online or mail option overseas.

Can the background be a colour other than white?

MOFA recommends white, and it's the safest choice. Light grey or light blue are generally accepted, but off-white, cream, patterns, and shadows are not.

Can I wear glasses?

MOFA strongly recommends removing them. Prescription glasses are technically allowed only if both eyes are fully visible with no glare and the frames don't cover the eyes — but they often fail the automated check. Tinted lenses and sunglasses are never allowed.

Can I smile?

No. A strictly neutral expression with the mouth closed is required — even a slight smile can fail Japan's biometric face check. Keep both eyes open and look straight at the camera.

Does it work with an iPhone photo?

Yes. Drop the HEIC straight in and Sukat exports a JPEG at the right size and weight. The e-Visa portal even accepts HEIC, but a clean JPEG is the safest choice.

Does Sukat upload my photo anywhere?

No. Cropping, resizing, and compression all run in your browser. The photo never reaches a server, and there's no account or email — switch to airplane mode after the page loads and it still works.

Get your Japanese passport photo to spec.

Free, in-browser, nothing uploaded. Crop to 35 × 45 mm for a print or 600 × 730 px for MynaPortal, set a white background, and hit the KB limit — 600 KB online, 240 KB for the e-Visa.

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