🇯🇵 Japan visa photo requirements 2026

At a glance

Top reasons Japan photos get rejected

• 1

  Wrong aspect ratio (rectangular instead of square)

  Fix: Crop to exact 45 × 45 mm (1:1 square). Reusing a UK or Schengen 35×45 photo will be rejected at the visa centre.

• 2

  Background not pure white (cream or light grey rejected)

  Fix: Use a plain white wall with diffused front lighting. Japan is stricter than Australia or Schengen on background colour.

• 3

  Wearing glasses with glare or tinted lenses

  Fix: Remove glasses for the photo. If medically required, ensure no glare and no tint.

• 4

  Smile or teeth visible

  Fix: Neutral expression, mouth closed

• 5

  Head too small in frame

  Fix: Crop so the head occupies 71–80% of the square image height (chin to crown ≈ 32–36 mm of the 45 mm height)

• 6

  Photo digitally retouched or beauty-filtered

  Fix: Use unedited photo; turn off all smartphone enhancements

What is specific to Japan

• Japan visa photo is SQUARE (45 × 45 mm) — different from UK and Schengen which are rectangular (35 × 45 mm). You cannot reuse a UK or Schengen photo for a Japan visa application.
• The 45 × 45 mm square is also different from the US 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 inch) square — slightly smaller, with a different head-to-frame ratio.
• Some individual consulates accept 35 × 45 mm or 2 × 2 inch as alternatives, but the MOFA-standard 45 × 45 mm is universally accepted. When in doubt, use 45 × 45 mm.
• Two physical photos are typically required with paper applications; the eVisa portal accepts a single digital upload.
• Background must be pure white — some other countries (UK, Australia) accept light grey but Japan does not.
• Japanese passport photos (for Japanese citizens) use 45 × 35 mm, NOT the same as the visa spec — do not reuse a Japanese passport photo for a visa application.