Japanese Passport and Japan Visa Photo Requirements in the US
Passport Photo Guide · Japan
A Japanese passport photo is 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, with the face 34 mm from chin to the top of the head, give or take 2 mm, and 4 mm of space above the head. Japan publishes every margin to the millimetre.
Last checked against Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 14, 2026.
Japanese passport photo requirements
Japan sets its passport photo standard according to the recommendations of ICAO, the international civil aviation body, because some countries use face recognition at immigration.
| Requirement | Japan's standard |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 mm high by 35 mm wide |
| Face height | 34 mm, plus or minus 2 mm (32 to 36 mm), from the chin to the top of the head |
| Above the head | 4 mm, plus or minus 2 mm, to the top edge |
| Below the chin | 7 mm, plus or minus 2 mm, to the bottom edge |
| Centring | The centre of the face 17 mm, plus or minus 2 mm, from the side edge, with at least 2 mm on each side of the head |
| Pose | Facing the camera, head straight, plain background, following the ICAO standard |
| Age of photo | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Paper | Photo paper. Regular printer or copy paper is not accepted |
ThisPix · Midtown Manhattan
Get your Japanese passport photo in NYCWalk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. We frame the photo to Japan's millimetre template and print it on photo paper, with a digital file by email if you are applying online.
Book your passport photo212-753-4671Applying online from the US
Japanese citizens living abroad can apply online through ORR-net, the online residence registration system, or through Mynaportal with an overseas My Number card. You can take your photo in the app, or upload a photo taken by a photo studio.
| Mynaportal | ORR-net | |
|---|---|---|
| Photo file | JPG, 600 KB or less. Larger files are compressed for you | JPG, JPEG, BMP or PNG, 20 KB to 2 MB |
| Signature image | JPG, 788 × 284 pixels, 200 KB or less | JPG, JPEG, BMP or PNG in RGB, 20 KB to 2 MB |
| Who can use it | Holders of an overseas My Number card | Japanese citizens who filed their residence registration online, using the passport app on a smartphone |
- Online is cheaper. Japan's foreign ministry says the fee is lower for online applications than for paper ones.
- You still collect it in person. Bring your receipt code and, for a renewal, your current passport. A new passport not collected within 6 months becomes invalid.
- You cannot replace a submitted photo yourself. If the consulate finds a problem, it sends a correction request through the system.
Sign large and bold in black or dark blue ink on plain white paper with no lines, and photograph it from above in good light so no shadow falls across it.
Japan visa photos
- Size. The Consulate General in New York specifies 2 × 1.4 inches (45 × 35 mm), and also accepts a standard 2 × 2 inch US passport photo.
- Recent. Taken within the last 6 months, clear and identifiable.
- Attach it with glue. The application form asks you not to staple or tape the photo.
- eVISA. Japan's online visa is available for single-entry tourist visas to holders of ordinary passports; other visas still use the paper process.
Common reasons photos are refused
- A face smaller than 32 mm or larger than 36 mm
- Too much or too little space above the head
- A face that is not centred
- A US 2 × 2 inch photo used for a passport
- Shadows on the face or the background
- A patterned background or dirt in the frame
- Head tilted or turned
- Edited photos or beauty filters
- Prints on regular paper
- Photos older than 6 months
Since 1986
Japanese passport and visa photos in MidtownFor 40 years ThisPix has photographed New Yorkers to the size and rules of consulates around the world. Tell us it is for Japan and we will match the template to the millimetre.
Get your photo at ThisPix212-753-4671Questions, answered
What size is a Japanese passport photo?
45 mm high by 35 mm wide, with the face 32 to 36 mm from the chin to the top of the head and about 4 mm of space above the head.
Can I use a 2 by 2 inch photo for a Japanese passport?
Japan's passport standard is 45 by 35 mm. A 2 by 2 inch US photo is accepted for Japan visa applications at the New York consulate, but follow the 45 by 35 mm template for a passport.
What are the photo file rules for applying online from the US?
For Mynaportal, a JPG of 600 KB or less. For ORR-net, a JPG, JPEG, BMP or PNG between 20 KB and 2 MB. You can also take the photo in the app during your application.
What size is a Japan visa photo?
The Consulate General in New York specifies 2 by 1.4 inches (45 by 35 mm) and accepts a standard 2 by 2 inch US passport photo, taken within the last 6 months.
How recent does the photo need to be?
Taken within the last 6 months.
Where can I get a Japanese passport photo in New York?
At ThisPix, 805 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, at East 50th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Sources. Requirements change, so always confirm with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Consulate General before you apply. Last checked October 14, 2026.
- Passport photo standard (Japanese), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Photo and signature images for online applications (Japanese), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Applying online from abroad, FAQ (Japanese), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa FAQ, Consulate General of Japan in New York
- Visa application form sample, Consulate General of Japan in New York