Japan passport: the official rules
The photo is 35 × 45 mm. Your head must measure 32–36 mm (chin to crown (top of head)), against a background that is plain, no shadow or pattern (white recommended). These figures come from pref.osaka.lg.jp, checked on October 5, 2026.
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 32–36 mm (chin to crown (top of head)) |
| Background | plain, no shadow or pattern (white recommended) |
| How recent | Taken in the last 6 months |
| Also note | Borderless. Head 34 mm ± 2 mm from the top of the head to the chin. Selfies and mirrored images are rejected. |
| Official source | pref.osaka.lg.jp — checked October 5, 2026 |
How to take it at home
You don’t need a studio for most documents — just a plain wall, daylight and a second person.
- Stand about 1–1.5 m (4 ft) in front of a plain white or light-grey wall, facing a window so the light is even.
- Have someone hold the phone at your eye level, using the normal photo mode — not Portrait mode and not a selfie at arm’s length.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, hair off your face; take off glasses unless the rules allow them.
- Keep space above your head and your shoulders in the frame, then crop it with the tool above and print at actual size.
Need a different country? Use the full passport photo maker. Before you apply, check your passport’s expiration date and use the passport validity calculator to see whether your current passport covers your next trip.
No guarantee of acceptance
This page summarizes the official rules and the tool crops to them, but neither can promise your photo will be accepted: lighting, focus, shadows and expression are judged at the passport office. It is not a biometric compliance check. Read the official page linked above before you submit, because rules change.
How to make a passport photo at home
- Pick the document. Choose the passport, visa or ID card the photo is for. The size, head height and background rules appear under the menu with a link to the official page.
- Take or choose a photo. Stand about 1–1.5 m (4 ft) from a plain white or light-grey wall, face a window, and have someone take the photo at eye level with your head and shoulders in the frame.
- Mark your head. Drag the green line to the top of your head, the orange line to the bottom of your chin, and the blue line through the middle of your face. The preview crops to the official size as you go.
- Check the preview. The shaded band shows where the top of your head is allowed to be. Read the background check, and retake the photo if it warns you.
- Download and print. Download the single photo for an online form, or the 4 × 6 in print sheet. Print it at 100 % (actual size) at a photo kiosk or on photo paper, then cut along the lines.