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Japan Visa Photo Checker
If you're applying for a Japan visa, check the photo requirements before submitting. Our Japan Visa Photo Checker compares your image with the listed dimensions and background guidance in your browser. Preview the result for free; the issuing authority makes the final decision.
Japan uses 35×45 mm for passports and a unique 45×45 mm square format for visas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外務省) issues Japanese passports. Japanese passport photos require either a white or light background with the face measuring 32–36 mm. Japan has strict requirements about facial expression — neutral with mouth closed — and no glasses since 2021. That detail matters — most consumer photo apps still ship with generic templates that ignore these specifics. Upload your image above and we'll measure dimensions, sample the background, run face detection, and tell you exactly what to fix before you submit.
Photo checking happens locally in your browser. Sharing or saving a result is a separate action you choose.
Official Japan visa photo rules we check
- Required size: 45×45 mm (531×531 px at 300 DPI)
- Required background: White
- Issuing authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省)
- Print dimensions: 45×45 mm (1.77×1.77 inches)
- Digital size: 531×531 px at 300 DPI
- Background: White
Common Japan visa rejection reasons
- Japan-specific: Showing teeth in the photo.
- Japan-specific: Head height outside the strict 32–36 mm range.
- Japan-specific: Even minor red-eye from on-camera flash.
- Aspect ratio drifted from 45:45 after a careless crop
- Soft focus or motion blur from a handheld phone shot in low light
- Background that looked white to your eye but reads as cream or grey to a calibrated scanner
How to pass the checker
Re-shoot in flat, even lighting
Stand 1.5 m from a plain wall matching the required white background. Use two soft light sources (or window light through a thin curtain) on either side of your face to eliminate the shadow that triggers most Japan rejections.
Crop precisely to 45×45 mm
Use our free image cropper to pull the exact 45:45 ratio. Position your eyes near the upper third of the frame and leave roughly 5 mm of headroom above the hair — the proportions Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省) expects.
Replace the background if it's the wrong colour
If our checker flags the background, compare it with the selected specification (white). The background remover can help prepare another preview; confirm that edited photos are accepted by the authority.
Verify face coverage with the checker
Re-upload the corrected photo and compare the framing with the selected application's guidance. Requirements for head position can vary by application.
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Frequently asked questions
Is smiling allowed in a Japanese passport photo?
A very slight natural smile is acceptable, but teeth must not be visible. The official guidance says 'natural expression' (自然な表情), which is more lenient than most countries but stricter than the U.S. interpretation.
How is head height measured for a Japanese passport photo?
Prefectural passport centres use a printed template overlaid on the photo to verify the chin-to-crown distance is 34 mm ±2 mm. Photos outside this range are returned for retake.
How accurate is this Japan visa photo checker?
Our checker reviews dimensions, aspect ratio, background, sharpness and face positioning with on-device detection where available. It cannot duplicate Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省)'s review or guarantee acceptance. Always check the official instructions for your application.
Does ImageGates upload my photo to a server?
No — every check runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your photo never leaves your device. That is unique among most online checkers and is why the tool also works offline once loaded.
What file formats does the checker accept for Japan photos?
The checker accepts JPG, JPEG, PNG and WebP up to 20 MB. Check Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省)'s instructions for the file formats accepted by your specific application.