head 55–75 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceJapanese prefectural police (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Osaka and Nara Prefectural Police), driving licence sections
Verified
Quick answer: A Japan driver's license photo must be 24 × 30 mm. Even plain background without shadows. Head occupies 55–75% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 24 × 30 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 55–75% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Background | Even plain background without shadows. |
| Pose | Full face, no noticeable tilt; face turned towards the lens. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible without strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No harsh shadows or overexposure. |
| Attire | Keep the original clothing and a visible shoulder line. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 24 × 30 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 2.4 × 3 cm |
| Inches | 0.94 × 1.18″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 283 × 354 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 567 × 709 px |
In Japan the driving licence is issued by the prefectural police, and each prefecture publishes its own photo page — the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the Osaka and the Nara police agree: the application photo is 3 cm high × 2.4 cm wide, bareheaded, frontal, «upper third of the body» (head and the top of the chest) and «with no background», taken within six months before the application, with a small margin above the head — about 3 mm in Tokyo, 2–3 mm in Osaka — and the date and name written on the back (Osaka, Nara). Religious or medical headwear is allowed as long as the outline of the face stays visible (Tokyo, Nara; Osaka accepts a wig, scarf or brimless medical cap on a medical reason). The police list what they reject: a hat, a wide headband or bandana, a face not to the front or a gaze to the side, a face too close or too small in the frame, a face or clothes blending into the background, a patterned wall or curtain, a face too bright or too dark, squinting or closed eyes, hair over the eyes, glasses that reflect or frames over the eyes, dark sunglasses, a wide-open mouth, a mask. The photo on the licence itself is taken by staff under these conditions; in Tokyo you can also use the automatic photo machine at the Fuchu, Samezu or Koto test centre, and a photo you bring (only at those three centres, for renewal, reissue and adding a class) must be printed on photo paper.
The international driving permit takes a larger photo — 4.5 cm high × 3.5 cm wide, with about 4 mm above the head (Nara).
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Japan driver's license applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Japanese prefectural police (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Osaka and Nara Prefectural Police), driving licence sections publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A hat, a wide headband or bandana, a mask, dark sunglasses, or frames or reflections over the eyes | Bare head (religious or medical cover only with the outline of the face visible), clear glasses without reflection, no mask. |
| A face or gaze not to the front, a face too close or too small in the frame, or no margin above the head | Frontal, the upper third of the body, a margin of 2–3 mm above the head. |
| A background with scenery, wallpaper, a curtain or wood grain, or a face and clothes that blend into it | A plain background where the outline of the face and the clothes stand out. |
| A face too bright or too dark, squinting or closed eyes, hair over the eyes, a wide-open mouth, poor printing | Even light, eyes open and visible, mouth closed or only slightly open, a clean print on photo paper. |
How to take it
Background: plain, one colour
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 55–75 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 24 × 30 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 20 (5 × 4) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 84 (7 × 12) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
A Japanese driving licence is applied for, renewed or reissued at the driving licence centre or test centre of the prefectural police (in Tokyo Fuchu, Samezu or Koto), with a 3 × 2.4 cm application photo; the photo on the licence is taken by staff.
The driving licence section of the police of your prefecture (Tokyo: keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp)
3 × 2.4 cm, bareheaded, frontal, no background, within six months; the date and name on the back (Osaka, Nara).
Authority pageQuestions
3 cm high × 2.4 cm wide, bareheaded, frontal, the upper third of the body, with no background, taken within six months before the application, with a small margin (about 2–3 mm) above the head; religious or medical headwear is allowed if the outline of the face stays visible.
3 cm × 2.4 cm (height × width); the international driving permit takes 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm.
The photo on the licence itself is taken by staff; the application photo can be taken in the automatic photo machine at the Tokyo test centres, and a photo you bring is accepted only at those centres for renewal, reissue and adding a class, printed on photo paper.
No hat; glasses are allowed only if the eyes are visible — frames over the eyes, reflections and dark sunglasses are rejected; religious or medical headwear is accepted if the outline of the face is visible.
The Japan driver's license photo must be 24 × 30 mm. The head must occupy 55–75% of the photo height. The photo is printed on the licence card and must remain recognisable for the full validity period.
Even plain background without shadows. Even, frontal light without shadow gradients. Driving licence printers tend to compress contrast — starting with even lighting prevents underexposed areas from disappearing in the final print.
Eyes must be fully visible without strong reflections. Many authorities specifically allow eyewear when it is required for driving, but the eyes must remain fully visible and there must be no lens glare. Tinted lenses or transition lenses that have darkened are not accepted.
Most authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. The licence is typically valid for 5–10 years, so use a recent photo that reflects your everyday appearance — not a one-off styled portrait.
No. Driving licence photos use the same neutral expression standard as biometric passports — closed mouth, eyes open and looking directly at the camera, no raised eyebrows. Smiles distort facial geometry used in modern biometric checks.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the Japan licence authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
24 × 30 mm = 2.4 × 3 cm = 0.94 × 1.18 inches. At 300 dpi that is 283 × 354 pixels; at 600 dpi, 567 × 709 pixels.