Quick answer: This Japan visa preset uses 35 × 45 mm with white or light uniform background. Head occupies 70–80% of photo height. Neutral expression, see glasses rule. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .
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| Format | 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 70–80% of photo height |
| Background | White or light uniform background. |
| Pose | Full face, head centred, no tilt or rotation. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows on the face and background not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Attire | Clothing must not blend into the background; face and shoulder line must be clearly defined. |
| Digital resolution | Check the authority portal before digital upload |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | Check the authority portal before upload |
Japan visa photos are administered by the **Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA)**. Embassy-by-embassy variation applies: some embassies accept 35×45mm (the size in this profile), others request 45×45mm SQUARE — verify with your specific Japanese consulate before printing. Plain WHITE background required, evenly lit, no patterns/textures/shadows. Digital: JPG/JPEG/PNG under 120KB (very small file). Applicant alone on photo, front-face view, no tilting/rotating. Neutral expression, mouth closed, no smile. Taken within 6 months.
| Authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |
|---|---|
| Source | Japan visa application form photo box |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — general |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for Japan visa applications. The final decision always belongs to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 35 × 45 mm rule automatically.
Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall — match White or light uniform background. The gap eliminates shadow on the wall behind you. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with patterned wallpaper or any background colour gradient.
Face a large window during daylight hours. Even frontal light prevents shadow under the brow ridge and beside the nose — two of the most common rejection triggers for consular visa applications.
Look straight at the camera. Keep your head level and centred in the frame. Even a 3–5° tilt is flagged by the consular ICAO alignment check before a human reviewer sees the application.
Both shoulders square to the camera. Visa photos are biometrically checked against the same reference standard as passports — turned shoulders shift the perceived face centre.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections For visa photos, consular pre-screening is particularly strict on glasses glare. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, document this in your application.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open and looking directly at the lens. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no parted lips. Match the expression of someone sitting for an official photograph, not a friendly portrait.
Deep solid colours photograph cleanest against a light background. Avoid white tops (they merge with the background), uniforms, religious headwear except where permanent and documented, and any large jewellery near the face or neck.
Verify the photo dimensions match 35 × 45 mm, the head occupies 70–80% of the height, both eyes are clearly visible, and the background matches the rule above. The tool catches most issues automatically but a manual check prevents surprises.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.
| Code | Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
JP-V-01 |
Photo not accepted by consulate (size variation) | Verify embassy-specific requirement before printing |
JP-V-02 |
Digital file over 120KB | Re-encode at lower file size |
JP-V-03 |
Background not pure white | Re-shoot against pure white backdrop |
JP-V-04 |
Head tilted/rotated (not front-facing) | Re-shoot squarely facing camera |
JP-V-05 |
Photo older than 6 months | Re-shoot |
Japan visa applications are processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA Japan) through Japanese embassies and consulates worldwide. Note: visa-free entry applies for 70+ countries (single short-stay).
mofa.go.jp mission directory
Photo size embassy-by-embassy variation: 45×45 SQUARE most embassies, 35×45 at some. Verify with your specific consulate before printing. Digital ≤120KB.
Authority pageWhite or light uniform background is required. Consular pre-screening systems are strict on background — even minor texture, gradient or off-white tone is grounds for immediate rejection before a human reviewer sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require photos taken within the last three to six months. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause, especially for first-time visa applications.
Each visa type has specific dimensions. Submitting a passport-sized photo for a visa that requires different proportions is grounds for rejection. Verify the spec table above matches the visa category you are applying for.
The face must be centred horizontally and vertically with the head straight. Consular automated systems flag head tilt above 3–5 degrees before manual review.
Glasses glare, hair across the eye, head covering that obscures the facial outline (except for documented religious exception), or any accessory near the face is rejected by automated pre-screening.
Smile, raised eyebrows, parted lips or visible teeth all cause rejection. Consular photos use the same biometric standard as passports — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
If submitting a physical photo, low-quality home printing, glossy paper instead of matte, ink streaks or finger smudges around the edges all cause manual rejection at the consular submission stage.
Both are correct depending on which Japanese embassy you apply through. The default size per MOFA Japan is 45×45 mm (square), but several embassies have adopted 35×45 mm (rectangular) for compatibility with ICAO 9303. Always verify with your specific Japanese consulate before printing — embassy-by-embassy variation is the documented standard.
MOFA Japan requires digital photos under 120 KB for online visa applications. This is unusually small compared to UK (≤10 MB) or Canada (≤5 MB). Most phone-captured photos exceed 120 KB and require re-encoding. The strict limit reflects MOFA infrastructure constraints rather than image-quality concerns.
This Japan visa preset uses 35 × 45 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 70–80% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
White or light uniform background. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture or off-white shade before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Use the exact profile for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all Japan visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. The refund covers the €4.99 download fee. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Eyes must be fully visible; no tinted lenses or strong reflections. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.