South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes some of the strictest passport photo standards of any major authority: a pure white background with no exceptions, hair that must not cover the eyebrows or the outline of the face, and an explicit rule that photos edited with Photoshop, filters or AI tools cannot be submitted at all. The 3.5 × 4.5 cm size is standard, so these three rules — not the size — are what most rejections come down to.
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Common checks include a background that is not a uniform pure white — grey, cream or a digitally composited replacement all fail — hair covering the eyebrows or the outline of the face, and any detectable digital editing: South Korea explicitly bans Photoshop, filters and AI-generated alterations, including AI-swapped backgrounds.
The specification calls for a plain white background with no ink marks or borders. A background that was digitally erased or replaced — including with a plain white fill — is explicitly listed as unacceptable; the photo has to be taken against a real white backdrop.
South Korea's rule is unusually explicit: photos edited with programs such as Photoshop, camera filters, or AI-based editing, processing, compositing or creation cannot be submitted. This is stricter than most authorities' general no-retouching rule and is checked specifically.
A photo where hair covers the eyebrows or the outline of the face — cheekbones, cheeks — is explicitly listed as unacceptable. Long fringes need to be pinned back so the eyebrows and full face shape are visible.
Head length from the crown (excluding hair) to the chin must fall inside 3.2-3.6 cm within the 3.5 × 4.5 cm frame. Use a tool that fits this ratio automatically rather than a manual crop.
The photo must show a neutral expression with the mouth closed and no teeth visible, facing forward with no head tilt. The standard names raised eyebrows alongside smiling as not neutral, so keep the brows relaxed as well.
Hats, headbands and other head coverings are not accepted. Religious head coverings are the only exception, and only when worn daily with the full face from forehead to chin still visible.
The photo must have been taken within the 6 months before your application. An older photo is rejected even if your appearance is unchanged.
Yes — the published rule specifically names AI-based editing, processing, compositing or creation alongside Photoshop and camera filters as unacceptable, in addition to the general rule against digitally erased or replaced backgrounds. Submit the photo exactly as captured.
The clearly published rule is about hair covering the eyebrows or the outline of the face — cheekbones and cheeks — not specifically the ears. Some consulate guidance mentions ear visibility when discussing identity matching, so pulling hair back behind the ears is a safe habit, but the core, consistently stated rule is keeping the eyebrows and face outline uncovered.
A uniform, plain white with no ink marks or borders. The rule is strict enough that a digitally erased or artificially replaced background is explicitly listed as unacceptable, even if the result looks white — the photo needs to be taken against an actual white backdrop.
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