Rejection guide

South Korea passport photo rejected — MOFA Korea reasons and fixes

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 and hair that must not cover the eyebrows or the outline of the face. The 3.5 × 4.5 cm size is standard, so these two rules — not the size — are what most rejections come down to.

6 sections

In this article · 6 sections

—Key checks: background not pure white, hair covering eyebrows
016 common rejection checks
025-step recovery checklist
03Frequently asked questions
04Other rejection guides
05Official sources

Fast diagnosis

Key checks: background not pure white, hair covering eyebrows

Common checks include a background that is not a uniform pure white — grey or cream both fail — and hair covering the eyebrows or the outline of the face.

6 common rejection checks

Background not a uniform pure white

The specification calls for a plain white background with no ink marks or borders.

Hair covering the eyebrows or face outline

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 outside 3.2-3.6 cm

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.

Expression not neutral or mouth open

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.

Hat, headband or head covering worn

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.

Photo older than 6 months

The photo must have been taken within the 6 months before your application. An older photo is rejected even if your appearance is unchanged.

5-step recovery checklist

Use a uniform pure white background — no grey, cream or shadow.

Pull long hair or a fringe back so both eyebrows and the full outline of your face are visible.

Keep a neutral, closed-mouth expression, facing the camera directly with your head level.

Take off any hat or headband (a religious head covering worn daily is the only exception, as long as your full face is visible from forehead to chin) and use a photo taken in the 6 months before you apply.

Use a tool that fits the 3.2-3.6 cm head length inside the 3.5 × 4.5 cm frame rather than cropping by eye; for an online application the recommended file is 413 × 531 pixels.

Frequently asked questions

01Do my ears need to be visible in a South Korean passport photo?

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.

02What shade of white does the background need to be?

A uniform, plain white with no ink marks or borders.