Japan Passport Photo Guide for Foreigners

If you’re a foreigner living in Japan, getting a passport-sized photo can be confusing. The format is different from what you’re used to, the photo booths are in Japanese, and the photo studios assume you know the system. This guide explains everything in plain English.

How Japanese Photos Differ from US/UK Photos

This is the most important thing to understand: Japanese passport photos are NOT the same size as American or British ones.

Spec	Japan	United States	United Kingdom
Size	35 x 45mm	51 x 51mm (2x2 in)	35 x 45mm
Shape	Rectangular (tall)	Square	Rectangular (tall)
Head height	70-80% of frame	50-69% of frame	70-80% of frame
Background	White	White	Light gray or white
Glasses	Allowed (no glare)	Not allowed	Not allowed

If you’re American, the key differences are the size (rectangular vs square), the head-to-frame ratio (much larger in Japan), and that glasses ARE allowed in Japan (but not in the US since 2016).

If you’re British or from another European country, the size is the same (35x45mm) but double-check the head ratio requirements.

Full Specifications

Common Mistakes Foreigners Make

These are the mistakes that catch foreigners most often — things that locals know but aren’t obvious if you’re new to Japan.

1. Using a US-sized photo. If you bring a 2x2 inch photo to a Japanese passport office, it will be rejected immediately. Japanese photos are 35x45mm. Even if you crop a US photo, the head ratio will be wrong.

2. Using beauty mode on your phone. Japanese passport offices are strict about digital editing. Skin smoothing, eye enlargement, and any filters are all banned. Turn off ALL beauty settings before taking your photo.

3. Not knowing where to print. Many foreigners go straight to a photo studio (¥2,000-3,000) when they could print at a convenience store for ¥30-200. See the printing section below.

4. Assuming photo booths have English. Most photo booths in Japan are entirely in Japanese. The Ki-Re-i brand sometimes has English, but don’t count on it. Our online tool is a safer option if you don’t read Japanese.

5. Head tilt. Japan is extremely strict about head positioning. Even a 2-3 degree tilt can get your photo rejected. Make sure your head is perfectly straight and you’re looking directly at the camera.

What’s Allowed and What’s Not

Where to Get Your Photo in Japan

You have three main options, ranging from cheapest to most expensive.

Option 1: Our Online Tool + Convenience Store Print (cheapest)

Take a photo with your smartphone at home, upload it to our tool (English interface), and we’ll automatically remove the background, crop to 35x45mm, and verify compliance. Download the print file and take it to any convenience store.

Cost: ¥150 (~$1) for the photo + ¥30-200 for printing = under ¥350 total

Option 2: Photo Booth (証明写真機)

Photo booths are everywhere in Japan — at train stations, shopping malls, and near government offices. The most common brand is Ki-Re-i (by DNP). Look for a box with a curtain and a screen that says 証明写真.

Cost: ¥800-1,600 per session (usually 6-8 prints)

Tip: Some Ki-Re-i machines have an English interface. Look for the “English” button on the start screen. If there’s no English option, look for the option that shows “パスポート” (pasupōto) — that’s the passport photo setting.

Option 3: Photo Studio (写真館)

Professional photo studios will take your photo, adjust lighting, and print the correct number of copies. The quality is excellent but it’s the most expensive option.

Cost: ¥2,000-10,000 depending on the studio

When to use: If you need a perfect photo for an important document and money isn’t a concern. For a standard passport photo, the other options work just as well.

How to Print at a Convenience Store

Every major convenience store in Japan has a multi-function printer called マルチコピー機 (maruchi kopii ki). Here’s how to use it:

At 7-Eleven (セブンイレブン):

1. Use the “netprint” app or website to register your photo file
2. Go to the multi-function printer and select “net print” (ネットプリント)
3. Enter your registration number
4. Select L-size (L判) photo paper
5. Print — costs about ¥40

At Lawson (ローソン) or FamilyMart (ファミリーマート):

1. Use the “PrintSmash” app to send your photo to the printer via Wi-Fi
2. At the printer, select “photo print” (写真プリント)
3. Select the file and print on L-size paper
4. Print — costs about ¥30

For detailed convenience store printing instructions, see our convenience store printing guide.

Essential Japanese Vocabulary

When dealing with passport photos in Japan, you’ll encounter these terms. Knowing them will make the process much smoother.

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
証明写真	shōmei shashin	ID / certificate photo
パスポート	pasupōto	passport
写真館	shashin-kan	photo studio
コンビニ	konbini	convenience store
マルチコピー機	maruchi kopii ki	multi-function printer (at convenience stores)
写真プリント	shashin purinto	photo print (menu option on printers)
L判	eru-ban	L-size photo paper (89x127mm)
証明写真機	shōmei shashin ki	photo booth (for ID photos)
外務省	gaimushō	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
在留カード	zairyū kādo	residence card (for foreign residents)

Other Documents You Might Need Photos For

If you’re living in Japan, you may need passport-sized photos for several documents beyond just your passport:

• 在留カード (Residence Card): 30x40mm — different size from passport
• マイナンバーカード (My Number Card): 35x45mm — same as passport
• 運転免許証 (Driver’s License): 24x30mm — smaller format
• 履歴書 (Resume/CV): 30x40mm or 40x30mm — for job applications

Each document has different size requirements. Always check the specific format before printing. Our tool supports multiple Japanese document types with the correct specs for each.