🇰🇷South Korea Visa Photo
for $1

The official requirements

A South Korea visa photo is 35×45mm — the standard ICAO portrait size. The full spec:

• Size: 35×45 mm
• Background: plain white or light-colored, evenly lit, no marks or creases
• Head size: 25–35 mm face length (chin to crown), head 32–36 mm total
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera
• Ears: both ears must be clearly visible
• Glasses: not allowed
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months
• Color: color photo

For a digital upload the file is a JPEG, 413×531 pixels, up to 500 KB.

Two rules trip people up: both ears must show, and you cannot reuse a photo from a passport or ID issued within the last 6 months — Korean consulates check for this.

How to take a compliant photo

The setup is standard ICAO portrait work, with attention to the ears and hair:

1. Stand 6–8 feet in front of a plain white or light wall, far enough out to cast no shadow.
2. Light yourself evenly from the front. Korean guidance is strict about even lighting with no creases or marks on the background.
3. Pull hair back from the ears and face. Both ears need to be visible; hair tucked behind the ears is the simplest fix.
4. Have someone else take the shot — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes on the lens.
5. Crop to 35×45 mm with the face at the right height — or upload to a tool that crops to the Korean visa frame and validates it.

Why photos get rejected

Korean visa sections reject a consistent set of problems. Each one, and the fix:

• Reusing an old photo — an identical photo from a passport or ID issued in the last 6 months is rejected. Take a fresh photo.
• Ears not visible — hair covering the ears fails unless you wear a religious head covering. Tuck hair back.
• Glasses worn — not allowed in Korean visa photos. Take them off.
• Background marks or creases — Korean guidance specifically calls these out; use a clean, evenly lit background.
• Face not recognizable — significant change in appearance, altered hair color, or low quality.
• Photo too old — must be within the last 6 months.

What to wear (and not wear)

There is no dress code, but a few choices reliably cause a rejection.

Avoid: glasses of any kind, hats and non-religious head coverings, headphones, and hairstyles that cover the ears. A white or very pale top can blend into a light background — choose a darker, solid color.

Fine: ordinary everyday clothing, light everyday makeup, and religious head coverings worn daily (the face must stay fully visible).

The ears rule is the one to plan around: if you usually wear your hair down over your ears, you’ll need to pin it back for this photo.

Where to get your photo

You can get a South Korea visa photo online or in person:

35×45 mm is the most common photo size worldwide, so most studios produce it correctly — but still confirm, and make sure they keep your ears visible. An online tool crops to 35×45 mm and gives you the upload file plus a print sheet. Whichever you use, the ears-visible and no-reuse rules are yours to get right.

Submitting your photo

South Korea visa applications are filed through a Korean embassy, consulate, or the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in your country.

Paper application — You attach one printed 35×45 mm photo to the visa application form.

Online applications (K-ETA and visa portal) — Where an online application is used, you upload the JPEG (413×531 px, up to 500 KB). Even for an online submission, bring a printed copy to any in-person appointment in case the center asks for one.