Japan Certified Care Worker National Exam: Photo Spec and How to Create It
Make a Certified Care Worker (Kaigo Fukushishi) exam photo that meets the MHLW and SSC official spec, from a smartphone shot, for ¥200. Covers Japan's largest national welfare exam.
| Dimensions | 45mm × 35mm |
|---|---|
| Face length | Not specified |
| Top margin | Not specified |
| Background | Plain background — no official color specified; a white or light-colored wall under even lighting is recommended |
| Shoot-by window | Taken within 6 months of application |
| Official issuer | MHLW / Social Welfare Promotion & National Examination Center (SSC) |
View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-27)
Verbatim official spec
Below is the verbatim official spec from the Certified Care Worker National Exam guide published by the Social Welfare Promotion & National Examination Center (SSC), in the original Japanese.
- 「縦4.5cm × 横3.5cm、申込日前 6 か月以内に撮影した脱帽、無背景、正面のもの」
- 「写真の裏面に氏名を記入してください」
- 「受験用写真等確認票に貼付のうえ提出してください」
Why this spec matters
The Certified Care Worker (Kaigo Fukushishi) is a national qualification under the Social Workers and Care Workers Act (enacted 1987), covering hands-on direct care — physical care (meals, bathing, toileting), daily-life support, communication support, and dementia care. The exam is administered jointly by MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) and SSC (Social Welfare Promotion & National Examination Center). The 37th sitting (January 2025) drew 75,387 candidates with 58,992 passing (78.3% pass rate) — making it Japan's largest national welfare qualification by exam volume. The photo must be 35×45mm passport-size (not the 40×60mm medical-sector standard), taken within 6 months of application, in color, with a plain background, facing front, no hat, from the shoulders up. After printing, write only your name on the back (no date — different from the medical sector and from the Certified Social Worker exam), then paste the photo onto the "Exam Photo Confirmation Sheet" (受験用写真等確認票) and mail it. The similarly named Certified Social Worker exam, administered by the same SSC, covers an entirely different scope (consultation support vs. direct care) with about 25,000 candidates per year — photos cannot be shared. Reforms are in progress: a partial-pass system is being piloted from the 38th sitting (2026), online applications become standard from the 39th sitting (2027), and mandatory exam for graduates of training schools is under discussion for 2027 — but the photo spec itself is unchanged.
How to create it for ¥200
With a smartphone and ¥200, you can prepare a spec-compliant Certified Care Worker exam photo in one go.
- 1
Take the photo on your smartphone
Stand against a plain, light-colored wall in a bright room. Plain background, front-facing, no hat, shoulders up. If you wear glasses during the exam, wear them in the shot too — avoid reflections and tinted lenses. Neutral expression, eyes on the camera. - 2
AI removes the background and resizes to 35×45mm color
Upload the photo. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to the 35×45mm color spec. Fine-tune face position to 0.1mm precision if needed. - 3
Print at a Japan conbini via QR, write your name on the back, paste onto the confirmation sheet, and mail
After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print on L-size glossy paper at any Japan conbini from ¥30, write your name only on the back, paste the photo onto the Exam Photo Confirmation Sheet, and mail the application.
Create a Spec-Compliant Certified Care Worker Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 35×45mm color SSC spec. A QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you — write your name on the back and paste onto the Exam Photo Confirmation Sheet before mailing.
Create now — ¥200What Ramune AI ID Photo offers
Even for a tight spec like My Number, you can finish the entire shoot → process → print workflow in your browser.
0.1mm face position adjustment
Drag the hairline, chin, and face-width guides — or type the millimetre value — to fit inside even a 4mm-wide regulatory window like the My Number spec.
Auto-generated L-size print sheet
Multiple photos optimally arranged on L-size paper with cut marks. Print directly at home or at a convenience store.
AI removes the background automatically
Walls or objects in the original shot are auto-removed; AI converts the photo to the plain background the spec requires.
AI skin smoothing with a natural finish
Auto-reduces blemishes and uneven tone while keeping a natural look. Choose between the original and the smoothed version.
Print at 55,000 convenience stores nationwide
Scan a QR code at the multi-copy machine in 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — L-size prints from ¥30.
5-language support, no app required
Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese — works entirely in your smartphone browser without installing an app.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Certified Social Worker exam use the same photo spec?
It's easy to confuse with the medical-sector 40×60mm — is it really 35×45mm?
I heard a partial-pass system starts from the 38th sitting (2026) — what is that?
I heard online applications start from the 39th sitting (2027)
I heard mandatory exam for graduates of training schools is being introduced — is that confirmed?
Related content
Create a Spec-Compliant Certified Care Worker Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 35×45mm color SSC spec. A QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you — write your name on the back and paste onto the Exam Photo Confirmation Sheet before mailing.
Create now — ¥200