Japan University Entrance Exam (Individual) Photo: Spec and How to Create It

Make a photo for Japan's per-university entrance exams (private general, national/public secondary) from a smartphone shot, with AI auto-adjustment, from ¥200.

Official spec data
Dimensions40mm × 30mm
Face lengthNot specified
Top marginNot specified
BackgroundPlain or light background, no hat — front-facing, no shadows or patterns
Shoot-by windowTaken within 3 months of application
Official issuerIndividual Universities (National / Public / Private)

View the official source(Last verified: 2026-05-26)

Verbatim official spec

The quote below is from a leading photo-studio industry guide. There is no nationwide unified spec — each university sets its own requirements in its application guidelines.

  • 紙の出願の場合、最も一般的なサイズは 縦4.0cm × 横3.0cm…大学によって 縦4.5cm × 横3.5cm など微妙に異なるサイズが指定される

Why this spec matters

⚠️ This page covers per-university entrance exams — private universities' general admissions and national/public universities' secondary (individual) exams. It is different from the Common Test (DNC) Web-application photo (600×450px, max 5MB, no app retouching), and you cannot assume the same photo file will be accepted for both. There is no nationwide unified size for individual exams: the most common convention is 4.0cm × 3.0cm (30×40mm), but some universities specify 4.5cm × 3.5cm or 5cm × 4cm. To avoid late-stage rejection, always check each university's latest application guidelines for size and freshness window. For the Common Test rules, see the dedicated Common Test spec page.

How to create it for ¥200

A 30×40mm photo for an individual university entrance exam takes about two minutes with a smartphone and ¥200. Always cross-check with the current application guidelines for each university you're applying to.

  1. 1

    Take the photo on your smartphone

    Stand against a plain wall in a bright room. Face the camera directly, no hat, natural expression, eyes on the lens, framed from chest up.
  2. 2

    AI removes the background and aligns to spec

    Upload the photo. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to the most common 30×40mm size. For universities specifying 4.5×3.5cm or other sizes, use the custom-size mode (0.1mm precision).
  3. 3

    Print via QR code at any Japan convenience store

    After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print on L-size paper at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — from ¥30. A JPEG file for web submission is also available for download.

Create a University Entrance Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the most common 30×40mm size used by individual university entrance exams. University-specific sizes (4.5×3.5cm etc.) supported to 0.1mm precision.

Create now — ¥200

What 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.

Cropping screen with horizontal and vertical guidelines to adjust face position, width, hairline, and chin in 0.1mm units

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

Is the photo spec the same for individual university exams and the Common Test?
No — they are different. The Common Test (run by DNC) has a single unified web-submission spec: 600×450px, max 5MB, plain background, no hat, no app retouching. Individual exams (private general, national/public secondary) are set per university in each university's application guidelines; the most common convention is 30×40mm. A photo that passes the Common Test will not automatically be accepted by every individual exam, so always verify both specs separately. The dedicated Common Test page covers DNC rules in detail.
Universities use different sizes — how do I handle this?
The most common size is 4.0cm × 3.0cm (= 30×40mm), which is our default. Some universities specify 4.5×3.5cm or 5×4cm. With Ramune AI ID Photo's "custom size" mode, you can enter any size listed in the guidelines, accurate to 0.1mm. If you need multiple sizes, you can produce all of them from the same source shot.
If I apply to multiple universities, can I reuse the photo?
Yes, as long as (a) the shoot date is within each university's freshness window (usually 3 months before submission) and (b) each university's size and format requirements are met. If sizes differ between universities, output one file per required size from the same source — you only need to shoot once.
Does it work for both web submissions and paper applications?
Yes. Ramune AI ID Photo lets you download both a high-resolution file for convenience-store printing and a JPEG for web submission. Common web specs (600×450px / 4:3, JPEG format, size caps) are supported. If your target university uses both paper and web (e.g. paper application + online registration), the same source photo can produce both deliverables.
What if my target university specifies 4.5×3.5cm?
Use the "custom size" mode and enter the size as specified. AI detects your face and adjusts head size and margins to fit within the 4.5×3.5cm frame. Konbini L-size prints (89×127mm) can fit four 4.5×3.5cm photos per sheet, so you can keep extras on hand for paper applications.

Create a University Entrance Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the most common 30×40mm size used by individual university entrance exams. University-specific sizes (4.5×3.5cm etc.) supported to 0.1mm precision.

Create now — ¥200
Japan University Entrance Exam Photo 30×40mm | ¥200 — Ramune AI ID Photo