Japan Public Health Nurse Exam Photo: Size Spec and How to Create It

A spec-compliant Japan Public Health Nurse (保健師) national exam photo (60mm × 40mm) from a smartphone shot for ¥200, per the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Official spec data
Dimensions60mm × 40mm
Face lengthNot specified
Top marginNot specified
BackgroundNo official background color requirement; convention is plain white background
Shoot-by windowTaken within 6 months of application
Official issuerMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)

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

Verbatim official spec

The verbatim official rule from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is shown below in the original Japanese.

  • 出願前6月以内に脱帽して正面から撮影した縦6センチメ−トル、横4センチメ−トルのもので、その裏面に撮影年月日及び氏名を記載し、厚生労働省又は保健師国家試験運営本部事務所若しくは保健師国家試験運営臨時事務所において交付する受験写真用台紙に貼り付けた上、同台紙に所定の事項を記入して提出すること。

Why this spec matters

The Japan Public Health Nurse Exam photo spec — 60mm tall × 40mm wide — is identical to the nurse, midwife, doctor, pharmacist, dentist, and physical therapist exams. It is one size larger than My Number or driver's license photos (35×45mm), so the "ID / driver's license" size at a convenience-store photo booth will be rejected. Becoming a Public Health Nurse requires holding a nursing license and completing an accredited Public Health Nurse training program; graduates work at public health centers, municipal offices, schools, and corporate health offices as community health and preventive medicine specialists. The Public Health Nurse exam also has a unique procedure: write the date taken and full name on the back of the printed photo, then glue it to the official "exam photo mounting sheet" issued by MHLW or the exam administration office.

How to create it for ¥200

A spec-compliant Public Health Nurse exam photo takes about two minutes with a smartphone and ¥200.

  1. 1

    Take the photo on your smartphone

    Stand against a plain wall in a bright room. Face the camera directly, no hat, neutral expression or slight smile, both shoulders level, eyes on the lens.
  2. 2

    AI removes the background and aligns to spec

    Upload the photo and select the "Public Health Nurse Exam" preset. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to the 40×60mm size.
  3. 3

    Print via QR code, write on back, glue to mounting sheet

    After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print at any Japan convenience store, write the date taken and your full name on the back with a black ballpoint pen, then glue the photo to the official MHLW-issued mounting sheet.

Create a Spec-Compliant Public Health Nurse Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 40×60mm MHLW spec. QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you.

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

Can I reuse the photo from my Nurse National Exam?
The size spec (40×60mm) is identical, so yes — as long as it was taken within the last 6 months. The Public Health Nurse and Nurse exams are typically held on the same day in February, so if you sit both, printing extra copies from a single shoot is the most efficient option.
Is the spec the same as the Midwife exam?
Yes — the Midwife exam also uses the 60mm × 40mm spec. Virtually all MHLW-administered medical license exams (Public Health Nurse, Midwife, Nurse, Doctor, Pharmacist, Dentist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Radiological Technologist, and others) share this 40×60mm format.
Does my training school handle identity verification?
Identity verification for the application is handled by MHLW and the exam administration office, not the training school. However, your training school issues the certificates proving your nursing license and Public Health Nurse training (or expected completion), so coordinate the document submission schedule with the school office well before the exam ticket is mailed out.
How do I get the official photo mounting sheet?
The mounting sheet is issued by MHLW or the Public Health Nurse Exam administration office (main or temporary). It is typically distributed via your training school during the application period, or you can follow the instructions on the MHLW exam guide page. At submission, you must glue the photo to this sheet and fill in the required fields.
Can I submit a black-and-white photo?
MHLW's official rule does not explicitly state whether black-and-white is acceptable, but color is the convention. For identity verification accuracy, color photos showing natural skin tone are the safer choice.

Create a Spec-Compliant Public Health Nurse Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 40×60mm MHLW spec. QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you.

Create now — ¥200
Japan Public Health Nurse Exam Photo 40×60mm | ¥200 — Ramune AI ID Photo