Japan Nurse National Exam Photo: Size Spec and How to Create It
A spec-compliant Japan Nurse (看護師) National Exam photo (60mm × 40mm, with the official white-background requirement) from a smartphone shot for ¥200, per the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
| Dimensions | 60mm × 40mm |
|---|---|
| Face length | Not specified |
| Top margin | Not specified |
| Background | The official spec explicitly requires a white background (stricter than other medical exams) |
| Shoot-by window | Taken within 6 months of application |
| Official issuer | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan |
View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-27)
Verbatim official spec
The verbatim official rules from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare are 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センチメートル、横4センチメートル」
- 「その裏面に撮影年月日及び氏名を記載し」
- 「厚生労働省又は看護師国家試験運営本部事務所若しくは看護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載して提出」
- 「卒業し、若しくは在籍している指定大学、指定学校若しくは指定養成所又は…運営本部事務所…において、その写真が受験者本人と相違ない旨の確認を受ける」
- 「白地のもの」
Why this spec matters
The Japan Nurse National Exam is the largest medical national exam in Japan, with about 60,000 candidates per year. The 115th exam (held 15 February 2026) had 59,614 candidates and an 88.3% pass rate — but the gap between new graduates (94.1%) and repeat candidates (32.3%) is dramatic, making the exam genuinely difficult for those out of school. The governing law is the Hoken-shi Josan-shi Kango-shi Hou (Public Health Nurse, Midwife, and Nurse Act, abbreviated Hojo-kan-hou, enacted 1948); old sources that cite a standalone "Nurse Act" are incorrect — this single law defines all three professions. The Nurse credential is the base qualification: both the Public Health Nurse (~7,000/year) and Midwife (~2,000/year) exams require holding a nursing license plus completing the respective training program, making Nurse the foundational credential and the other two upper-tier credentials. The photo spec is 60mm tall × 40mm wide, and unlike other medical exams, the official rule explicitly mandates a "white background" (白地). The applicant must also write the date taken and full name on the back, glue the photo to the official MHLW-issued mounting sheet, and have identity verified at the designated university / school / training facility or the exam administration office.
How to create it for ¥200
A spec-compliant Nurse Exam photo takes about two minutes with a smartphone and ¥200.
- 1
Take the photo on your smartphone
Stand against a white wall in a bright room and face the camera directly. No hat, neutral expression or slight smile, both shoulders level, eyes on the lens. - 2
AI removes the background and aligns to spec
Upload the photo and select the "Nurse National Exam" preset. AI sets the background to white, detects your face, and auto-crops to the 60mm × 40mm size. - 3
Print via QR code, write on back, glue to sheet, get identity verified
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, glue the photo to the MHLW-issued mounting sheet, then have identity verified at your designated school or the exam administration office.
Create a Spec-Compliant Nurse Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 60mm × 40mm MHLW spec with a white background. QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you.
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
How is this different from the Public Health Nurse and Midwife exams?
Why is the pass rate so much lower for repeat candidates?
What is the difference between "Nurse Act" and "Hojo-kan-hou"?
Is there a CBT (computer-based) version of the exam?
Can I sit the Public Health Nurse or Midwife exam on the same day?
Related content
Create a Spec-Compliant Nurse Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 60mm × 40mm MHLW spec with a white background. QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you.
Create now — ¥200