Japan Dental Hygienist National Exam Photo: Size Spec and How to Create It

A spec-compliant Japan Dental Hygienist (歯科衛生士) 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 a plain white background
Shoot-by windowTaken within 6 months of application
Official issuerMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW); photo mount issued by the Japan Dental Health Promotion Foundation

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月以内に脱帽正面で撮影した縦6センチメートル、横4センチメートルのもので、その裏面に撮影年月日及び氏名を記載し、一般財団法人歯科医療振興財団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

Why this spec matters

A Japan Dental Hygienist (歯科衛生士) is an MHLW-licensed national professional whose three core duties are preventive treatment (scaling, fluoride application), oral-health guidance, and chairside assistance. The exam photo spec — 60mm tall × 40mm wide — is identical to the nurse, doctor, pharmacist, midwife, and registered dietitian 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. The Dental Hygienist exam also requires the photo to be glued onto an official paper mount issued by the Japan Dental Health Promotion Foundation, with required fields filled in. The Dental Technician exam (a separate occupation that fabricates dental prosthetics) uses the same mount issuer but is an entirely different license — applications and photos must be prepared separately for each.

How to create it for ¥200

A spec-compliant Dental Hygienist 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 "Dental Hygienist National Exam" preset. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to the 40×60mm size.
  3. 3

    Print via QR, glue onto the official mount, and write date + name on the back

    After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print at any Japan convenience store, glue the photo onto the official mount issued by the Japan Dental Health Promotion Foundation, and write the date taken and your full name on the back with a black ballpoint pen.

Create a Spec-Compliant Dental Hygienist Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 40×60mm MHLW spec. A 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 the Dental Technician National Exam?
The size spec (40×60mm) is the same and both mounts are issued by the same Japan Dental Health Promotion Foundation, but the two exams cover completely different professions. Applications and mounts must be prepared separately. You can, however, print multiple copies from the same shoot as long as it is within the 6-month window.
Is this the same spec as the Nurse National Exam?
Yes — the size (40×60mm) and the "within 6 months / no hat / front-facing / date and name on back" rules are identical across the nurse, doctor, pharmacist, midwife, and other medical national exams. Only the Dental Hygienist exam additionally requires the photo to be mounted on an official paper issued by the Japan Dental Health Promotion Foundation.
Where do I get the official photo mount?
The Japan Dental Health Promotion Foundation (一般財団法人 歯科医療振興財団) issues it as part of the application packet. Most applicants obtain it through their training school (dental hygienist school or training facility). If you are graduating soon, ask your school office.
Should the photo be color or black-and-white?
The official rule does not specify, but color is generally recommended for medical national exams to make identity verification easier. The background should be plain white (or a very light blue or gray).
How is identity verified at the training school?
Eligibility for the Dental Hygienist exam is graduation (or expected graduation) from an accredited training school; no work experience is required. Identity on the exam day is confirmed by matching the admission ticket and the applicant in person, so an appearance very different from the submitted photo (drastic hairstyle change, heavy makeup, etc.) may slow down verification.

Create a Spec-Compliant Dental Hygienist Exam Photo for ¥200

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

Create now — ¥200
Japan Dental Hygienist Exam Photo 40×60mm | ¥200 — Ramune AI ID Photo