Getting Your Passport Photo Ready — New, Renewal, Infant, or Online

When you need this photo

This is for first-time applicants, people renewing as their passport nears expiry, and families preparing photos for the kids before a trip. Once a newborn is entered in the family register, even an infant can apply, and a fresh photo is needed for each trip abroad, family visit, or study term.

There are two ways to apply: the traditional route, where you bring a printed photo to the counter, and online application (electronic application for the IC passport), where you upload a photo file from My Number Portal or similar. Which one you choose slightly changes what your photo needs to be.

Where applications go wrong

More often than the raw numbers, it's the oversights that only happen in a given situation that get a photo rejected.

How to create it for ¥200

You can finish three steps at home before heading to the passport center.

1. 1

   Shoot front-on with your phone

   In a bright room, face the camera against a plain wall. No hat, neutral expression, eyes on the lens. For a child, take a burst and keep one frame with the eyes open and both ears visible.
2. 2

   AI removes the background and aligns the head to 0.1mm

   Upload the shot and AI evens out the background and detects your face. You can fine-tune the top margin and left-right position to 0.1mm precision, so it passes at the counter or in an online application alike.
3. 3

   Print at a convenience store with the emailed QR code

   After payment a QR code arrives by email. At Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop, or Poplar you just hold up the QR to print L-size (about ¥30, paid separately); cut it to size and take it to the counter. For an online application, submit the data as is.

Frequently asked questions

Related content