Japan Residence Card Photo — at home in 60 seconds
Japan Residence Card (在留カード) - photos for immigration applications (status change, extension, COE, permanent residence, card renewal)
Take it with your phone against a plain, light wall. We crop it to the exact size (30×40 mm) and check the head size, position and background against the published rules.
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo. Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
Quick answer
A Japan Residence Card Photo must be 30 × 40 mm (1.18 × 1.57 in) when printed, or a digital file of aspect 3:4 (JPEG), with the head 22–28 mm from chin to top of head, on a plain background, taken within the last 6 months. A photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets these rules.
- Printed photo
- 30 × 40 mm (1.18 × 1.57 in)
- Digital file
- aspect 3:4 · JPEG
Verified October 3, 2026 from Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁).
Photo requirements
Summarised from the official sources below.
- Printed photo
- 30 × 40 mm (1.18 × 1.57 in)
- Digital file
- aspect 3:4 · JPEG
- Head size (chin to top of head)
- 22–28 mm
- Space above the head
- 2–8 mm
- Background
- Plain. No background (including shadows); dark background colours that make the outline hard to identify are rejected. Colour not specified.
- Expression
- Front-facing, no hat; expression must not differ markedly from usual.
- Glasses
- Frames must not overlap the eyes; no very thick frames; no lighting reflection on glasses.
- Head covering
- No hat. Cloth covering is acceptable if the face is clearly shown; when covering for religious or medical reasons, a statement (陳述書, free format) must be submitted.
- Babies and children
- From 14 June 2026 (revised Immigration Act) residence cards show a photo for ages 1-16 as well; photos are now required for applicants aged 1+ (previously only 16+).
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Online application
- Immigration Services Agency Online Residence Application System (在留申請オンラインシステム)
More rules (5)
- Size 40 mm high x 30 mm wide (excluding border); head 25±3 mm; top margin 5±3 mm; face centre 15±2 mm from side edge
- Applicant only; front-facing; no hat; clear
- No masks hiding the face; hair must not hide the eyes
- No retouching (eye enlargement, whitening, removing moles/wrinkles) and no mirror-flipped photos
- Name written on the back (unless printed directly on the application form)
Print at home or at a kiosk
Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size), never “Fit to page”, on photo paper. Each sheet has a 50 mm ruler so you can check the size.
How to take it at home
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain, light wall, facing a window.
- Hold the phone at arm’s length or ask someone to help. The live guide checks distance, light and head position.
- Get your digital file and print sheet. Print at 100% or upload the file.
Price
Free to try. From $3.99, paid once, only if you like your photo.
Limited time offer then $6.99 from Jan 1, 2027
Your exact local price is shown before you take your photo.
Photo Acceptance Guarantee — rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
Why people choose Ovalight
Made for the moment you need a photo that just works.
- Money back if it’s rejected Rejected for a technical reason we check? We refund you.
- Free to try Take and check your photo for free. You pay once, only when you like the result.
- Your photo stays on your phone Processed on your device. Never uploaded to our servers.
- Checked against the official rules Every rule comes from the issuing authority’s own website, last verified on October 3, 2026.
- Free retakes for 24 hours Not happy with it? Retake the same document up to 3 times within 24 hours.
- Secure payment, no subscription Pay once through Stripe. We never see your card details.
Official sources
Verified on October 3, 2026
- 提出写真の規格 — Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁)
- 在留申請のオンライン手続 Q&A (Q4-7 顔写真の規格) — Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 【重要】オンライン申請における１歳以上１６歳未満の方の顔写真の提出について（令和８年５月１９日時点） — Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Questions
What size is a Japan Residence Card Photo?
Printed: 30 × 40 mm (1.18 × 1.57 in). Digital: aspect 3:4 · JPEG.
Can I take my Japan Residence Card Photo at home?
Yes. The photo is not taken at the office and no registered photographer is required, so a photo you take yourself is accepted when it meets the rules on this page.
What background is required?
Plain. No background (including shadows); dark background colours that make the outline hard to identify are rejected. Colour not specified.
Can I smile?
Front-facing, no hat; expression must not differ markedly from usual.
Can I wear glasses?
Frames must not overlap the eyes; no very thick frames; no lighting reflection on glasses.
Can I wear a head covering?
No hat. Cloth covering is acceptable if the face is clearly shown; when covering for religious or medical reasons, a statement (陳述書, free format) must be submitted.
How recent must the photo be?
Taken within the last 6 months.
What about babies and children?
From 14 June 2026 (revised Immigration Act) residence cards show a photo for ages 1-16 as well; photos are now required for applicants aged 1+ (previously only 16+).
Can I print the photo at home?
Yes. Print the sheet at 100% (Actual size) on photo paper, at home or at a pharmacy or kiosk, and check the size with the 50 mm ruler.
More Japan documents
Other documents that use 30×40 mm
Ovalight is an independent service. Only the authority that issues your document decides whether to accept a photo.