Japan Residence Card / Status

Dimensions

• Print size: 30 x 40 mm (4 cm tall by 3 cm wide), aspect ratio 3:4
• Pixel size: 354 x 472 px
• DPI: approximately 300 DPI
• File / size: Printed photo for paper applications. For the ISA online application system, upload a JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) with a height-to-width ratio of 4:3. No separate file-size limit is published for the photo; the photo and the other attached documents together must not exceed 25 MB per application
• Color mode: sRGB (the ISA does not state a color mode)

Head position

• Head height (crown including hair, to chin): 25 +/- 3 mm, so 22-28 mm
• Head height as fraction of frame: approximately 55%-70%
• Margin above the head: 5 +/- 3 mm, so 2-8 mm
• Head position: Front-facing and centred (the ISA diagram puts the centre line of the head 15 +/- 2 mm from the side edge), without turning the head
• Shoulders: Upright; a tilted body is listed as unacceptable

Background

• Color: The ISA does not name a color. Its wording is that nothing may appear in the background, shadows included. Its example photos use a plain white or near-white backdrop, and a dark background is listed as unacceptable because the outline of the person is hard to make out
• Requirements: Nothing behind the subject: no shadows, patterns, or objects; the applicant must appear alone

Expression

• Front-facing, with the eyes clearly visible
• The expression must not differ markedly from your normal expression; use a neutral one
• Hair must not hide the eyes, and no shadow may fall across the face

Accessories

• Eyeglasses: Not banned, but frames that cover the eyes, very thick frames, and light reflecting off the lenses are listed as unacceptable
• Sunglasses / tinted lenses: Not named by the ISA; avoid them, since anything that hides the eyes hides part of the face
• Face masks: Not accepted, because they hide part of the face
• Head coverings: Hats are not allowed (the photo must show you bareheaded). A face covered by cloth is acceptable only if it is still clearly visible with no shadow cast on it; if you cover your face for religious or medical reasons, the ISA asks you to submit a statement of the reason (any format)

Other rules

• The photo must be taken within 6 months before the date you submit it
• Only the applicant may appear in the photo
• The photo must be sharp; blur and camera shake are listed as unacceptable
• Do not retouch the photo: enlarging the eyes, whitening the skin, or editing facial features, moles, or wrinkles is never acceptable. A mirrored (left-right flipped) photo is not accepted
• Head and margin measurements apply to the photo without its border
• For a printed photo, write your name on the back, unless the photo is printed directly into the photo field of the application form (check the page for your procedure)
• If the photo does not meet the standard, the ISA asks you to retake it
• The ISA's permanent-residence page says that for residence cards issued from 14 June 2026 a photo is required for applicants aged 1 year or older on the issue date (the threshold was 16 before that)

Notes

• This is a different photo from the 35 x 45 mm passport and visa photos of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the frame is 30 x 40 mm and the head is smaller (22-28 mm, about 55%-70% of the height).
• The ISA publishes one photo standard for its residence procedures. Its permanent-residence page and its extension-of-stay document checklist (Family Stay is one example) ask for the same 4 cm x 3 cm photo.
• The ISA gives no eye-line measurement. The generated photo places the eyes about 55% of the way up from the bottom edge, which keeps the margin above the head within the 5 +/- 3 mm range.
• Shoot against a plain white wall in even light so the background needs as little change as possible.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency — Standards for submitted photographs
• Immigration Services Agency — Q&A on online applications (facial photo data)
• Immigration Services Agency — Application for permission for permanent residence
• Immigration Services Agency — Family Stay document checklist (extension of period of stay)