Can You Use Your Job-Hunting ID Photo for a Japanese Passport?

Passport, Visa & Other ID Photos #Job-Hunting ID Photo #ID Photo #Passport & Visa #Job Hunting

September 7, 2022November 5, 2026 Chiharu

If you've had an ID photo taken for job hunting in Japan (shukatsu), it would be handy to use it for something else too.
Take the passport, for example. With international travel restrictions easing, you may be thinking about getting one.

So we looked into whether a job-hunting ID photo can be used for a Japanese passport!

Just Print It at Passport Size!

At some photo studios and with some ID photo booths, if your photo data has been saved, they may be able to print it at passport size.

Getting reprints is cheaper than having a new passport photo taken.

Passport photos have detailed requirements, such as how large the face must appear in the frame, so we don't recommend making the reprints yourself.

What Are the Passport Photo Requirements?

All of the passport photo requirements are listed in this document published on the website of the Passport Division, Consular Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese).

https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100171389.pdf

You may be surprised at how detailed the rules are, covering everything from hairstyle to shadows over the eyes.

In fact, job-hunting ID photos are well suited to being reused as passport photos.

Why Job-Hunting ID Photos Work Well for Passports

The passport photo requirements list the following as unacceptable for clothing and accessories:

・Turtlenecks, hoods, or anything covering the neck, and clothing that hides part of the face, such as the chin
・Hats, headbands, or anything else that covers the head
・Accessories that cover the eyes, ears, nose, or lips

Most people wear a suit and no accessories for a job-hunting ID photo.

Other examples of unsuitable photos include:

・Photos where the mouth corners are raised so much that you look noticeably different from your real appearance
・Photos with a dark background
・Photos with shadows on the face

In job-hunting photos, even a smile is usually just a slight one, and backgrounds are mostly white or light blue. Hardly anyone shoots against black or navy.

Also, since a clearly visible face matters in job-hunting photos, they are taken so that no shadows fall on the face.
In other words, a job-hunting ID photo naturally tends to meet the passport photo requirements, which is why it suits passport use.

Watch Out for Retouching and the Date Taken!

Some studios retouch photos to reduce facial asymmetry, enlarging facial features or shifting their positions. Be careful with this.

Such retouching doesn't meet the passport requirements, so if you're considering using the photo for a passport, it's safer to avoid it.

Also, a passport photo must have been taken within the past 6 months, so check that it is within 6 months of the date it was taken.

In this article, we explained whether a job-hunting ID photo can be used for a passport!

If you're a job seeker thinking about getting a passport, we hope this helps!

Chiharu: Loves writing articles and is studying copywritingI love writing and I'm currently studying copywriting. I turn the questions our guests often ask and the things I notice in the studio into easy-to-read articles about job-hunting and ID photos, so that even first-timers can understand them.