What to Wear for a Japanese Passport Photo: Clothing Rules to Know
With travel restrictions eased, more and more people are planning trips abroad. And the one thing you can't forget is your passport.
Lately, more people have been coming to our studio to have their passport photos taken. Passport photos come with many rules, but one that is easy to overlook is the clothing rule. Many people wear their favorite outfit for the occasion, only to find out it isn't allowed.
In this article, we'll go over what to wear when having your passport photo taken.
*This article covers Japanese passports issued to Japanese citizens.
Contents
What should you wear for a passport photo?
In general, you are free to wear what you like for a passport photo.
A suit or a blouse is fine, and so is everyday clothing such as a T-shirt. Only the area from around your collarbone up appears in a passport photo, so just a little of your collar will be visible.
That said, passport photos have many detailed requirements, and some clothing can keep your photo from meeting them. Be sure to check the photo requirements before you choose what to wear.
Tip 1: Choose clothes that don't blend into the background
When having your passport photo taken, it's important to wear a color that doesn't merge with the background. If your clothes are the same color as the background, it becomes difficult to meet the photo requirements.
The Passport Division of the Consular Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also states in its notice on passport photos that photos in which the boundary between the background and the head, hair or clothing is unclear are not accepted.
If you plan to be photographed against a white background, it's safest to avoid white and pale colors.
People with blonde or white/gray hair should also be careful when shooting against a white background. Just like with clothing, the boundary with the background can become unclear, so we recommend choosing a different background color.
Tip 2: If you wear white, choose a light blue background
A passport is used for 5 or 10 years, so you may want to wear your favorite outfit in a photo that will stay with you for so long. If you really want to wear white or light-colored clothing for your ID photo, we recommend a light blue background.
Light blue contrasts clearly with white, so it's easier to meet the passport photo requirements even when you're wearing white.
However, dark backgrounds such as navy or black are not allowed. Be sure to choose from plain, light-colored backgrounds only.
Tip 3: Avoid high necks and turtlenecks
So far we've talked about the color of your clothes, but the shape matters too when you're having a passport photo taken.
It's best to avoid high necks and turtlenecks. These styles are likely to be rejected because they can hide your jawline or cover your neck. Passport photos are taken facing straight toward the camera, so a tall neckline can even cover your chin.
Besides high necks and turtlenecks, it's also safer to skip thick hoodies with a prominent hood. Avoid wearing scarves, bandanas or mufflers around your neck as well.
Watch out for accessories and bangs, too
A passport photo is used to verify your identity, so it's important that your facial features and the outline of your face are clearly visible.
Photos in which accessories cover your ears, or in which your hair falls over your eyes or hides your ears or the outline of your face, may be rejected during the screening. Colored contact lenses are not allowed either. If you normally wear them, you will need to take them out before your photo is taken.
Even if you notice a problem with your clothes or hairstyle just before the shoot, it's hard to fix it on the spot. Always check the photo requirements before you go, and decide on your clothes and hairstyle in advance.
For other points to watch out for besides clothing, see this article as well.
Passport Photos for Japanese Citizens: What to Watch Out For
An ID photo is required when you apply for or renew a passport. Here is a summary of the requirements to watch out for in Japanese passport photos!
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Summary
In this article, we covered what to wear when having your passport photo taken!
There are more things to watch out for than you might expect. Checking the requirements carefully before you go will give you peace of mind.
A good option for a passport photo is the ID photo you had taken for job hunting or a career change. The jacket is a dark color that contrasts clearly with the background, and your face and neck are fully visible.
If you had an ID photo taken during a job search, you can reuse it for your passport. Résumé photos and passport photos come in different sizes, so you will need to adjust the size when reusing it. Some studios accept size changes, so it's worth asking the studio where you had it taken. 19Studio also accepts orders for multiple sizes and size changes, so please feel free to ask us.
The article below explains what to keep in mind when reusing a job-hunting photo for your passport. Please take a look!
Can a Job-Hunting ID Photo Be Used as a Passport Photo?
It would be handy if the ID photo you took for job hunting could be used for other purposes. We looked into whether a job-hunting ID photo can be used for a passport!
- I 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.
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