Japan Passport Online Application Guide [2025 Update]: Steps, Required Documents & Passport Photo Rules

Think applying for a passport is a hassle? Good news!
From March 24, 2025, applying for a passport online in Japan becomes even more convenient.

You no longer need to submit a certified copy of your family register (koseki tohon), and you can complete the whole application with just your smartphone. In this article, we explain how to apply for a passport online from March 24, 2025, and how to take a passport photo that won't get rejected!

Key Points of the Online
Passport Application From March 24, 2025

What changes with online applications?

・No more family register certificate required!

Until now, a certified copy of your family register (koseki tohon) was required for a new passport application. With online applications, it is no longer needed, because family register information is now linked between government systems.
That's a big convenience! 

・Lower fees!

Fees for online applications are set lower than for applications made in person at a counter.
For example, the fee for a 10-year passport is ¥15,900 online, compared with ¥16,300 at the counter. 

・Slightly longer wait from application to pickup

Passports are produced centrally at the National Printing Bureau, so it takes about two weeks from application to issuance. We recommend applying well ahead of your travel plans. 

What You Need to Apply for a Passport Online

To make your online application go smoothly, prepare the following in advance.

① My Number Card

The My Number Card is Japan's government-issued IC chip ID card. You will need its electronic certificate password.

② The Myna Portal app

Install this government services app on your smartphone beforehand.

③ An NFC-compatible smartphone

You need a phone that can read your My Number Card.

iPhone
・All models from the iPhone 7 onward support NFC.
・To read a My Number Card with an iPhone, iOS 13 or later is required.

Android
・Many Android smartphones support NFC, but some models, including some overseas models, may not.
・Your phone must run Android 11 or later.

* You can check the list of compatible devices on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Public Key Infrastructure for Individuals (JPKI) portal site.
　JPKI portal site: https://www.jpki.go.jp/ 

④ Passport photo data

Prepare a digital photo that meets the passport photo requirements.

[Latest] How to Apply for a Passport Online (2025 Edition)

[Important] Passport Photo Requirements and Examples of Rejected Photos

For a passport application, photos that don't meet the requirements will not be accepted.
Check the rules below before you upload.

Passport photo requirements

Size	45 mm tall × 35 mm wide (borderless)
Face size	34 ± 2 mm from the top of the head to the chin
Background	Plain and light-colored (white recommended); no shadows or patterns
When taken	Within 6 months before the application date
Pose and expression	No hat, facing straight ahead, eyes and eyebrows clearly visible, no smiling

Examples of rejected photos

• Patterns or shadows in the background
• Face too small or too large
• Hair covering the eyes
• Big smile or open mouth

There are many other rules, so be sure to check the official page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for details!

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan | Passport Photo Requirements (in Japanese)

[Photo Studio vs. Photo Booth] Where Should You Get Your Photo Taken?

You can also get an ID photo taken in an automatic photo booth, but for a passport photo we recommend a photo studio!

Benefits of getting your photo taken at a studio

1. High-quality, clean results

Your face appears clearly and at the correct size.

2. Fully compliant with the requirements

Professionals who know the passport standards well take your photo, so you can feel at ease.

3. Retakes are OK

With a booth, you may only be able to retake the photo two or three times, or not at all!

4. You receive digital data

This is handy for online applications.

A passport is used for 10 years (or 5 years).
If you want a photo you'll be happy with, we recommend having it taken at a photo studio!

Need a Passport Photo in Shinjuku? Try 19Studio!

The quality of photo booths varies a lot by model: older machines may have weak lighting that makes your face look dark, or may not offer digital data at all. If you want consistently high-quality ID photos, we recommend having them taken at a studio.
19Studio also accepts same-day reservations, so it's a good choice if you need an ID photo in a hurry.

Summary: Making Your Online Application Go Smoothly

Applying for a passport online has become more convenient, but preparing in advance is key.

• Have your My Number Card and the Myna Portal app ready
• Follow the photo requirements strictly, and consider having your photo taken at a studio
• Don't forget to check the required documents

Don't let a photo that doesn't meet the requirements force you to start over after you've already applied. Prepare carefully in advance!

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.

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