How Is an Official Passport Photo Different from a Regular One? A Complete Guide to Japan's Photo Rules

April 7, 2025November 4, 2026 Ami

What Is an Official Passport Photo?
・What exactly is an official passport?
・Photo rules for official passports
How does it differ from a regular passport photo?
Photos that will be rejected
Application Check points
[Photo Studio vs. Photo Booth] Where Should You Get Your Photo Taken?
Need a passport photo in Shinjuku? We recommend 19Studio!
Summary: Photos for Official Passports

What Is an Official Passport Photo?

An official passport (公用旅券, kōyō ryoken) is a special type of passport issued by the government or a public institution to people traveling abroad on official duties. The photo required for an official passport is similar to the one for an ordinary passport, but there are a few differences.

In this article, we explain the photo rules for official passports and how they differ from regular passport photos. If you are about to have your official passport photo taken, this is a must-read!

What exactly is an official passport?

An official passport is a special passport for government employees and others sent abroad on government assignments. Unlike an ordinary passport (一般旅券, ippan ryoken), it cannot be used for tourism or other personal purposes.

Because it must be trusted as an official document, there are detailed rules for the photo as well!

Photo rules for official passports

(1) Size and format

The same as an ordinary passport photo: 45 mm tall × 35 mm wide.

Photos with rounded corners are not accepted.

(2) Face size

The distance from the top of the head to the chin must be 32 mm to 36 mm.
Place your face in the center of the photo.
Face the camera straight on, with your face symmetrical left to right!

(3) Background

White is recommended.
No shadows should appear in the background.
Patterns or gradients in the background are not accepted.

(4) Expression and posture

Keep your mouth closed and maintain a natural expression.
Smiling or having your mouth open is not allowed.
Your eyes must be looking straight at the camera.
If you wear glasses, make sure there is no glare and your eyes are clearly visible.

(5) Clothing

Wear a suit (men must wear a tie and jacket).
Avoid turtlenecks and other clothing that obscures the outline of your face (if you cover your head for religious reasons, your facial outline must still be clearly visible).

(6) Makeup

Heavy or flashy makeup is not allowed, including false eyelashes, eyelash extensions, and colored contact lenses.
Make sure your lips do not look shiny from lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, etc.
Avoid cosmetics with glitter.

(7) Photo quality

The photo must be sharp and in focus.
There must be no shadows or glare.
A printed photo must have no scratches or stains.
Photos with noise (image distortion), jagged edges (staircase-like patterns), scan lines (striped patterns from printing),
printing dots (a mesh of small dots), or ink bleeding are not accepted.

(8) When the photo was taken

Be sure to submit a photo taken within the last 6 months!

How does it differ from a regular passport photo?

The two are basically similar, but official passports come with some stricter rules.

Item	Ordinary passport	Official passport
Clothing	No restrictions	Suit required (men must wear a tie and jacket)
Expression	Natural expression	A natural expression is checked more strictly
Purpose	Personal travel	Official duties only!

Because an official passport is a public document, its photo rules are set more strictly than those for an ordinary passport.

Photos that will be rejected

Check these common reasons for rejected applications.

Your face is tilted → Face the camera straight on.
Your expression is too relaxed → No smiling or open mouth. Make sure you don't look noticeably different from your usual face!
There are shadows in the background → Ideally, the background should be completely plain.
Your clothing is inappropriate → Avoid flashy designs.
Glare on your glasses, or frames covering your eyes → If possible, take the photo without glasses.
Bangs falling over your face → Not even a single strand should touch your eyes! Part your hair or trim it shorter.
Hair hides your face or facial outline → If your hair reaches your shoulders, tie it back or similar.
Poor image quality → Use a sharp, high-resolution photo.
Wearing jewelry → It is safest to take it off. Earrings that hide the outline of your face are not allowed.

Application Checkpoints

Official passports can only be used for specific official duties, and photo standards are checked strictly.
Keep your photo free of scratches, stains, and dust (do not attach a paper clip).
On the back of the photo, write your unit (dispatch team) number, destination country, and full name (be careful not to press too hard so the writing does not show through on the front!).
Because the standards for official passport photos are strict, having your photo taken at a photo studio is the safest option (photos that do not meet the standards, such as those from photo booths, may have to be retaken)!
Your application may be rejected if the photo does not meet the standards, so check carefully.

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

Because the standards for official passports are strict, we recommend having a professional take your photo at a photo studio!

Benefits of a photo studio

1. High-quality, clean results

Your face is shot clearly and at the correct size.

2. Fully meets the standards

Since a professional takes the photo, you can feel at ease. Even detailed requirements can be met through manual adjustments.

3. Retakes are OK

With a photo booth, you may only be able to retake the photo 2 or 3 times, or not at all!

4. You can get a digital copy

Handy for online applications.

Need a passport photo in Shinjuku? We recommend 19Studio!

Photo booths vary a lot by model: older ones may have weak lighting that makes your face look dark, or may not offer digital copies. If you want consistently high-quality ID photos, we recommend having them taken at a studio.
At 19Studio, same-day reservations are available, so it is also a good choice if you need your photo in a hurry.

19Studio passport and visa photo service

Summary: Photos for Official Passports

Photos for official passports follow stricter rules than ordinary passport photos. Pay particular attention to the background, clothing, and expression. Check everything carefully in advance so your application goes through smoothly.

A passport is an important document, so it makes sense that the rules are detailed.
Follow the standards carefully and get your official passport without any trouble!

Ami: Joined 19Studio as a new business of an IT company; works in advertising and marketingI'm involved in 19Studio as a new business of an IT company, and my day job is advertising and marketing. I'm good at thinking about how to get the right information to the people who need it, and I work on making our prices, services and booking as clear and easy as possible.