[Japanese Passport Online Application] Why Smartphone Photos Get Rejected: 10 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Since March 2025, you can apply for a Japanese passport online anywhere in Japan.
You can now use a photo taken with your smartphone, which makes the whole process much easier than before.
[Latest for 2025] Complete Guide to Applying for a Passport Online | Steps, Required Documents, and Photo Tips
From March 24, 2025, applying for a passport online got even more convenient! No family register copy required, plus a new discounted fee. We explain the steps, required documents, and how to take a photo that won't get rejected…
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However, on social media you'll also see plenty of posts like
“My photo was rejected” and “I was asked to resubmit.”
A photo that looks fine at first glance can still fail the review if it misses even a small requirement.
Based on real applicants' experiences and the guidelines from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this article explains
which points most often cause smartphone photos to be rejected, and what to watch out for.
Contents
What Applicants Say: Photo Problems with Online Applications Are More Common Than You Think
If you search X (formerly Twitter) for terms like “passport online photo,” you'll find comments like these:
“The photo I took on my phone keeps getting rejected no matter how many times I apply…
On a phone you can't measure the actual size, so when they say ‘head height must be so many mm,’ it's hard to tell.”
“I applied online, but glare on my glasses got the photo rejected.”
“Selfies tend to cast a shadow around the neck, and no matter how many times I retook it, it failed. That's what got me rejected.”
“I lightly retouched my skin in a camera app, and I was told to resubmit…”
“My family took my photo at home, but a shadow kept showing up on the wall and it didn't pass.
Getting a clean photo for an online application is harder than it looks.”
As you can see, even photos that look clean are often sent back for resubmission.
Common Mistakes: 10 Reasons Smartphone Photos Get Rejected
1. The background isn't white, or shadows appear in it
Even a white wall counts as a fail if shadows from the lighting show up. A “uniform background with no shadows” is required.
2. The light comes from one side and casts shadows
Depending on the position of natural light or room lighting, one side of the face can end up darker than the other, making the outline look unclear.
3. Face position or size is outside the specification
The length from the top of the head to the chin must be 535±35px, and you need a margin of 75±35px above the head.
If the photo falls outside these values, the system automatically rejects it.
4. The head is tilted or the gaze is off
Even a slight tilt, or not looking straight at the camera, can be judged as “not facing forward.”
5. Glare on glasses, or frames covering the eyes
If your eyes can't be seen clearly, it's hard to verify your identity, and resubmission is often required.
6. Hair falls over the face or eyes
Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' standards, a photo is non-compliant if any part of the eyes, face, or facial outline is hidden.
Even a single strand of bangs over the eyes can cause a rejection. Make sure your ears are visible, too.
7. Skin or face retouching with filter apps
Apps that automatically adjust brightness or smooth skin are treated as “image manipulation,” and photos taken with them are often rejected.
As a rule, it's safest not to edit the photo at all.
8. The proportions are off after cropping
When you crop an existing photo, the position and size of your face can drift away from the standard.
Check carefully that it still meets the requirements.
9. The file size is outside the limit
For online applications made within Japan, the file size limit is 600 KB or less (for applications from overseas, 20 KB to 2 MB).
Even if your file is within the limit, it gets compressed when uploaded, and if the compressed file exceeds the limit, you'll get an error.
10. Shadows in the photo of your signature
It isn't only the face photo that is reviewed.
If there are shadows in the image of your handwritten signature that you take during the application, it can cause a reading error.
How to Avoid Rejection
Here are the basics for getting through the online application smoothly.
- Shoot against a plain white wall, from directly in front, with even lighting
- Keep your facial features, outline, and ears uncovered
- Ideally, don't edit anything except the background
- Check face size and position in pixels
- Check that the file size meets the requirement
For face size and position, use the format below as a reference!
That said, meeting every one of these conditions with a self-taken photo is hard, and having a photo studio take it for you can actually be faster.
Rather than retaking the photo over and over yourself, it's smoother to start with a photo that already meets the standards.
Getting a Passport Photo in Tokyo? We Recommend 19Studio!
19Studio in Shinjuku offers passport photo shooting!
Our staff give you an outside perspective on your posture and expression, so you leave with a photo you're happy with.
With specialized lighting techniques, we brighten your whole face, and our professionals carefully make sure your eyes, ears, and facial outline stay uncovered.
Through retouching, we completely remove shadows from the background for a sharp, clear result.
We also match your face size and position to the exact pixel, delivering a high-quality photo that meets passport requirements!
Same-day booking and same-day delivery are available, so it's a great choice if you need an ID photo in a hurry!
Summary | Prepare a Passport Photo That Passes the Review
Online applications have become far more convenient,
but many people also say that “the photo requirements are so strict that my photo doesn't pass.”
A passport is an important document for verifying your identity internationally.
That's why even a slight difference in shadows, size, or background can lead to a resubmission, which can delay your application by days or even weeks.
To be sure your photo passes the review, having it taken at a photo studio is the safest option.
Please consider it!
For a more detailed step-by-step guide to applying online, see here ↓
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- I'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.
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