Japan residence card (zairyu card) photo
30 × 40 mm printed photo and a digital file sized for the online form. Cropped and checked in your browser.
Your photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded. You can also drop a photo here.
Photo rules for the Japan residence card (zairyu card)
- Printed size
- 30 × 40 mm
- Digital file
- JPEG, height to width 4 : 3; all files of the online application together up to 25 MB
- File format
- JPEG
- Our digital file
- 900 × 1200 px, JPEG
- Head size
- 25 ± 3 mm (22–28 mm), top of the hair to chin
- Background
- Plain, no shadow; a dark background is listed as unsuitable (we offer: white, light grey)
- Glasses
- Allowed if the frames do not cover the eyes, are not very thick and show no reflection.
- Photo taken within
- 6 months
- Since 14 June 2026 children from age 1 also need a photo; before, children under 16 needed none.
- Write your name on the back. Mirror-image photos and edits that change your look are not accepted.
How to take a Japan residence card (zairyu card) photo at home
- Stand about half a metre in front of a plain light wall. Face a window or a soft light. The Japan residence card (zairyu card) needs a white or light grey background; the tool can lighten or replace it if your wall is darker.
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1.5 metres at eye level, or use the camera of your laptop. Look straight into the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.
- Glasses are allowed if your eyes are clearly visible. Avoid glare and tinted lenses.
- Upload the photo above. The tool crops it so that the head size matches the rule (25 ± 3 mm (22–28 mm), top of the hair to chin) and then checks the photo quality.
Digital file
For the online application you upload a JPEG of 900 × 1200 px. The tool shows the file size before you download.
Printed photos
The print sheet holds several 30 × 40 mm photos on 4 × 6 in or 10 × 15 cm photo paper. Print it at 100% at home or at a photo shop and check the size with a ruler before you cut.
Questions about the Japan residence card (zairyu card) photo
- What size is a Japan residence card (zairyu card) photo?
- The printed photo is 30 × 40 mm. Head size: 25 ± 3 mm (22–28 mm), top of the hair to chin.
- What are the rules for the digital Japan residence card (zairyu card) photo?
- JPEG, height to width 4 : 3; all files of the online application together up to 25 MB. Our file is 900 × 1200 px in JPEG.
- Which background colour is needed?
- Plain, no shadow; a dark background is listed as unsuitable. The tool offers white or light grey.
- Can I wear glasses?
- Allowed if the frames do not cover the eyes, are not very thick and show no reflection.
- How recent must the photo be?
- It must have been taken within the last 6 months.
- What does it cost?
- The tool and a preview with a watermark are free. The digital file and the print sheets without watermark cost $5.99, paid once.
- Will the authority accept my photo?
- The authority that issues your document decides. The tool checks the published rules, but it cannot see everything an officer checks. If the authority rejects your application with a photo you bought from us, we refund the full price. Ask within 90 days of the purchase. The exceptions are listed in our refund policy.