South Korea passport photo requirements
The 35 × 45 mm photo rules set by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea for the South Korea passport, with the official wording and sources.
Quick answer
What size is the South Korea passport photo?
A South Korean passport photo is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 in), in colour, taken within 6 months of applying. The head, from the top of the skull (hair excluded) to the chin, must measure 32 to 36 mm. Use an even white background with no border, a closed mouth, a neutral expression and no hat. Online re-issue takes a JPG of 413 x 531 pixels, up to 500 KB.
Korean passports are issued under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), whose passport portal sets one photo standard. It follows the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). MOFA points out that the passport is the only identity document recognised when you travel abroad, so the photo must show you as you really are, without alteration. A photo that falls short of the standard can delay or stop your application and cause trouble at immigration, including the automated gates.
In Korea, a first passport means visiting one of the 258 passport agency offices listed on the portal, such as Gangnam District Office in Seoul, with one printed photo. If you have held an electronic passport before, you can instead re-apply online through Government24 or KB Star Banking and upload a photo file, then collect the passport in person. Korean nationals living abroad apply at an embassy or consulate, or online through the Overseas Koreans 365 portal.
The current standard is the October 2022 revision, published with a checklist of refused examples. The portal's version also rules out photos edited, composited or generated with AI.
South Korea passport photo size and specifications
The requirements as published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea:[1]
| Print size | 35 x 45 mm (3.5 x 4.5 cm), width x height, no border |
|---|---|
| Digital size | Online: 395 x 507 to 431 x 550 pixels accepted; 413 x 531 pixels recommended |
| Head height | 32 to 36 mm from the top of the head (hair excluded) to the chin |
| Background | Even white, with no ink marks and no border |
| Colour | Colour, upper body, front view |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months before the application date |
| File size | Online: 500 KB or less |
| File format | Online: JPG or JPEG |
| Print quality | Photo paper, glossy or matte, not ordinary paper; sharp, 300 DPI recommended; no creases or stains |
| Pixels when printed | 413 × 531 px at 300 dpi · 827 × 1063 px at 600 dpi (calculated) |
In the official words
Exact wording from the official sources, quoted because the details matter:
Photos in which the background has been erased with a photo-editing program (e.g. Photoshop), or in which the person has been composited onto a white background, cannot be submitted. (translated from Korean)
Key requirements
- Head 32 to 36 mm, hair excluded
On the 45 mm high print, measure from the highest point of the head, not counting the hair, down to the chin. That length must fall between 3.2 and 3.6 cm. For an online file, MOFA asks you to shoot the photo so that the head would measure 3.2 to 3.6 cm if the file were printed at 3.5 x 4.5 cm. A close-up that makes the nose and forehead look bigger and the ears smaller is refused.
- No edited backgrounds
The background must be white and even, with no ink marks and no border. A background erased with Photoshop or a similar program, or a person pasted onto a white background, is not accepted. Neither is any photo corrected with editing software or filters, including AI editing, compositing or generated images. MOFA's FAQ also refuses heavy correction of the face outline or skin tone.
- Closed mouth, neutral face
Keep your mouth closed with no teeth showing, and do not smile, squint or raise your eyebrows. MOFA explains that an expression changes the proportions of the face, which can stop automated immigration gates from matching you to your passport.
- Eyebrows and face outline visible
Hair must not cover your eyes, your eyebrows or the outline of your face, such as the cheekbones and cheeks. With a fringe, the full shape of both eyebrows must still show through the hair, and MOFA recommends leaving part of the forehead visible. Your ears may be covered by hair, and your shoulders need not show, as long as the upper body faces the camera.
- Straight on, evenly lit
Centre your head, with face and shoulders turned squarely to the camera, and do not tilt your head forwards or backwards. Light the scene so there is no shadow or glare on you or the background and your natural skin tone shows. Red eye is refused; a small catchlight is accepted if it does not change the shape or colour of the pupil.
- A real photographic print
Prints on ordinary paper are refused. Use photo paper, glossy or matte, and a sharp image; MOFA recommends 300 DPI. Blurred or pixelated images and creased or stained prints are not accepted, and no other person or object may appear in the photo.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Measure the head from the top of the skull to the chin: 32 to 36 mm
- Close your mouth and keep a neutral expression
- Show both eyebrows and the whole outline of your face
- Print on glossy or matte photo paper
- Resize an online file to 413 x 531 pixels and keep it under 500 KB
- Try the passport portal's online photo check before applying
Don't
- Do not remove or replace the background with editing software
- Do not use beauty filters or AI editing
- Do not wear coloured or circle contact lenses
- Do not wear a hat, a thick hairband or wireless earphones
- Do not reuse an ID card photo taken more than 6 months ago
- Do not print the photo on ordinary paper
Sample photos
How a South Korea passport photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 35 × 45 mm, head height and background colour.
Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.
Glasses
You may wear glasses in a Korean passport photo, but the lenses must not be tinted or reflect light, and the frame must not cover your eyes. Sunglasses are refused, and so are cosmetic, coloured and circle contact lenses.
MOFA's FAQ adds detail. Thick horn-rimmed frames are allowed if they do not hide the pupils or cast shadows over the eyes, although MOFA suggests avoiding very heavy frames because they can be mistaken for a disguise at border checks. A frame may cross part of an eyebrow but must not hide it completely. MOFA also notes that the United States does not accept glasses in its visa photos, so taking them off is the economical choice if you plan to get a US visa in the new passport.
Headwear and religious dress
Hats, hairbands and other head coverings that hide the head are not allowed. Religious dress is accepted only if you always wear it in daily life, and your whole face, from forehead to chin, must be visible. A T-shirt or scarf that covers the neck is fine if it leaves the outline of the face clear.
According to MOFA's FAQ, a hairband may be worn if it does not reflect light or change the basic shape of the head, but MOFA recommends not wearing one, and a thick band covering much of the head, including the crown, is refused. Earrings and piercings must not reflect light or hide the face outline. Earphones, headphones and other wireless hands-free devices must come off.
Babies and children
Babies and children follow the same standard as adults and must be photographed alone: no toys, chair or parent may be visible. The one concession is for newborns and infants aged 36 months or under, who may have their mouth slightly open.
MOFA's FAQ says a newborn who cannot sit up may be photographed lying on plain white bedding, provided there is no shadow on the background. For an online application for a child under 18, the legal representative verifies their own identity and applies on the child's behalf. Government24 offers this now, while KB Star Banking does not yet, and the legal representative may then collect the passport.
Printed and digital photos
Paper applications at a passport office in Korea need one printed photo. MOFA's FAQ states that offices in Korea do not photograph applicants, so bring a compliant print. A photo you took yourself is accepted only if it meets every rule, and it must be printed on glossy or matte photo paper rather than ordinary paper.
Online re-issue, in Korea through Government24 or KB Star Banking and abroad through Overseas Koreans 365, takes a JPG or JPEG of 500 KB or less. MOFA recommends 413 x 531 pixels at 300 dpi, and the upload accepts only widths of 395 to 431 pixels and heights of 507 to 550 pixels. MOFA does not recommend phone photos or heavily corrected images for online use, while Government24 accepts phone photos that meet the standard. Government24 restricts the application after more than 10 failed photo-quality or face-comparison checks within 24 hours. A file that passes the automatic check can still be refused at review if the head is too short or too long.
Where to submit the photo
In Korea, apply in person at a passport agency office; the passport portal lists 258 of them. First-time applicants for an electronic passport must apply in person, and so must anyone who wants to change the romanised name. Online re-issue is open to anyone who has held an electronic passport before. You choose the office where you will collect the passport when you apply, and cannot change it afterwards.
Abroad, apply at a Korean embassy or consulate, or online through Overseas Koreans 365 at one of the 180 missions that handle passports. According to MOFA's passport FAQ, 156 missions abroad photographed applicants free of charge at the counter as of 1 November 2020, using a live-capture system that was not used in Korea. Mobile consular services are different: the Consulate General in Vancouver tells applicants at its mobile sessions to bring a photo with the shooting date stamped on the back, taken in dark clothing rather than white, and not taken at home.
How to get your South Korea passport photo
- Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the South Korea passport: 35 × 45 mm print, 431 × 550 px digital file, even white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
- Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: head 32 to 36 mm, hair excluded; no edited backgrounds; closed mouth, neutral face; eyebrows and face outline visible.
- Prepare a print or digital file. Paper applications at a passport office in Korea need one printed photo. MOFA's FAQ states that offices in Korea do not photograph applicants, so bring a compliant print.
- Submit the photo with your application. In Korea, apply in person at a passport agency office; the passport portal lists 258 of them. First-time applicants for an electronic passport must apply in person, and so must anyone who wants to change the romanised name.
South Korea passport photo FAQ
It is 3.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm high (35 x 45 mm), with no border. On that print the head must measure 3.2 to 3.6 cm, from the highest point of the head without the hair down to the chin. The photo must be in colour, show the upper body from the front and be taken within 6 months of your application.
No. MOFA requires a neutral expression with the mouth closed and no teeth showing, and it also lists squinting and raised eyebrows as faults. The ministry explains that a smile changes the proportions of the face, which can make automated immigration checks fail to recognise you. Only infants aged 36 months or under may have their mouth slightly open.
Yes, if the lenses are clear, show no glare and the frame does not cover your eyes. Tinted glasses and sunglasses are not allowed. MOFA's FAQ accepts thick horn-rimmed frames as long as they do not hide the pupils or cast shadows on the eyes, but advises against very heavy frames.
MOFA accepts a photo you took yourself only if it meets every part of the standard. In practice that means a real white background behind you, since erasing or replacing the background with software is refused, and a print on glossy or matte photo paper, since ordinary paper is not accepted. Mobile consular services can be stricter: the Consulate General in Vancouver refuses photos taken at home.
A JPG or JPEG file of 500 KB or less. MOFA recommends 413 x 531 pixels at 300 dpi, and the upload accepts only 395 to 431 pixels wide and 507 to 550 pixels high. The head must still come out at 3.2 to 3.6 cm if the file were printed at passport size. The same file rules apply on Overseas Koreans 365 for applications from abroad.
No. The passport rules refuse any photo whose background was erased with a program such as Photoshop, or in which the person was pasted onto a white background. Corrections with editing programs or filters, including AI editing, compositing or generated images, are also refused. Take the photo against a real white background with even lighting instead.
Many do. MOFA's passport FAQ said that 156 missions abroad used a live-capture system to photograph applicants free of charge at the counter as of 1 November 2020. Ask your mission before you go. If you apply at a mobile consular service, bring a printed photo, as the Consulate General in Vancouver requires.
No. MOFA's FAQ says your ears may be covered by hair. What must stay visible is the outline of your face below the eyes, both eyebrows and your eyes. Your shoulders need not show either, provided your upper body faces the camera.
No. MOFA's online photo resizing tool warns that ordinary ID photos, half-size business-card photos and visa photos cannot be used. The file must be a passport photo taken within 6 months, sized so that the head would measure 3.2 to 3.6 cm on a 3.5 x 4.5 cm print.
Related photo specifications
Other South Korea documents
- Visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Alien registration photo 35 × 45 mm
Passports nearby
- China passport photo 33 × 48 mm
- Hong Kong passport photo 40 × 50 mm
- Japan passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Macau passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Mongolia passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Taiwan passport photo 35 × 45 mm
Also 35 × 45 mm
- Afghanistan visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria ID card photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria residence permit photo 35 × 45 mm
- Algeria work permit photo 35 × 45 mm
- Andorra passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Anguilla passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Antigua and Barbuda passport photo 35 × 45 mm
- Armenia visa photo 35 × 45 mm
- All South Korea photo specifications
- Passports: photo rules by country
- Every document that uses a 35 × 45 mm photo
- Photo specifications in Asia
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Passport photo standard (여권 사진) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Photo files for online applications (온라인용 사진파일 안내) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Online re-issue: basic information (온라인 재발급) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. First passport, applicants aged 18 and over (최초 발급) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. FAQ: passport photo rules (자주묻는 질문, 여권사진 규정) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. FAQ: passport photo rules, page 2 passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Passport application offices (접수처 안내) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Online passport photo resizing (온라인 여권 사진 크기 조정) passport.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Government24, Republic of Korea. Online passport re-issue application (여권 재발급 온라인 신청) gov.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver. Passport applications at mobile consular services (순회영사 여권신청 안내) mofa.go.kr. Checked 3 November 2026.
Requirements can change, so always confirm with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.
Cite this page
"South Korea passport photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/south-korea/passport-photo