Quick answer
What size photo does Japan need for an Indian visa?
VFS Global, which accepts Japan visa applications in India, asks for one colour passport-size photograph of 45 mm × 35 mm on a plain white background, with 70–80% face visibility, not more than six months old. An older Embassy of Japan photo page quotes 45 × 45 mm, so follow your VFS checklist.
Indians need a visa for Japan, and applications in India are handed in at VFS Global visa centres. VFS asks for one colour photo of 45 × 35 mm (passport size, 45 mm high and 35 mm wide) on a plain white background, with the face filling 70–80% of the photo, no more than six months old and printed on good-quality paper. A tourism visa allows stays of up to 90 days.
Japan visa photo size and requirements
| Size | 45 × 35 mm, passport size (VFS Global) |
|---|---|
| Number of photos | 1 |
| Face size | 70–80% of the photo |
| Background | Plain white |
| Colour | Colour, on good-quality paper |
| Pose | Looking straight ahead, with the face clearly visible |
| Photo age | No more than 6 months old |
| Glasses | Not mentioned by VFS |
These rules are from VFS Global's Japan visa information page for New Delhi, which lists the same photo rule for every visa type.
Two different sizes
VFS Global's current page says 45 × 35 mm. A search summary of the Embassy of Japan in India's photo standards page quotes 45 × 45 mm on a white background, with no hat; we could not open that page to confirm it. Follow the checklist for your visa centre, and ask VFS if you are unsure.
Applying through VFS Global in India
You hand in your application, passport and photo at a VFS Global Japan visa application centre. VFS Global's New Delhi page lists the photo rules above for every visa type, including tourism, and says a tourism visa allows stays of up to 90 days. It also lists multiple-entry visa categories for Indian nationals.
The JAPAN eVISA for residents of India
Embassy of Japan pages say the JAPAN eVISA has been available in India since 1 April 2024 for single-entry short-term tourism visits of up to 90 days, for Indian nationals and foreign nationals living in India. You still apply through a VFS Global visa centre, but the visa is issued electronically, and you show the visa issuance notice on your phone; printouts, PDFs and screenshots are not accepted. An older page of the Consulate-General in Kolkata limited the eVISA to residents of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
We could only read search summaries of these Embassy pages, so check the current Embassy or VFS page for your area before you apply. We found no separate photo rule for the eVISA.
How to prepare your Japan visa photo in India
- Check your VFS checklist. VFS Global asks for one 45 × 35 mm photo. If the checklist for your visa centre says something different, follow the checklist.
- Take a photo on plain white. Look straight at the camera with your face clearly visible and even light, with nothing covering your face.
- Crop it so your face fills 70–80%. Crop to 45 mm high and 35 mm wide without stretching, and print it in colour on good-quality photo paper.
- Hand it in at VFS. Submit the photo with your application at the visa centre. It must be no more than six months old.
Sample photos
Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the Japan visa size.
Japan visa photo FAQ
VFS Global asks for a passport-size photo of 45 × 35 mm on a plain white background, with the face filling 70–80% of it. An older Embassy of Japan page is reported to say 45 × 45 mm, so follow the checklist for your visa centre.
One, according to VFS Global.
VFS Global's page does not mention glasses. Your face must be clearly visible, so avoid tinted lenses and glare, or take your glasses off.
You still apply through a VFS Global visa centre for the eVISA, and we found no separate photo rule for it. Prepare the same 45 × 35 mm photo and check your VFS checklist.
Up to 90 days, according to VFS Global.
Official sources
- VFS Global: Japan visa information, New Delhi
- Embassy of Japan in India: Photograph standards
- Embassy of Japan in India: The JAPAN eVISA system
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.