ID Photo Sizes in Japan: Résumé, Driver's License, Passport, Visas and How Many Fit on L-Size Paper
ID photo sizes vary by where you submit them. In Japan, a résumé photo is 4 × 3 cm (height × width), a driver's license 3 × 2.4 cm, a passport or My Number card 4.5 × 3.5 cm, and a US visa 5.1 cm square. Make the wrong size and you'll have to retake or recut it. This article covers ID photo sizes by use, the difference between photos with a set face size and those without, a chart of how many fit on L-size, 2L-size and postcard paper, and combinations for printing several sizes on one sheet.
ID photo sizes by use
ID photo sizes are usually given as height × width. Japanese documents mostly use upright rectangles, US visas use squares, and overseas applications may specify inches. Here are the common sizes by use.
| Size (height × width) | Main uses | Face size rule |
|---|---|---|
| 4×3 cm | Résumés, entry sheets, exam admission tickets, residence card applications, employee IDs | None (guide only) |
| 3×2.4 cm | Driver's license applications and renewals, some qualifications and membership cards | None (guide only) |
| 4.5×3.5 cm | Passports | Yes (crown to chin 34 mm ±2 mm, top margin 4 mm ±2 mm) |
| 4.5×3.5 cm | My Number cards, some national exam and qualification applications | None (facing forward, no hat, plain background, etc.) |
| 5.1×5.1 cm (2×2 inches) | US visas (DS-160) | Yes (crown to chin 25–35 mm) |
| 4.8×3.3 cm | Chinese visas | Yes (crown to chin 28–33 mm, top margin 3–5 mm) |
| 4.5×3.5 cm | Many visas, such as for the Schengen area (Europe) | Rules vary by country |
Photos with a set face size and photos with only a guide
Some ID photos specify the face size in millimeters, while others only set the overall size and conditions for how you appear. The former can be rejected if even slightly off, so they call for more care when you make them.
- Set in numbers: Japanese passports and visas for the US, China and elsewhere. The face height and the range for the margin above the head are specified.
- Guide only: résumés, driver's licenses and My Number cards. There are conditions such as facing forward, no hat and a plain background, but no numbers for face size.
| Photo | Top of head (from upper edge) | Tip of chin (from upper edge) |
|---|---|---|
| Résumé 4×3 cm (guide) | 3–6 mm | 28.5–32.5 mm |
| Driver's license 3×2.4 cm (guide) | 2–4 mm | 21–24 mm |
| Passport 4.5×3.5 cm (standard) | 2–6 mm | 36–40 mm |
| My Number 4.5×3.5 cm (guide) | 3–6 mm | 34.5–39.5 mm |
| US visa 5.1 cm square (guide based on the standard) | 3–10 mm | 31.5–41.5 mm |
| Chinese visa 4.8×3.3 cm (standard) | 3–5 mm | 32–37 mm |
The chin position is where the face height fits the standard or guide when the top of the head is placed in the middle of its range. The passport standard and rejection examples are explained in Japanese passport photo standards and rejection examples.
How many fit on L-size, 2L-size and postcard paper
When you print your own ID photos at a convenience store or photo shop, you lay them out on photo paper such as L-size. We calculated how many fit on one sheet two ways: "Roomy", with 3 mm cutting gaps between photos and a 4 mm outer margin, and "Pack many in", with 2 mm gaps and a 1.5 mm margin (using whichever paper orientation fits more).
| Photo size | L (89×127 mm) | 2L (127×178 mm) | Postcard (100×148 mm) | KG (102×152 mm) | A4 (210×297 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×3 cm (résumé) | 4 / 6 | 12 / 15 | 8 / 9 | 8 / 9 | 36 / 42 |
| 3×2.4 cm (driver's license) | 9 / 9 | 20 / 20 | 12 / 15 | 12 / 15 | 60 / 72 |
| 4.5×3.5 cm (passport, My Number) | 4 / 4 | 9 / 9 | 4 / 6 | 6 / 8 | 30 / 32 |
| 5.1 cm square (US visa) | 2 / 2 | 6 / 6 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 15 / 15 |
| 4.8×3.3 cm (Chinese visa) | 4 / 4 | 9 / 10 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 | 32 / 32 |
Numbers are shown as Roomy / Pack many in. For résumés, L-size holds 4 to 6 and 2L-size holds 12 to 15, so one 2L sheet may be enough for a job search with many applications. As of 2026, convenience store photo prints cost around 30 to 40 yen for L-size and 80 to 100 yen for 2L-size.
Printing two sizes on one L-size sheet
It's common to need photos of different sizes around the same time, such as for a résumé and My Number card, or a résumé and driver's license. Mixing two sizes on one sheet means paying for just one print. Keep photos of the same size in the same row so you can cut in a straight line.
| Combination | L | 2L |
|---|---|---|
| Résumé 4×3 cm + My Number 4.5×3.5 cm | 2 + 2 | 6 + 3 (9 + 3 when packed) |
| Résumé 4×3 cm + driver's license 3×2.4 cm | 4 + 3 | 10 + 4 |
When making photos for your whole family, one L-size sheet per person keeps the photos from getting mixed up after cutting. And don't forget to write the name on the back of each photo.
Converting photo sizes given in inches or pixels to cm
Overseas applications may specify inches, such as 2×2 inches, and online applications may specify pixels, such as 600×600 pixels. One inch is 2.54 cm, so 2 inches is 5.08 cm (about 5.1 cm). When a size is given in pixels and you're printing, divide by dpi (dots per inch) to get inches.
| Photo size | 300 dpi | 350 dpi | 600 dpi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×3 cm | 354×472 px | 413×551 px | 709×945 px |
| 3×2.4 cm | 283×354 px | 331×413 px | 567×709 px |
| 4.5×3.5 cm | 413×531 px | 482×620 px | 827×1063 px |
| 5.1 cm square | 602×602 px | 703×703 px | 1205×1205 px |
Converting inches and centimeters is covered in converting inches and centimeters, and resolution and print size in understanding image resolution (dpi). For the detailed conditions for résumé photos, see résumé photo size and how to attach it, and for My Number cards, see My Number card photo size and how to take it.
Choose a size and make an image laid out for L-size
In the ID Photo L-Size Print Maker, choose one of the sizes in this article (résumé, driver's license, passport, My Number card, US visa or Chinese visa), or enter the width and height in mm, to make a JPEG laid out for L-size, 2L-size, postcard, KG or A4 paper. The counts in the chart use the same calculation as the tool's "Size and Count Quick Reference".
- The face size guide bands (top of head and tip of chin) switch to match the size you choose.
- Choose a second photo type to mix the two on one sheet.
- You can add a 5 cm scale to check actual size after printing, and cutting lines.
How to print is covered in printing ID photos at a convenience store.
FAQ
- What sizes of ID photos are there?
- The three most used in Japan are 4 × 3 cm (résumés, exam tickets), 3 × 2.4 cm (driver's licenses) and 4.5 × 3.5 cm (passports, My Number cards), height × width. Overseas visas include 5.1 cm square (2×2 inches) for the US and 4.8 × 3.3 cm for China.
- What size is a Japanese driver's license photo?
- 3 cm high × 2.4 cm wide. There are no numbers for face size, but the photo must face forward with no hat and a plain background, and have been taken within 6 months before the application. You may be able to have it taken at a license center or police station, so check your renewal notice.
- How many ID photos fit on L-size paper?
- With 3 mm gaps and a 4 mm outer margin, L-size (89×127 mm) holds 4 at 4×3 cm, 4 at 4.5×3.5 cm, 9 at 3×2.4 cm and 2 at 5.1 cm square. Reducing the margins raises 4×3 cm to as many as 6.
- How many cm is 2×2 inches?
- One inch is 2.54 cm, so 2×2 inches is 5.08 × 5.08 cm, a square of about 5.1 cm. US visa (DS-160) photos use this size, with crown to chin set at 1 to 1 3/8 inches (about 25–35 mm).
- What size is a residence card photo?
- Photos for residence card applications are generally 4 cm high × 3 cm wide. That's the same size as a résumé photo, so you can make them together. Conditions may vary by application type, so also check the guidance from the Immigration Services Agency.
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