Korea Passport Photo Size: Exact Requirements (2026)

South Korea's passport is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Republic of Korea, and its photo standard is one of the strictest in Asia. MOFA pairs a 35×45 mm print size, a plain uniform-white background, and a tight 32–36 mm head-height window (crown to chin) with a digital file that must be 200 KB or less for online renewal. The 2025–2026 change that catches the most applicants: a hard ban on AI-generated or AI-retouched photos — MOFA now legally classifies any AI-altered image as a "created work," not a photograph. Korea also expects your full facial contour and ears to read clearly, with hair off the cheeks and jawline. This guide covers every current MOFA specification and how to prepare a compliant photo at home.

Korean Passport Photo Specs at a Glance

These values are the current official MOFA standard. South Korea's passport photo specification is set and enforced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — the authority's own guidance is published on its official domain, mofa.go.kr, and the online-application portals (Gov24, 정부24, and Consular Minwon 24) apply the same automated quality check.

Exact Dimensions: Millimeters, Inches, and Pixels

The official South Korean passport photo size is 35 mm wide × 45 mm tall, or approximately 1.38″ × 1.77″. This matches the ICAO 9303 standard used across most of Europe, including Schengen visa photos.

For online applications through Korea's Gov24 portal, submit a JPG or JPEG file — PNG and PDF are rejected outright. The MOFA online-renewal limit is 200 KB or less, so keep the file at or under that ceiling to avoid an upload error. The recommended digital size is 413 × 531 pixels at 300 DPI; the portal accepts a small variance up to 431 × 550 pixels, but exactly 413 × 531 is the safe target. A 413 × 531 JPEG saved at normal quality lands well inside the 200 KB cap, so meeting it is rarely a problem in practice.

The aspect ratio is 35:45, roughly 1:1.29. Standard smartphone photos use a 3:4 or 9:16 ratio, so you will need to crop your image to match. Note that this differs significantly from the square 51×51mm format used for Indian passport photos — never reuse photos between countries without checking the specs.

Head Position and Framing

MOFA measures head position carefully, and Korea's window is tighter than most countries':

• Head height: Crown to chin must measure 32–36 mm in the printed photo — roughly 70–80% of frame height. This is narrower than the wide tolerances some countries allow.
• Face centered horizontally with equal space on both sides.
• Facial contour visible: Your full face from forehead to chin must be uncovered. Hair must not fall across your cheeks or jawline — Korea expects a clear facial outline and ears that read in the frame.
• Shoulders visible at the bottom of the frame, perfectly horizontal and facing forward.
• Head straight: No tilting up, down, or to the side. Face the camera directly.

A head outside the 32–36 mm range triggers an automatic rejection by the portal's quality check.

The MOFA Glasses Rule

Korea's glasses rule is widely misunderstood. Everyday prescription glasses are technically allowed, but MOFA enforces the conditions so strictly that most consulates simply advise taking your glasses off. If you keep your prescription frames on, all of the following must be true:

• Zero glare or reflection on either lens — even a faint highlight fails.
• No coverage: Frames must not touch your pupil, iris, or eyebrows, and must not cast any shadow over your eyes.
• Thin wire frames only. MOFA formally discourages thick or horn-rimmed glasses (뿔테안경), because automated immigration software can read heavy frames as a disguise.

These are strictly prohibited with no exception:

• Sunglasses and tinted lenses of any shade
• Photochromic (transition) lenses — if yours darken in light, wait until they are fully clear
• Colored or circle contact lenses that alter your iris

Because removing glasses eliminates every glare and shadow risk at once, it remains the safest choice for a Korean passport photo.

The No-Retouching Rule

The single most common modern rejection reason in Korea is digital editing, and MOFA's 2025–2026 enforcement update — driven by the surge of AI profile-photo apps such as SNOW — made it the headline rule. The Gov24 portal's automated quality check is built to catch it:

• No beauty filters, skin-smoothing, or face-slimming. Phone-camera "beauty mode" must be switched off before you shoot.
• No AI-generated or AI-enhanced photos. MOFA legally classifies any AI-altered image as a "created work" rather than an actual photograph, so a photo generated, enhanced, or facially restructured by AI is rejected outright.
• No digital background swaps. You cannot photograph yourself anywhere and erase the background to white in software — the portal detects the swap. You must be photographed against a physical white wall or backdrop.

If you used any free app that "fixes" your photo by retouching skin or replacing the background, expect a rejection. Pixotter's tools resize and crop your photo to the exact pixel spec without altering your face or swapping your background, which keeps your photo MOFA-compliant.

Background and Appearance Rules

The background must be plain white — no patterns, shadows, textures, or gradients. Off-white, cream, and light gray are rejected. Stand at least one meter from the wall and use two light sources to prevent shadows. For more detail on background standards, see our passport photo background guide.

Clothing: Because the background is plain white, you cannot wear a white top unless it is covered by a colored jacket or sweater — your shoulders must clearly contrast with the background. Dark or medium tones work best, and standard uniforms are generally banned for ordinary passports. No hats or head coverings (religious coverings are permitted if they do not obscure the face).

Expression: Neutral, mouth closed. No smiling. Both eyes open and looking directly at the camera.

Hair: Must not cover your face, eyes, or eyebrows.

How to Prepare Your Korean Passport Photo at Home

Step 1: Take the Photo

Use a smartphone or digital camera with beauty mode and all filters switched off — MOFA rejects any retouched photo. Stand in front of a physical white wall with even lighting from both sides. Have someone else take the photo from about 1.5 meters distance using the rear camera. Removing your glasses before shooting is the safest way to avoid a glare rejection.

Step 2: Crop to the 35:45 Ratio

Open your photo in Pixotter's crop tool and set the aspect ratio to 35:45. Position your face so the chin-to-crown distance falls within the 32–36 mm range — roughly 70–80% of the frame height. Center your face horizontally.

Step 3: Resize to 413 × 531 Pixels

Use Pixotter's resize tool to set the exact dimensions to 413 × 531 pixels. The resize happens entirely in your browser — your photo never leaves your device. For high-quality prints, resize to 827 × 1063 pixels instead.

Step 4: Check File Size and Submit

The JPG must be 200 KB or less — the MOFA online-renewal limit, enforced by the portal at upload. A 413 × 531 pixel JPG at standard quality runs 50–200 KB, so staying inside the cap is rarely a problem. Before submitting, confirm: correct dimensions, JPG format, file 200 KB or under, physical white background with no shadows, no retouching or filters, glasses glare-free or removed, neutral expression, and a photo taken within the last 6 months — the portal reads your file's EXIF "Date Taken" and blocks anything older.

Common Rejection Reasons

Retouched or filtered photo. The fastest-growing rejection reason in Korea. MOFA's automated check flags skin-smoothing, face-slimming, AI editing, and digital background swaps. Shoot with beauty mode off and never edit your face.

Glare on glasses. Korea does not ban prescription glasses outright — but a reflection on the lens or a shadow over the eyes fails instantly. When in doubt, take the glasses off.

Wrong background shade. Off-white walls, textured paint, and shadows all trigger rejections. Use a white sheet or posterboard if your wall is not pure white — and never erase the background in software.

Head too large or too small. The 32–36 mm crown-to-chin measurement is strictly enforced, and Korea's window is narrower than many countries'.

Hair covering the face. Hair across your cheeks, jawline, or eyebrows obscures your facial contour and fails MOFA's review.

Smiling or open mouth. Even a slight smile can trigger rejection. Practice a neutral expression.

Stale photo. The Gov24 portal scans your file's EXIF metadata; a "Date Taken" older than 6 months throws an upload error before a human ever sees the photo.

Korean Visa Photo Requirements

Korean visa photos use the same MOFA specifications as passport photos: 35 × 45 mm print size, plain uniform-white background, glare-free glasses (or none), neutral expression, no retouching, and a JPG of 200 KB or less for online submission. The same automated validation system processes both. A passport-compliant photo will pass visa requirements. The only variable: some consulates require photos from the last 3 months rather than 6. Check with your specific Korean embassy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact pixel size for a South Korea passport photo?

At 300 DPI, a Korean passport photo is 413 × 531 pixels — the size MOFA recommends for online submission. At 600 DPI it is 827 × 1063 pixels. Both produce the required 35 × 45 mm print size. Korea's Gov24 portal accepts a small variance up to 431 × 550 pixels, but 413 × 531 is the safe target.

Can I wear glasses in a South Korea passport photo?

Yes — everyday prescription glasses are allowed by MOFA, but only with thin wire frames, zero glare on the lenses, and no shadow over your eyes or eyebrows. Thick or horn-rimmed glasses are formally discouraged because automated immigration software can read them as a disguise. Sunglasses, tinted lenses, and photochromic (transition) lenses are banned. Because removing your glasses clears every glare risk at once, most Korean consulates recommend doing so.

Does South Korea reject passport photos that have been retouched or filtered?

Yes, and this is now the most common rejection reason in Korea. MOFA prohibits beauty filters, skin-smoothing, face-slimming, AI-generated photos, and digital background removal. The Gov24 portal's automated quality check is built to detect edited images and background swaps. Shoot with your phone's beauty mode off and never edit your face.

What file format does the South Korean passport application accept?

Korea's Gov24 portal accepts JPG or JPEG files only — PNG and PDF are rejected. For online renewal the file must be 200 KB or less at 413 × 531 pixels and 300 DPI; anything larger throws an upload error before review.

What is the head-size rule for a South Korea passport photo?

MOFA requires the distance from the crown of your head to the tip of your chin to measure 32–36 mm in the printed photo — about 70–80% of the frame height. This window is narrower than many other countries allow, and a head outside it triggers an automatic rejection.

Why does the Korean Gov24 portal reject my photo for being too old?

Korea's online portal scans the EXIF metadata embedded in your JPG file. If the "Date Taken" attribute is more than 6 months old, the system throws an upload error and blocks the file before a reviewer ever sees it. Take a fresh photo rather than reusing an old one, even if your appearance has not changed.

Can I take a South Korea passport photo with my phone?

Yes. Switch off beauty mode and all filters, use the rear camera, stand against a physical white wall, and have someone photograph you from about 1.5 meters. Then crop to the 35:45 ratio and resize to 413 × 531 pixels. Do not use any app that retouches your face or swaps the background — MOFA rejects both.

Are South Korean passport photo requirements the same as European ones?

The 35 × 45 mm size matches the ICAO standard used across Europe, including Schengen visa photos. The differences are in enforcement: Korea's 32–36 mm head window is tighter, its no-retouching and no-background-swap rules are aggressively checked by MOFA's automated system, and it expects a clearer facial contour and visible ears than most European standards demand.

What happens if my South Korea passport photo is rejected?

The Gov24 portal flags the specific issue — wrong dimensions, lens glare, retouching detected, background not white, head position outside the 32–36 mm window, or a stale EXIF date. Fix the flagged issue and re-submit. Because the check is automated, a corrected photo is usually accepted immediately.