South Korea Passport Photo Size & Requirements
35×45mm, head height 32-36mm, on a pure white background with no border — confirmed directly against passport.go.kr.
Same size and background rules — infant mode swaps the crop guide for a lay-flat framing box. See our infant photo guide.
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South Korea passport photo specification
- Print size
- 35×45mm (1.38×1.77 in)
- Digital output
- 630×810px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 32–36mm (71–80% of frame)
- Background
- Plain, pure white background with no border
- ·Head height (crown, excluding hair, to chin), 32-36mm
- ·Neutral expression, mouth closed, no smiling or visible teeth, both eyes open, looking straight at the camera
- ·Pure white background with no border
- ·No hats or head coverings, though religious daily headwear is permitted if the full face remains visible
- ·Glasses are permitted if lenses are clear with no glare — tinted lenses and sunglasses are not allowed
- ·Taken within the last 6 months, with no digital editing, filters, or AI retouching
- ·Digital upload (online reapplication): JPG/JPEG, recommended 413x531px (acceptable range 395-431 x 507-550px), 300dpi recommended, maximum 500KB
Source: passport.go.kr, South Korea's official passport portal run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a corroborating MOFA consulate page — both directly confirmed this session. One correction worth noting: glasses are not banned outright, only tinted lenses and sunglasses are — a clear, glare-free pair of prescription glasses is accepted.
Yes, you can wear glasses
A common misconception is that South Korea bans glasses in passport photos entirely. The official rule only prohibits tinted lenses and sunglasses — clear prescription glasses are fine, as long as there's no glare on the lenses or frames and your eyes stay clearly visible.
Applying online? Check the digital spec
For an online passport reapplication through passport.go.kr, the recommended digital file is 413×531px (an acceptable range of 395-431 x 507-550px works too), at 300dpi, and under 500KB, JPG or JPEG only. Crop with the tool above first, then resize or compress to hit the file-size cap if needed.
Related photo requirements
Common rejection reasons
Background isn’t plain or uniform
Shadows, patterns, furniture, or other people in frame are among the most common reasons photos get bounced back. Use a plain wall and even, shadow-free lighting.
Head size or position is off
Too zoomed in, too zoomed out, or off-center. Each country specifies an exact head-height range and crown position, and that's exactly what the crop guide in this tool aligns to.
Glasses, glare, or head coverings
Most countries now disallow glasses entirely (or require them glare-free with no frame over the eyes), and disallow non-religious head coverings that hide the hairline or face.
Photo is filtered, retouched, or AI-enhanced
Beauty filters, background blur, skin smoothing, and AI-generated backgrounds are explicitly rejected by several passport authorities, including the UK’s HM Passport Office.
Photo is outdated
Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months (the UK requires within the last month). An old photo, even a good one, can be rejected on this basis alone.
Expression or eye contact issues
Closed eyes, mouth open, smiling with teeth showing, or not looking straight at the camera are all common rejection triggers. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safe default.
Want the full picture across every country? See all passport photo requirements for 2026, read how to take a passport photo at home, or check what to wear and expression rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a South Korean passport photo?
35x45mm, with head height (crown, excluding hair, to chin) between 32mm and 36mm. This is confirmed directly on passport.go.kr, the official Korean passport portal.
Can you wear glasses in a South Korean passport photo?
Yes — this is a common misconception. Only tinted lenses and sunglasses are banned; clear prescription glasses are fine as long as there's no glare and your eyes stay clearly visible.
What background does a South Korean passport photo need?
Plain, pure white, with no border. This is stated directly on the official Korean passport portal and a corroborating MOFA consulate page.
What are the South Korean passport photo requirements?
A recent (within 6 months) colour photo, 35x45mm, on a pure white background with no border, neutral expression with mouth closed, both eyes open and visible, and no hats or digital editing of any kind, including AI retouching.
What are the digital upload requirements for an online South Korean passport reapplication?
JPG or JPEG format, recommended 413x531px (acceptable range 395-431 x 507-550px), 300dpi recommended, and a maximum file size of 500KB.
What is the South Korean passport photo size in inches and pixels?
About 1.38x1.77in, or 35x45mm — the same physical size as the UK, Japan, and Schengen visa photo. This tool exports it at 630x810 pixels.
Does this tool upload my photo anywhere?
No. All the cropping and resizing happens locally in your browser using the canvas element, so your photo is read from your device, processed there, and never transmitted anywhere.
Can you smile in a South Korean passport photo?
No. The requirements call for a neutral expression with your mouth closed and no visible teeth, same as most biometric photo standards. See our guide to smiling in a passport photo for what counts as neutral.
Are the requirements different for a baby or infant South Korean passport photo?
The size and background rules stay the same, but a baby obviously can't hold a neutral, forward-facing pose unassisted. See our newborn and infant passport photo guide for how that's usually handled.