Passport Photo Maker

South Korea Passport Photo Requirements 2026: 35x45mm Guide

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) enforces some of the strictest passport photo rules in Asia — especially the “no retouching” policy (보정 없이), which specifically bans beauty filters that are common in Korean smartphone cameras. This guide covers every 2026 Korean passport photo requirement, including the differences between a regular passport photo and a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) photo.

Official South Korea Passport Photo Size

The Korean passport photo must be:

  • Photo size: 35 x 45 mm
  • Head height: 32 to 36 mm from chin to crown
  • Face to chin: 25 to 30 mm
  • Top margin: 3 to 5 mm above the head
  • Aspect ratio: Portrait (35:45)

Photos must have been taken within the last 6 months and reflect your current appearance. Photos older than 6 months or showing significant changes in hairstyle or weight will be rejected.

Background Requirements

Korean passport photos require:

  • Plain white background — the most common standard.
  • Light grey is also acceptable but less common.
  • No patterns, textures, shadows, or objects.
  • No coloured backgrounds of any kind.

Stand at least 50 cm in front of the background wall to eliminate shadows.

No Beauty Filter — The Most Important Rule

This is the rule that trips up most Korean passport applicants. MOFA explicitly requires 보정 없이 (no retouching) photos:

  • No beauty mode or skin smoothing.
  • No face slimming or enlarging eye filters.
  • No colour adjustments to skin tone.
  • No removal of moles, scars, or birthmarks.
  • No AI-based facial enhancement.

Korean smartphones typically have beauty mode enabled by default. You must turn it off completely before taking the photo. Even subtle skin smoothing will cause rejection, as MOFA’s biometric system compares the photo to previous biometric data and detects inconsistencies.

Facial Expression and Head Position

  • Neutral expression with mouth closed — no smiling or teeth visible.
  • Face directly toward the camera, no head tilt.
  • Both eyes open, clearly visible, looking at the lens.
  • Full face from hairline to below the chin visible.
  • Hair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows.

Glasses Policy

Korean passport photos allow glasses but with strict conditions:

  • No glare or reflections on the lens.
  • Frames must not obscure any part of the eye.
  • No tinted, coloured, or sunglasses.
  • Clear prescription lenses only.

However, most Korean passport offices recommend removing glasses to avoid any risk of rejection.

What to Wear

  • Dark, plain-coloured clothing to contrast with the white background.
  • No uniforms (military, school, work).
  • No hats or head coverings unless worn daily for religious reasons (full face must still be visible).
  • Minimal jewelry.
  • No coloured contact lenses — this is specifically banned by MOFA as it alters the natural eye colour.

Digital Photo Requirements

For online applications through 외교부 e-민원 (MOFA e-Government):

  • File format: JPEG
  • Minimum resolution: 413 x 531 pixels
  • Recommended resolution: 900 x 1125 pixels or higher
  • Maximum file size: 200 KB to 1 MB
  • Color mode: 24-bit color (sRGB)
  • No EXIF data showing filters applied

K-ETA Photo Requirements (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization)

K-ETA is the electronic travel authorization required for citizens of 112+ visa-exempt countries. K-ETA photos have slightly different rules:

  • Digital format only — no printed photo needed.
  • File size: Under 100 KB (much smaller than passport).
  • Dimensions: 700 x 700 pixels or less.
  • Aspect ratio: Square (1:1) rather than 35:45.
  • Background: Still requires plain white.
  • No beauty filter — same rule applies.

Despite being a smaller, less demanding format, K-ETA photos are still subject to automated facial verification, so compliance matters. Our Korea K-ETA photo tool generates the correct square format.

Korean Passport Photo for Foreign Nationals

Korea is home to many foreign nationals renewing passports at their respective embassies:

  • US passport in Korea: Use 2x2 inch (51x51mm) size, not Korean 35x45mm.
  • Chinese passport in Korea: Use Chinese specifications (33x48mm).
  • Indian passport in Korea: Use Indian specifications (2x2 inch).
  • Japanese passport in Korea: Same 35x45mm as Korean.
  • Korean citizens renewing abroad: Still use the 35x45mm Korean size.

How to Take a Korean Passport Photo at Home

  1. Turn off beauty mode on your smartphone camera — this is critical.
  2. Set up a plain white background with at least 50 cm clearance.
  3. Use natural, diffused lighting from a window.
  4. Remove glasses and coloured contacts to be safe.
  5. Use a tripod at eye level, about 1.5 metres away.
  6. Take multiple shots with a neutral expression, mouth closed.
  7. Crop to 35 x 45 mm with head height 32-36 mm.
  8. Save as JPEG without any filtering.

Where to Get a Korean Passport Photo

Korea has extensive photo services for identity documents:

  • 인증사진관 (ID photo studios): Specialized studios for passport and ID photos. Cost: ₩15,000 to ₩30,000. Found near Korean district offices.
  • Convenience store photo kiosks: CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven in Korea offer photo machines for around ₩5,000.
  • Large electronics stores: Homeplus, E-Mart photo services available nationwide.
  • Olympia Studio and Photo Signature: Popular chain studios with digital retouching (make sure they know you need no retouching for passport).

When booking a Korean photo studio, specifically request “여권 사진 보정 없이” (passport photo without retouching) to ensure compliance.

Common Reasons Korean Passport Photos Get Rejected

  • Beauty filter applied — the #1 rejection cause.
  • Skin smoothing or face slimming effects.
  • Coloured contact lenses.
  • Photo older than 6 months.
  • Shadows on face or background.
  • Smiling or teeth visible.
  • Glasses with glare.
  • Head tilt.
  • Hair covering eyes.
  • Low-resolution or pixelated image.

Tips for a Successful Korean Passport Photo

  • Disable all camera filters in your phone’s camera settings, not just the one you see in the preview.
  • Test the photo on a computer screen before printing — small preview screens hide filtering artifacts.
  • Use natural daylight for the most accurate skin tone.
  • Keep makeup minimal and natural.
  • Do not use any AI-enhanced “passport photo” apps that automatically smooth skin.

Next Steps

Ready to create your Korean passport photo? Use our free Korea passport photo tool to take a 35x45mm photo at home with no beauty filter applied, verify it meets MOFA requirements, and download it for printing or online submission. For travelers visiting Korea, use our K-ETA photo tool for the correct 700x700 pixel square format. Processed entirely on your device with no automatic filtering — complete 보정 없이 compliance.