Japan Passport Size Photo Glasses Rules: All Eyewear Banned

No — glasses of any kind are not permitted in Japan passport photos. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外務省 / MoFA) bans all eyewear. This applies to both passport applications and Japanese visa applications.

Exact Glasses Rules for Japanese Passport Photos

All glasses are banned:

• Prescription glasses (メガネ) — not allowed, regardless of medical need
• Sunglasses — not allowed
• Tinted lenses — not allowed
• Reading glasses (老眼鏡) — not allowed
• Blue-light blocking glasses — not allowed
• Photochromic (transition) lenses — not allowed, even if clear indoors
• Non-prescription fashion frames (伊達メガネ) — not allowed

The only item permitted near your eyes is clear prescription contact lenses (コンタクトレンズ).

Why Does Japan Ban Glasses in Passport Photos?

Japan's passport system uses facial recognition (顔認証) to match applicants against their biometric database. Glasses interfere because:

• Frames obscure facial geometry. The bridge area between the eyes is a critical measurement point for Japan's strict face-to-frame ratio requirement.
• Lenses create reflections. Even anti-glare coatings don't eliminate all reflections under studio lighting.
• Shadows from frames fall on the cheeks and under the eyes.

Japan has one of the strictest face-to-photo ratios in the world (the face must occupy 70–80% of the photo height). Glasses frames reduce the visible face area, compounding the problem.

Medical Exemptions for Glasses in Japanese Photos

Medical exemptions are extremely rare. You would need documentation from a specialist and prior approval. For the vast majority of applicants, removing glasses for the 30 seconds of the photo session is far simpler.

Can You Wear Contact Lenses in Japanese Passport Photos?

Clear prescription contact lenses (コンタクトレンズ) are fine. The rule targets glasses and tinted lenses, not vision correction that doesn't obscure your eyes.

What might get flagged: Coloured or cosmetic contact lenses (カラーコンタクト) that noticeably change your eye colour. The biometric system compares your photo to previous records. Dramatically different eye colour can trigger additional verification.

Practical Tips for Glasses Wearers Getting Japanese Photos

Before the photo

• Remove glasses 5–10 minutes before the photo. This gives the red marks on the bridge of your nose time to fade. These marks are visible in close-up passport photos.
• If you normally squint without glasses, practise keeping your eyes naturally open. The photo requires a neutral expression (無表情) with both eyes clearly visible.
• If you use contact lenses, insert them before arriving at the passport office or studio.

During the photo

• Keep your eyes relaxed and open. Don't squint.
• If you can't see the camera clearly, ask the photographer to guide you. Studio staff handle this routinely.

After the photo

• Check the photo on screen before printing. Verify no red marks from your frames are visible.

Where to Get Glasses-Free Passport Photos in Japan

Professional photo studios (写真館). Studios near passport offices specialise in passport photos. Cost: ¥1,000–2,000. Ask for "パスポート写真、メガネなし" (passport photo, no glasses). The photographer will handle all requirements.

Photo booths (証明写真機). Automated booths at train stations, convenience stores, and shopping centres (such as Ki-Re-i / キレイ or DNP photo booths). Cost: ¥800–1,000. These are widely available across Japan — nearly every major station has one. They guide you through the process with on-screen instructions in Japanese and English. Remove glasses before entering.

Convenience store printing. Apps like コンビニ証明写真 let you take a photo at home and print at a convenience store (Lawson, FamilyMart, 7-Eleven). Cost: ¥200–400. Ensure no glasses appear.

DIY at home. If taking your own photo:

• White background (Japan requires pure white)
• 35×45mm
• No glasses of any kind
• Neutral expression, mouth closed (smiling not allowed)
• Both eyes clearly visible
• Face occupies 70–80% of the photo height

Japanese Visa Photo Glasses Rules

Japanese visa applications also ban glasses. If you're applying for a Japanese visa from abroad:

• 35×45mm, white background
• No glasses
• No smiling
• Photos must be recent (within 6 months)

Japan's Strict Face Ratio and Why Glasses Make It Worse

Japan requires the face (from chin to top of head) to occupy 70–80% of the photo height — one of the tightest ratios in the world. Without glasses, measuring this is straightforward. With glasses, frames can obscure the chin-to-hairline measurement and lead to rejection for both the glasses violation and the ratio violation.

This is another practical reason to simply remove glasses: you avoid compounding two strict requirements.

Glasses Rules: Japan vs Other Countries

Japan follows the global majority in banning all glasses. Only a minority of countries — UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, and South Korea among major nations — still permit prescription glasses conditionally.

Common Glasses Mistakes in Japanese Passport Photos

Keeping glasses on "because they're clear." Even perfectly clear prescription glasses are banned.

Using fashion frames (伊達メガネ). Very common in Japan. These are not allowed in passport photos.

Wearing transition lenses that haven't fully cleared. Any residual tint will cause rejection.

Ignoring nose-bridge marks. Remove glasses well before the photo session.

Digitally removing glasses. Photo manipulation is detectable and can delay your application.

Glasses Rules for Japanese Citizens Renewing Passports Abroad

If you're renewing your Japanese passport from abroad, the same no-glasses rule applies. Japanese embassies and consulates in New York, Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, and Shanghai all enforce the ban.

In countries where glasses are allowed for their own passports (UK, Canada, Germany, South Korea), photo studios may assume glasses are fine. Specify: "日本のパスポート写真、メガネなし、白背景、35×45mm" or in English: "Japanese passport photo, no glasses, white background, 35×45mm."

Children's Japanese Passport Photos and Glasses Rules

The same no-glasses rule applies to children's passport photos. If your child wears prescription glasses, remove them for the photo. Japanese passports for children under 12 are valid for 5 years. Passports for those 12 and older are valid for either 5 or 10 years depending on the type chosen.

For very young children who wear glasses, removing them is usually quite straightforward since children are accustomed to taking glasses on and off.

Can You Wear Glasses at the Japanese Passport Office?

The glasses ban applies only to your passport photo. You can wear glasses:

• At the passport office (旅券事務所) during your appointment
• During the in-person verification
• In your supporting ID documents (マイナンバーカード, 運転免許証, etc.)

Do Not Digitally Remove Glasses from Japanese Photos

Do not digitally remove glasses from a photo. The biometric system compares your submitted photo to in-person verification. Manipulated photos can delay your application significantly. Always take the photo without glasses from the start.

Verify your photo meets all Japanese passport requirements with the passportsize-photo.online checker. For size requirements, see Japanese passport photo size guide. View all Japanese passport photo rules on the Japan hub.