Korean Passport Photo (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tightened its passport photo rules: 35×45 mm, head 32–36 mm, a uniform white background — and photos that have been edited, AI-generated or background-replaced are refused.
🔒 100% in your browser — your photo is never uploaded
1. Choose a photo — front-facing, even light, plain light background.
2. Adjust — drag to move, slider to zoom.
3. Optional: replace background
⚠️ Many authorities reject photos that are digitally altered. For the safest result, take the photo against a plain light wall and skip this step.
Background editing is disabled for this photo type because the issuing authority prohibits edited or background-replaced photos. Use a real plain wall.
4. Checks
- Waiting for a photo
Automated checks are guides only — they can't judge expression, glasses, shadows or focus.
5. Download (free)
Requirements at a glance
| Photo size | 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) |
|---|---|
| Digital output (this tool) | 413 × 531 px JPEG |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 32–36 mm |
| Background | uniform white |
| File size | max 500 KB (auto-compressed) |
| Print resolution | 300 DPI |
| Photos per 4×6 / A4 sheet | 8 / 36 |
| Background editing | not allowed — tool disabled |
Official source: https://passport.go.kr/home/kor/contents.do?menuPos=32 and Consulate General in Atlanta notice (no AI/edited photos). Checked 2026-10-20. Rules change — always confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Specification (passport.go.kr)
- Size 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm (35×45 mm), colour, taken within 6 months.
- Head length from the top of the head (excluding hair) to the chin 3.2–3.6 cm.
- Background uniform white, no border, no objects, shadows or reflections.
- Front-facing, both ears ideally visible, neutral expression, mouth closed; no hat or head covering except for religious reasons.
- For online upload: JPG/PNG under 500 KB; 413×531 px at 300 DPI is recommended.
No editing — background tool disabled
The Ministry's guidance and Korean consulates (for example the Consulate General in Atlanta's notice on "AI photos") state that photos altered with editing apps, filters, AI tools, background removal or compositing will not be accepted. For this reason, the background-whitening option is hidden for the Korea preset. Shoot in front of a genuinely white wall with even light instead.
Measuring the head
Note that Korea measures from the top of the head, not the top of the hair. If you have voluminous hair, your face will look larger than in a US-style photo. Our head estimate is approximate, so aim for the middle of the 32–36 mm band shown by the blue lines.
Online verification
The passport.go.kr site has an online photo verification page where you can test a digital photo before applying. Our 413×531 JPEG download stays under 500 KB.
Printing
A 4×6 sheet holds eight 3.5×4.5 cm photos. Print on photo paper at 100% scale with no cropping.
How to make a Korea passport photo with this tool
- Pick a photo taken in the last few months against a uniform white background, face lit evenly from the front.
- The tool finds your face and scales it so the head is about 34 mm tall on a 35 × 45 mm (1.38 × 1.77 in) photo.
- Drag or zoom until every check is green.
- Download the 413×531 px JPG (compressed under 500 KB) for online forms, or a 4×6 sheet with 8 photos to print.
FAQ
What size is a Korean passport photo?
3.5 x 4.5 cm with the head 3.2 to 3.6 cm from the top of the head (excluding hair) to the chin.
Can I edit my Korean passport photo?
No. Edited, AI-generated, background-removed or composited photos are refused, so our background tool is disabled for this spec.
What background colour?
A uniform white background with no shadows or objects.
What file size for upload?
Under 500 KB; 413x531 pixels at 300 DPI is recommended.