Photo for a Japanese visa
Published
Japan
The Japanese Embassy in Bern and the Consulate in Geneva require a 35 × 45 mm portrait-format photo for visa applications, glued to the form and printed on real photo paper. This page covers all the requirements, who needs a visa in the first place, where to apply and what applies to Japanese passport photos.
Key facts
- Format: 35 mm wide × 45 mm high, borderless
- Face (chin to crown): 34 mm, 32 to 36 mm permitted
- Plain background, white recommended, without shadows or gradients
- No more than six months old, unedited
- Print on photo paper: the Consulate in Geneva rejects scanned and home-printed photos
- Glue it on, do not staple it
Create your Japan visa photo now – CHF 8.90 digital, CHF 14.90 with prints by post
Do I need a visa at all?
Swiss citizens travel to Japan without a visa and are granted a 90-day stay on entry. Thanks to a bilateral agreement, this can be extended to up to six months, but only by applying to an immigration office in Japan before the 90 days are up.
You need a visa if you:
- plan to do paid work in Japan or stay longer than 90 days. For this, an organisation in Japan first applies for a Certificate of Eligibility.
- live in Switzerland but hold a nationality that does not benefit from the visa exemption. In this case, you also need a Swiss residence permit that remains valid until after your return.
Japan’s online travel authorisation JESTA has been adopted, but is not expected to launch until fiscal year 2028. The Japanese eVISA is not available to applicants resident in Switzerland.
What are the photo requirements?
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 × 45 mm in portrait format, borderless |
| Face | 34 mm from chin to crown, tolerance ± 2 mm |
| Top margin | 4 mm from the top edge of the photo to the crown, tolerance ± 2 mm |
| Background | Plain, white recommended, no pattern, no gradient, no shadows |
| Pose | Facing the camera, head straight, mouth closed |
| Glasses | No reflections, no tinted lenses, no frames across the eyes; if in doubt, take them off |
| Head covering | Not allowed, including headbands |
| Editing | No retouching, no mirrored image, no coloured contact lenses |
| Age of photo | Six months at most |
| On photo paper, not scanned, not printed on plain paper |
Good to know: Older pages on the embassy’s website still mention 45 × 45 mm. The current information sheets from Bern and Geneva and the official application form, however, specify 45 × 35 mm, i.e. 35 mm wide and 45 mm high.
Where do I apply?
Embassy in Bern
Engestrasse 53, 3012 Bern. Applications by appointment only; book at least one month in advance. Processing takes seven working days, and applications by post are not possible. The Honorary Consulate in Zurich does not issue visas.
Consulate General in Geneva
Responsible for residents of the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Valais and Ticino. Processing usually takes five working days.
Documents for a tourist or visitor visa
- Valid passport
- Completed application form with a 35 × 45 mm photo glued on
- Flight booking and itinerary
- Bank statements or payslips for the last three months
- Swiss residence permit
Nationals of Russia, the CIS countries and Georgia bring two photos.
Visa fees at a glance
These fees are charged by the authorities and visa centres, and you pay them directly there. Photo Express is not a visa agency: we only supply the photo and do not submit visa applications.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single-entry visa (since 1 July 2026) | CHF 85 |
| Multiple-entry visa | CHF 169 |
Japanese passport: same format, different upload
The same paper format applies to the Japanese passport: 45 × 35 mm, face 32 to 36 mm, white background recommended, name on the back. In Bern you apply in person with a photo, or online via ORRnet. There, the system accepts JPG, BMP or PNG files between 20 KB and 2 MB.
For applications via Mynaportal, Japan requires a file of exactly 600 × 730 pixels and no more than 600 KB. This aspect ratio differs from the paper format, so you need a separate file for it.
The most common reasons for rejection
- Printed at home on plain paper, or scanned
- Shadows on the face or background, background with a gradient
- Glasses with reflections or with frames across the eyes
- Hair over the eyes or over the outline of the face
- Edited photos: lightened skin, enlarged eyes, mirrored image
- Photo too old or a wrong format such as 45 × 45 mm
Photo Express automatically checks the crop, head size, background and sharpness before you pay. If an authority rejects your photo because of insufficient photo quality, we refund the full amount.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Japan as a Swiss citizen?
Not for tourist stays and business trips of up to 90 days. You need a visa for paid work and for stays of more than 90 days.
Is the Japan visa photo square?
No. The Embassy in Bern and the Consulate in Geneva require a width of 35 mm and a height of 45 mm, i.e. the same portrait format as the Swiss passport photo, but with a larger face.
Can I print the digital file at home?
Better not. The Consulate in Geneva rejects printed photos that were not produced on photo paper. Have the file printed at a photo lab, or choose delivery as a finished print directly from Photo Express.
Can I wear glasses?
Only without reflections, without tinted lenses and without frames across the eyes. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends taking your glasses off.
Does Photo Express apply for the visa for me?
No. Photo Express is a photo service, not a visa agency or an authority. We supply the photo in the right format. You submit the application yourself to the responsible representation or on the official portal, and you pay the visa fees there.
How much does the photo cost at Photo Express?
CHF 8.90 for the digital file, CHF 14.90 for printed photos sent by post to a Swiss address, digital file included. You pay only after you have seen the result.
Take the photo and attend your appointment
Choose the “Japan Passport / Visa” format, take the picture with your phone and have the prints on photo paper sent to your home. No account, no waiting, processing in Switzerland.
