For applicants planning to visit South Korea, one of the essential components of a successful visa application is a compliant visa photo. Whether you’re applying for a short-term tourist visa, student visa, work permit, or the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA), submitting a photograph that adheres to the official standards is mandatory. Failure to meet these requirements can lead to delays, rejections, or requests for resubmission.
Applying for a South Korea visa? Ensure your application is accepted without delays by following the official South Korea visa photo requirements. This guide explains the correct photo size, background, expression, and other essential specifications for a compliant visa photo.
This article outlines the latest photo specifications for South Korea visa applications, with guidelines for both digital and printed submissions.
📌 Standard Photo Requirements for South Korea Visa
The government of South Korea has issued precise guidelines for photographs submitted with visa applications, as listed below:
➤ Dimensions and Size
- Photo size: 35 mm wide × 45 mm high
- Head height: Between 32 mm and 36 mm (approximately 70–80% of the photo)
- Eye line position: Between 23–28 mm from the bottom of the photo
- Margin: Space should be visible above the head and on both sides of the face
➤ Background Specifications
- Color: Solid white or light grey only
- Texture: No patterns, textures, or shadows
- Clarity: Even lighting, no overexposure or underexposure
- No retouching or background editing is allowed
➤ Photo Quality
- Resolution: Minimum 600 dpi for print-quality images
- Format (for digital photos): JPEG or JPG
- File size (for K-ETA): Maximum 100–300 KB, depending on the submission portal
- Paper (for physical submissions): Glossy or matte photo paper with no wrinkles, creases, or ink marks
🧍 Facial Expression and Appearance
To comply with biometric standards, the applicant’s appearance must adhere to the following:
- Expression: Neutral, with mouth closed and eyes open
- Orientation: Face directly toward the camera; no tilting or rotation
- Hair: Should not cover the face or eyebrows
- Headgear: Only permitted for religious purposes; full facial features must remain visible
- Glasses: Prescription eyeglasses are allowed if frames do not obstruct the eyes. No tinted or reflective lenses are permitted
- Clothing: Avoid white tops that blend with the background. No uniforms or camouflage attire
👶 Requirements for Children and Infants
Photographs for children and infants follow the same general standards with a few relaxed allowances:
- Infants: May be photographed while lying on a plain white sheet. No visible hands, toys, or other distractions should appear in the frame
- Children under 10: The head may occupy slightly less space in the frame, but the image must be centered with a clear view of facial features
- Expression: Ideally neutral; some leniency is applied to infants who cannot maintain expressions
🖥️ Digital Photo Guidelines (e.g., K-ETA)
When applying for South Korea’s K-ETA or other online visa programs, the digital photo requirements are as follows:
- Pixel size: 700 x 700 pixels minimum
- Format: JPEG or JPG only
- File size: 100 KB minimum, 300 KB maximum
- Facial proportions: Face must occupy approximately 70–80% of the image
- Image must be upright and in color, without compression artifacts or visible pixels
📌 Important note: Several applicants have experienced rejections due to photos that were cropped incorrectly, had poor lighting, or used selfie filters. It’s highly recommended to use a professional photo or a certified passport photo app that provides South Korea visa-compliant templates.
📤 Printed Photo Guidelines (e.g., Embassy or VFS Submission)
When submitting your application physically at an embassy, consulate, or visa facilitation center (like VFS Global), you must attach two printed photographs that meet these criteria:
- Size: 35 mm x 45 mm
- Paper quality: Glossy or matte finish; photo lab-developed prints are preferred
- Condition: No folds, creases, ink smudges, or scratches
- Attachment: Affix using glue stick or paper clip. Staples are strictly prohibited as they may damage the photo or disqualify the application
🛑 Common Mistakes to Avoid
The South Korean Ministry of Justice has emphasized photo compliance as a key part of biometric screening. Below are the most common reasons for photo rejection:
| ❌ Mistake | 🔍 Explanation |
| Incorrect dimensions | Photos must be exactly 35×45 mm; not 2×2 inches or other common formats |
| Smiling or non-neutral expression | Only neutral facial expressions are accepted |
| Inappropriate background | Patterned or colored backgrounds are not allowed |
| Use of filters or image enhancement | Photos must not be digitally altered |
| Poor lighting | Shadows on the face or background result in automatic disqualification |
| Glasses with glare | Light reflections on lenses obscure biometric data |
| Head tilted or partially visible | Entire face must be forward-facing and centered |
🔁 What Happens If Your Photo Is Rejected?
If the submitted photograph does not comply with the guidelines, the visa processing center may take one of the following actions:
- Request for Resubmission: You will receive an email or notification asking for a new, compliant photo
- Application Delay: Your visa processing will be paused until a valid photo is provided
- Visa Denial: In rare cases, especially with online submissions like K-ETA, non-compliance may result in outright denial
To avoid these complications, it is advised to verify your photo’s compliance with official specifications before submission. Many photo studios now offer visa-specific packages, including South Korea visa photos.
🧾 Final Checklist Before Submission
Before submitting your photo with the visa application, verify the following:
✅ Photo is 35 x 45 mm in size
✅ White or light grey background with even lighting
✅ No filters or edits applied
✅ Face occupies 70–80% of the frame
✅ No headwear or reflective glasses
✅ Recent (taken within the last 6 months)
✅ Digital file under 300 KB (for K-ETA)
✅ Printed on high-quality glossy/matte paper
✅ Staple-free and attached using glue or paperclip
