Japanese Resume Photos: Requirements, Size, Attire and Submission
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Last Updated:
Category: Job Search Preparation & Interview Tips
Authors: Shusaku Yosa
For a Japanese rirekisho, first check whether the employer requires a photo. If it does, follow its dimensions, attire, recency and file instructions. If it says no photo is needed, leave it out. If the instructions are unclear, ask rather than assuming that every Japanese application has the same rule.
The practical goal is a clear image that identifies you as you look now. A suit, tie or particular makeup is not a universal requirement. Nor does a photograph automatically become legally invalid after three months.
Establish the requirement first
Instructions | Next action |
|---|---|
Photo required | Record the required size and delivery method. |
Photo not required | Do not add one simply because your template has a photo box. |
Unclear | Read the vacancy notice and upload form; ask the hiring contact if necessary. |
The MHLW resume example describes its photo space as applying where a photo is necessary. A space on a template does not establish every employer’s policy. You can ask: “Is a photo required for this application? If submitting digitally, what file type and size should I use?”
Paper size and digital specifications are different
A 40 mm high by 30 mm wide print is a commonly used reference, but follow the actual form. The ministry’s comparison document gives a height of 36–40 mm and a width of 24–30 mm. That range is not a substitute for an employer’s specific dimensions.
Check | Printed photo | Digital image |
|---|---|---|
Dimensions | Height and width in millimetres | Pixels, aspect ratio and orientation |
Format | Readable print and correct crop | Requested type, such as JPEG or PNG |
Capacity | Not applicable | Maximum file size |
Recency | Employer’s period, or a recent current likeness | The same principle |
For example, “JPEG, 600 × 450 pixels, below 1 MB” would be a specification for that particular fictional application. It is not a common rule. Millimetres alone do not tell you a digital file’s pixel dimensions or size.
Choose attire and a clear, natural image
Start with any company instructions and the working environment. If nothing is specified, the outfit you would wear to the interview can be a useful reference. Hello Work’s preparation guide also allows for ordinary clothing in situations such as part-time applications. Do not turn gender into a compulsory tie or makeup rule.
Check that hair or accessories do not substantially obscure your face and that glasses do not produce strong reflections. Face the camera naturally, keep your shoulders level and use lighting that makes your features clear. A plain background is a practical option where no colour is specified. There is no screening guarantee attached to a particular degree of smiling.
Adjusting brightness or cropping is different from changing facial shape or body proportions. Keep a recognisable current likeness. The official fair-recruitment principles focus on suitability and ability; this guide does not promise an advantage from a particular appearance.
Compare the ways to obtain a photo
Method | Useful when | Check before paying or saving |
|---|---|---|
Studio | You want help with lighting and posture | Booking, price, digital files, reprints and retouching |
Photo booth | You want a nearby, quick option | Available sizes, digital retrieval and storage period |
Your own camera | You can meet the conditions yourself | Background, light, sharpness, crop and export method |
Prices depend on the provider and package. Compare whether data is included, whether it can be retrieved again and what printing is available. With a phone, use a stable camera height and distance rather than a close, angled selfie. Examine the result before committing to multiple prints.
Attach a printed photo
- Finish and proofread the resume, then compare the print with the photo space.
- Lightly write your name on the back in case it becomes detached, without marking the front.
- Use glue or photo tape on the back and align the photo with the frame.
- Check for lifting edges, excess glue, tilt and an awkward crop.
If the size is wrong, do not cut away important parts of your face to make it fit. Re-export at the required ratio or obtain another print. Keep the completed document clean and uncreased.
Prepare digital submission
- Keep the original image and make a submission copy.
- Crop appropriately and resize without stretching the image.
- Save in the specified format and capacity; check positioning if inserting it into a resume.
- Open the final PDF or other submission file and inspect orientation and clarity.
If the file is too large, check the required dimensions before reducing resolution or applying compression. Renaming the extension does not convert the image format. Follow instructions on whether the photo should be embedded or uploaded separately.
Recency and your final checks
Hello Work’s guide suggests a photo taken within roughly six months. This is guidance, not a legal expiry date. Follow a stricter employer instruction where one is given. Without a specified period, use a recent image that reflects your current appearance and consider retaking it if your appearance has changed substantially.
Before submitting, check the requirement, dimensions, file type, capacity, current likeness and final presentation. These checks also answer common concerns about an older photo or not owning a suit: establish the actual instructions first, then prepare what that application needs.
Related guides
- Free Japanese Resume Templates: MHLW Excel and PDF Downloads (Japanese)
- Education on a Japanese Resume: Examples and Enrollment/Graduation Year Checks (Japanese)
The linked Otame4 guides are in Japanese.
