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You apply for a My Number Card, then weeks later receive a notice: "Your photo is defective. Please resubmit." Frustrating — and surprisingly common.
According to the official My Number Card site (J-LIS), nearly 80% of online resubmissions are caused by photo defects (verbatim: 「再申請の8割弱が顔写真不備によるもの」). Each resubmission adds about another month to the process.
This guide walks through everything you need to pass on the first try with your smartphone: the official specifications, practical shooting tips, and the online submission flow.
Postal applications and online applications have different requirements.
| Item | Postal | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 4.5 cm (H) × 3.5 cm (W) | 480-6000 pixels (W and H) |
| File format | — | JPEG (RGB) |
| File size | — | 20KB to 7MB |
| Recency | Within 6 months | Within 6 months |
| Background | Plain, light color (white or light blue) | Plain, light color (white or light blue) |
For online submission, the pixel range is minimum 480, maximum 6000 for each dimension. To match the official postal aspect ratio (4.5:3.5), aim for at least 480 × 617 pixels.
Source: My Number Card site — Photo guidelines
The official site lists these common rejection reasons:
The pattern is clear: most defects come from shooting environment and file specs. A smartphone photo can clear both with the right approach.
The rear camera has higher resolution and avoids the wide-angle distortion that selfies introduce. Ask a family member or friend if possible. If you must shoot alone, place your phone on a stable surface and use the timer.
Avoid the front (selfie) camera
The front camera has fewer pixels than the rear camera and tends to be held closer, distorting the face. This is one of the most common rejection causes.
Mid-morning to early afternoon, with soft daylight (ideally through a white curtain) hitting your face from the front, is best. Fluorescent lighting alone tends to give skin a sickly cast. Face the window — don't stand with your back to it.
Hold the phone at eye level, about an arm's length away (50 cm to 1 m). Too close distorts your face; too far loses resolution.
Face straight ahead, mouth closed, completely relaxed. Smiling or showing teeth is a rejection reason. A short breath in before the shutter helps soften a tense expression.
mynaphoto.jp requires you to take the photo without glasses. Although the My Number Card regulation does permit glasses, lens reflections and frames covering the eyes are listed by the official site as common rejection causes. Removing them is the safest way to pass on the first try.
A raw smartphone photo doesn't yet meet the My Number Card specs. Two things still need to happen:
Doing this by hand is difficult — and it's the leading cause of rejections.
mynaphoto.jp handles the post-processing automatically
Upload your phone photo to mynaphoto.jp and our AI removes the background, adjusts the size, and verifies compliance with the official specifications — automatically. The same upload covers 19 supported document types, including passport, resume, and visa. One photo, every size you need.
Source: My Number Card site
My Number Cards are valid for 10 years for holders aged 18 and over, and 5 years for those under 18. Since the program launched in 2016, the first wave of 10-year renewals begins in 2026.
Renewal requires a new photo. The same smartphone approach works from home.
If religious or medical circumstances make it impossible to meet the standard requirements (no hat, no head covering, front-facing), a special application is available. Contact your municipal office or see the My Number Card site for details.
For more shooting tips, see our good vs bad ID photos guide.
Pass on the first try
Upload your smartphone photo. Automatic background removal, size adjustment, and official spec verification. Your face is never modified.
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This article is based on requirements current as of May 2026. Specifications may change. Please verify the latest requirements on the My Number Card site.
Yes. If your photo meets the official specifications, a smartphone photo is valid for online submission. The official My Number Card site explicitly allows smartphone photos.
JPEG format, RGB color, file size between 20KB and 7MB, and pixel dimensions of 480-6000 pixels for both width and height. CMYK files are not accepted.
Photo defects. According to the official My Number Card site, nearly 80% of online resubmissions are caused by issues with the facial photo.
No — mynaphoto.jp requires that you remove glasses. The My Number regulation itself permits glasses, but lens reflections and frames hiding the eyes are official rejection causes. Removing them ensures the photo passes.
Upload your photo to mynaphoto.jp. Our AI automatically removes the background and replaces it with a compliant solid color. You can shoot anywhere — the background no longer matters.
Yes. Adults (18 and over) renew every 10 years; under-18 holders renew every 5 years. The first wave of 10-year renewals begins in 2026.