Japan Passport Online Application: Photo Upload Procedure (2026)

"I can't take time off to visit a passport office on a weekday" — a long-running frustration in Japan. As of March 2025, online passport application via MynaPortal is available nationwide.

New applications, renewals — handled from home. No paper family register needed. The hardest step is the photo upload — where many applications stall.

This article covers the photo data specifications and walks through the MynaPortal upload procedure step by step.

What You Need to Apply Online

Have all of these ready before starting — interrupting mid-flow is frustrating.

Required

• My Number Card (within validity period)
• MynaPortal-compatible smartphone (iOS / Android)
• Signature certificate password (6-16 alphanumeric characters)
• User-verification certificate PIN (4 digits)
• Facial photo data (600×730px, JPEG, under 600KB)
• Signature image (capture with the MynaPortal app camera)

For renewals (切替申請)

• Your current valid passport

For payment

• Credit card, or a bank account that supports electronic payment

Meeting the Photo Specification

The photo step is the most common bottleneck.

Photo specs

Common upload errors

• File too large: Smartphone JPEGs are usually 2-5 MB — the 600KB cap is much smaller
• Wrong pixel dimensions: 600×730 is a specific ratio, different from the typical 4:3 or 3:4 of phone photos
• Wrong format: iPhones default to HEIC, not JPEG
• Over-edited: heavy beauty filters can be flagged as "manipulated"

From phone shot to compliant data

1. Take the photo (rear camera, natural light, front-facing, no glasses, plain background)
2. Convert to JPEG format
3. Crop and resize to 600×730 pixels exactly
4. Compress under 600KB
5. Verify face position and size are in-spec

Doing all this manually is genuinely hard. Most applicants use an online service.

MynaPortal Upload Procedure

Once your photo data is ready, here's the application flow:

Step 1: Sign in to MynaPortal

• Download the MynaPortal app from the App Store / Google Play
• Hold your My Number Card to the phone to read it
• Enter the 4-digit user-verification PIN

Step 2: Select passport application

• From the home screen → "やること" (Tasks) → "申請・届出" (Apply/Notify)
• Select "Passport Application"
• Choose "New" (新規申請) or "Renewal" (切替申請)

Step 3: Choose your pickup counter

• Select from the list of passport offices in your prefecture
• Pick the most convenient one for pickup day

Step 4: Upload your facial photo

• Tap "Upload facial photo"
• Select your prepared file
• MynaPortal automatically runs spec checks
• If errors appear, your photo needs adjustment

Step 5: Capture your signature

• Sign on a piece of white paper
• Use the MynaPortal app camera to photograph the signature
• The app auto-crops and resizes

Step 6: Enter applicant information

• Name, date of birth, address, etc.
• Some fields auto-fill from the My Number Card read

Step 7: Apply electronic signature with My Number Card

• Hold the My Number Card to the phone again
• Enter the signature certificate password (6-16 alphanumeric)
• The application gets electronically signed

Step 8: Submit

• Review and tap "Submit"
• A confirmation email arrives

Step 9: Pay the fee electronically

• Once your application is accepted, payment instructions arrive
• Pay via credit card, Pay-easy, or internet banking

Pickup Process

1. About 1-2 weeks later, you receive a "ready for pickup" notice
2. Visit the pickup counter you selected — in person, this part isn't online
3. Bring: your old passport (for renewals), My Number Card, payment receipt
4. Receive your new passport

Pickup requires showing up in person — postal delivery is not currently supported.

Online vs Paper: What's Different

Online application benefits compared to paper:

• 24/7 application — no weekday-only counter hours
• No paper koseki needed (system integration handles it)
• Electronic payment — no postal cash or revenue stamps
• Track status in MynaPortal
• Counter visit only for pickup

When Paper Application Is Still Right

In-person paper application may be the better choice if:

• You don't have a My Number Card, or it's expired
• Your smartphone isn't MynaPortal-compatible
• You've forgotten your PIN and don't have time to reset it
• You live overseas (different procedures apply)

Summary

• Nationwide passport online application started March 24, 2025
• Photo data spec: 600×730px, JPEG, under 600KB — different aspect ratio from paper
• The entire application happens via MynaPortal from your phone
• No paper koseki needed
• Pickup is in person, but the rest is fully online

For photo spec details see Japan Passport Photo Specifications and Home Shooting Guide. For shooting techniques see good vs bad ID photos.