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Qualifying as a Takken (宅地建物取引士, real estate transaction agent) means submitting a photo twice — once to apply for the exam, and again to receive your licence card after passing.
The part that catches people out: the two sizes are different. Assuming the photo you shot for the exam will carry over to the licence card leads to a reshoot at the registration stage.
Takken is a large exam. According to figures published by RETIO, the Reiwa 7 (2025) sitting drew 306,099 applicants and 245,462 examinees, with 45,821 passing. That is a lot of people hitting the same photo problem every year.
| Purpose | Size | Face height | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam application | 45mm tall × 35mm wide | 32–36mm crown to chin | At application (around July) |
| Licence card issuance | 30mm tall × 24mm wide | About 20mm | After passing and registering |
The exam photo is the same spec as a passport photo; the licence card photo is a smaller, dedicated size. Remember that distinction and you won't get it wrong.
RETIO's exam guidance specifies an ID photo that would also be accepted for a passport application.
Wrong spec means no acceptance
RETIO states that where a photo is unsuitable — including being a size other than the one specified — a replacement may be demanded, and if you do not comply, the application will not be accepted. The application window is short, so a round trip to replace a photo can push you past the deadline.
For internet applications, RETIO provides a dedicated photo preparation site that builds application photo data from an image you already have. Worth checking before you apply.
After passing the exam and completing registration, you apply for the Takkenshi card. This uses a completely different size.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government's issuance guidance specifies:
Edited photos cannot be used
Tokyo's guidance states that digitally altered photos cannot be used, along with Polaroids, prints on non-glossy paper, unclear images, and photos where the subject does not sit properly within the frame. Shoot in front of a plain wall rather than replacing the background afterwards.
Licence card applications are handled by the prefecture you registered with, and the number of photos required varies. Tokyo asks for one; some prefectures ask for three.
The size is consistent, but quantity and attachment method are not — always check the guidance for your own prefecture.
Points that apply to both specs:
The licence card spec pins the face height at about 20mm, which is unusually specific. Cropping in from a photo where you appear small tends to leave too little resolution and gets flagged as unclear. Frame for the face ratio when you shoot, not afterwards.
For technique, see studio-quality ID photos at home and good vs bad ID photos.
Takken photos from one phone shot
A single upload produces both the exam application size (45×35mm) and the licence card size (30×24mm).
Create Your PhotoNote
This article is based on public information current as of August 2026. The exam specification comes from RETIO's exam guidance; the licence card specification comes from the prefecture you register with. Both can change by year, so verify before applying.
An ID photo meeting passport specification: 45mm tall × 35mm wide, with 32–36mm from the top of the head to the chin. The same spec applies to both internet and postal applications.
No. The Takkenshi card (宅地建物取引士証) application photo is 30mm tall × 24mm wide, with the face about 20mm tall. It must be prepared separately from the 45×35mm exam photo.
It depends on the prefecture handling your application. Tokyo requires one; some prefectures require three. Always check the guidance for the prefecture you registered in.
RETIO states that where a photo is unsuitable — including being a size other than the one specified — a replacement may be demanded, and if you do not comply the application will not be accepted.
Tokyo's guidance states that digitally altered photos cannot be used. Avoid background replacement and anything beyond natural colour correction — shoot against a genuinely plain background instead.
Shoot shortly before the application window. The licence card photo must have been taken within the past six months, so if time passes between passing the exam and applying for the card, you may need to reshoot.