Korea Visa Photo Requirements — Size, Background & Rules
Korean immigration uses one photo specification across visa applications, CVI submissions, and ARC (Alien Registration Card) registration: 3.5cm × 4.5cm, white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months. A photo that doesn't match the spec can be returned and delay your application, so it is worth getting right the first time. This guide covers the requirement, the mistakes worth avoiding, and the consulates that set their own size.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed September 2026
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
September 4, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
The standard spec: 3.5cm × 4.5cm (35mm × 45mm)
Korea's visa application form — 사증발급신청서 (별지 제17호서식) — and the form used for alien registration — 통합신청서(신고서) (별지 제34호서식) — both call for a passport-style photo sized 3.5cm × 4.5cm (35mm × 45mm). The CVI application form your sponsor files on your behalf asks for the same size.
Some consulates set their own size. The Korean Embassy in the US, for example, asks for a 2 × 2 inch photo with the visa application. Check your consulate's visa page before you print.
The photo must be taken within the last 6 months. An older photo — even a technically correct one — can be rejected as outdated, particularly if your appearance has visibly changed.
Background, framing, and what to avoid
Background: plain white or off-white, with no pattern, shadow, or other people/objects visible.
Framing: front-facing, full face visible, neutral expression, both ears generally visible (head coverings are only accepted for religious reasons, and even then the full face must stay visible).
Ruled out by the official photo standard: • Tinted glasses, or anything else that covers part of the face • Colored or patterned backgrounds • A photo older than 6 months
Our practical advice (not official rules, but each makes it harder to meet the standard above): • Use a proper front-facing shot rather than a selfie or an angled photo • Skip heavy filters, retouching, and AI "enhancement" — the photo should look like you do now • Avoid glare across your glasses that hides your eyes, and shadows on the background • Have a photo taken for this purpose rather than cropping one out of a group or casual picture
Digital upload vs printed copy — know which one your step needs
Online CVI application: if your sponsor applies for your CVI online, they upload a digital photo that meets the same size/background spec in the online application.
Embassy visa application: most Korean embassies and consulates require a physical printed photo attached to the paper application form, even if you also submitted documents online.
ARC registration at an immigration office: bring a printed photo in person — this is a paper-form requirement, not something you can substitute with a phone photo shown on-screen.
Because the requirement differs by step, don't assume one digital photo file covers your whole process — check what the specific office or embassy page you're dealing with asks for.
Where to get a compliant photo
Photo studios and photo booths located near Korean immigration offices and embassies are generally familiar with this exact spec and will size and background the print correctly. Self-printed or app-generated photos carry more rejection risk, mainly around background evenness and correct cropping to 3.5cm × 4.5cm — if you go this route, double-check the output dimensions and background before submitting.
Tips from 행정사s
Get 4-6 printed copies at once — you'll likely need more than one across CVI, embassy, and ARC steps.
If more than 6 months pass between your visa photo and a later step such as ARC registration, get a fresh photo rather than reusing the original.
Ask the photo studio specifically for a '여권/비자 사진' (passport/visa photo) — this is a standard, well-understood request in Korea.
Keep a digital scan of your printed photo on hand in case an online portal also asks for an upload.
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Alien Registration Card (ARC)
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HiKorea
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Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)
A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.
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Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)
A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.
Frequently asked questions
What size photo does a Korean visa application need?
3.5cm × 4.5cm (35mm × 45mm) — the size printed on Korea's visa application form, the CVI application form, and the form used for ARC registration. Some consulates set their own size — the Korean Embassy in the US asks for 2 × 2 inches — so check your consulate's visa page.
Can I use my regular passport photo for my Korea visa application?
Often yes if it meets the same recency (within 6 months) and white or off-white background requirements, but passport photo specs vary by country and don't always match Korea's 3.5cm × 4.5cm size exactly. Check with the specific consulate or office before relying on an existing photo.
Does my ARC photo need to be different from my visa application photo?
Not necessarily the same spec issue — it's the same 3.5cm × 4.5cm format — but it does need to be within 6 months of when you submit ARC registration. If time has passed since your visa photo was taken, get a new one.
Can I upload a digital photo instead of bringing a printed one?
For an online CVI application, yes — your sponsor uploads a digital photo in the online application. For embassy visa applications and in-person ARC registration, a printed photo is typically still required. Confirm with the specific office, since this varies by step.