Everything you need to know about South Korea work permit and employment visa photo requirements, including exact dimensions, background color, pose rules, and how to take a compliant photo at home.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Country | South Korea (한국) |
| Document Type | Work Permit / Employment Visa |
| Photo Size | 35 × 45 mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm) |
| Resolution (DPI) | 600 |
| Head Size | 25–35 mm from chin to top of head |
| Background Color | White |
| Printable | Yes — on matte or glossy photo-quality paper |
| Digital for Online Submission | Yes |
| Digital Photo Size | 827 × 1063 pixels minimum (at 600 DPI) |
| Photo Paper Type | Matte or glossy |
| Color | Color only (black and white not accepted) |
| Number of Photos | 2 identical photos |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
The Korean immigration authorities have specific requirements for work permit and employment visa photos. Below is a comprehensive guide to ensure your photo is accepted.
Glasses are not recommended for South Korea work permit photos. If you must wear prescription glasses, only clear lenses are allowed. There must be no glare, no reflections, and no tint. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are strictly prohibited.
Source: Korea Visa Portal (비자포털)
You don't need a professional studio. Follow these simple steps to take a compliant South Korea work permit photo at home using your smartphone.
Any modern smartphone camera (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, etc.) is more than capable of taking a work permit-quality photo. Make sure the lens is clean and the camera is set to the highest resolution.
Place your phone on a tripod or ask someone to take the photo for you. Selfies tend to have the wrong angle and distortion.
Stand facing a window with natural daylight for the best even lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows. If using indoor lighting, use multiple light sources from different angles to eliminate shadows.
Wear your normal everyday clothing. Avoid uniforms and white tops that blend with the background. If you wear religious head coverings daily, you may keep them on as long as your full face is visible.
Make sure your hair does not cover your eyes or cast shadows on your face.
Stand about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in front of the camera with your head facing directly forward. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head level — not tilted. Ensure your entire face from chin to forehead is visible.
Keep your face relaxed with a neutral expression. Both eyes must be open and your mouth closed. Do not smile. Your expression should be calm and natural.
Comparison of acceptable and unacceptable work permit photos
A South Korea work permit photo must be exactly 35×45 mm. Your head must measure between 25 and 35 mm from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head.
Glasses are not recommended. If you must wear prescription glasses, only clear lenses are allowed with no glare, no reflections, and no tint. Sunglasses and tinted glasses are strictly prohibited.
No. You must maintain a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and your mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, or exaggerated expressions.
Yes! You can take your work permit photo with any smartphone. Simply upload it to PassportPhoto.help and our AI will automatically crop, resize, remove the background, and ensure it meets all official South Korea work permit photo requirements.
The background must be plain white. No patterns, objects, shadows, or other people should be visible. If you don't have a white wall, don't worry — our tool will automatically replace your background with white.
This photo format is required for all E-series employment visas (E-1 through E-7), including E-1 Professor, E-2 Foreign Language Instructor, E-3 Research, E-4 Technical Instruction, E-5 Professional, E-6 Arts and Entertainment, and E-7 Specific Activities. The format is the same as the standard Korean visa photo.
You need to submit 2 identical photos with your South Korea work permit application.
Your work permit photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. It should reflect your current appearance, including any significant changes to your face.
