Applying for a Korean visa yourself isn't hard. The hard part is precision. Your documents may be complete and your itinerary clear, but a Korean visa photo with the wrong head proportion or an off-tone background can still mean submitting additional documents or starting over.
This article covers what to prepare before you apply, the 3.5×4.5cm photo specifications, common mistakes and how to check your own photo. Concise, complete, ready to use.
Applying for a Korean visa yourself: what to prepare before you file
Korean visa requirements vary by visa type, purpose of travel and individual circumstances. So don't copy someone else's list wholesale. Get the latest checklist from the official portals of the Korean Embassy, the Korean Consulate and the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC).
A self-filed application usually revolves around these groups of documents:
- A fully completed visa application form, with details matching your passport.
- A valid Vietnamese passport, with copies of the required pages.
- A visa photo to the correct 3.5×4.5cm specification.
- Documents proving employment, finances and the purpose of your trip, according to the visa type you choose.
Fees, processing times and any additional documents should be checked directly on the official portal. Regulations may change, so double-check right before your filing date.
Korean visa photo specifications: 3.5×4.5cm, white background
This is the easiest part to get wrong, because to the naked eye every photo “looks fine”. A Korean visa photo has three core specifications:
- Korean visa photo size: 3,5×4,5cm.
- Head height: 2.5–3.5cm, measured from the top of the head to the chin.
- Background: white, plain, no patterns.
In other words, the face fills most of the frame without touching the edges. A 3.5×4.5 photo on a white background needs even lighting, balanced on both sides of the face, with no shadow behind the head.
All the specifications above should be checked against the latest requirements of the Korean Embassy/Consulate and KVAC before you apply. To learn more about document photos, see ID, visa and passport photo service page.
5 mistakes that get Korean visa photos rejected
Most photos aren't rejected for poor quality. They're rejected for missing the standard in small details.
- Wrong head proportion. Cropping a 4×6 photo down to 3.5×4.5 is the classic mistake: the size is right but the head is too small or too large for the 2.5–3.5cm range.
- Background not white. A grey background, a yellow cast from room lighting, or a textured wall are all risky.
- Shadows. Shadows behind the neck, under the chin, or a nose shadow falling to one side are signs of single-source lighting.
- Over-retouching. Waxy-smooth skin, an unnaturally slim face, enlarged eyes. A visa photo needs to look like you in real life, not you after a filter.
- Blurry or grainy photos. Shot in poor light, printed from a file compressed many times, or taken with a phone's front camera too close, distorting the face.
The simple rule: the more “true to life” the photo and the “flatter” the lighting, the safer.
Korean visa photo size compared with other countries
Many people use one set of photos for multiple applications. That's a mistake. Each country has its own standard, differing by the millimetre:
| Document type | Photo size | Head height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea visa | 3,5×4,5cm | 2,5–3,5cm | White background |
| US visa | 2×2 inch (51x51mm) | 25–35mm | White background, no glasses |
| Visa Schengen | 35x45mm | 32–36mm | White or light grey background |
| Visa Anh (UK) | 35x45mm (printed photo) | 29–34mm | UK applications now favour digital photos; check the official guidelines |
| China visa | 33x48mm | 28–33mm | White background |
| Japan visa | 4,5×4,5cm | Per the Japanese Embassy | Per Japanese Embassy guidelines |
| Visa Canada | 35x45mm | 31–36mm | Check the official guidelines |
| Australia visa | 35x45mm | 32–36mm | Check the official guidelines |
| Vietnamese passport | 4x6cm | — | White background, no glasses, both ears visible (TT 73/2021/TT-BCA) |
If you're getting both a passport and a visa, see our article international-standard ID, passport and visa photos in Thu Duc. Check passport procedures on the Ministry of Public Security's Public Service Portal; check each country's visa requirements on the Embassy/Consulate website or the application centre. Regulations may change.
Outfit, hair, glasses and expression for visa photos
These are general tips from professional experience, helping photos on a white background look clear and be readily accepted.
Clothing
Choose a collared top in a neutral or dark colour such as navy, black or moss green. White on a white background can make the shoulder line “dissolve” into the backdrop. Avoid busy patterns and off-the-shoulder clothing.
Hair
Show your whole face, from eyebrows to chin. Keep hair away from your eyes. Long hair should be neatly tucked back or tied low so the outline of your face is clearly visible.
Glasses and accessories
To be safe, remove your glasses for the shot, as lenses easily catch glare. Keep large earrings, headbands and hats to a minimum. If you have religious or medical reasons, check the specific rules on the official portal.
Expression
Look straight into the lens. Mouth naturally closed, neutral expression. Shoulders level, head not tilted. Don't try to look “pretty”; aim to be “correct”.
Travelling as a family? Children also need their own photos to the correct specification, following the same principles: face straight on, neutral expression, hair neatly away from the face.
Take it yourself or get your Korean visa photo at a Thu Duc studio?
Taking it yourself: check with a ruler before you apply
You can take it at home if you have a flat white wall, even lighting on both sides and someone to shoot from far enough away. Miss one condition and the risk rises noticeably.
After printing, don't guess. Measure:
- Use a ruler on the edges: exactly 3.5cm wide, 4.5cm tall.
- Measure from the top of the head to the chin: it must fall within 2.5–3.5cm.
- Look closely at the background: evenly white, no shadows, no yellow cast.
- Check each line against the specification table above before attaching it to your application.
Instant photos at K-BLACK Studio
If you're in Thu Duc or around Vinhomes Grand Park, K-BLACK Studio is at M3-06 Manhattan Glory, Vinhomes Grand Park, Thu Duc City. The studio is open 8:30–17:30 daily; outside these hours, please book an appointment in advance. Our instant-print ID, visa and passport photos service is ideal when you need to complete your application the same day.
K-BLACK shoots tethered: images appear instantly on a large screen, so you can check the background, lighting and your face, and approve the colours before paying. The studio shoots to the specifications you request and lets you review first; the final decision on your application rests with the Korean Embassy/Consulate.
Reference prices
| Package | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Package K1 | 150,000 VND | Plain-background shoot, photo retouching, background colour change, digital file included |
| Package K2 | 200,000 VND | As K1 + 1 outfit provided, printed photos: 2 × 4×6, 2 × 3×4, 4 × 2×3 |
| Package K3 | 500,000 VND | Same as K2 + basic makeup and hair styling |
| A6 ID photo printing | 50,000 VND / sheet | 1 A6 sheet (10.5×14.8cm) |
Note: the prints included in the K2 package are 4×6, 3×4 and 2×3, and do not include the 3.5×4.5cm size. If you need a Korean visa photo, let us know when booking so the studio can confirm how to get the right size, for example receiving the digital file and printing an extra A6 sheet.
Forgot a collared top? The K2 package includes one outfit. Want to look more polished on camera? The K3 package adds basic makeup and hair styling.
Korean visa photo FAQs
What size is a South Korea visa photo?
3.5×4.5cm photo, head height 2.5–3.5cm, white background. Always check the latest requirements on the official portals of the Korean Embassy/Consulate and KVAC.
Can I use a 4×6 passport photo for a Korean visa?
Not advisable. The two differ in size and head proportion. Cropping a 4×6 photo down usually throws off the head height.
Can I wear glasses for a Korean visa photo?
To be safe, remove your glasses to avoid glare and obscuring your eyes. For special cases, check the rules on the official portal.
Are visa photos at K-BLACK ready on the spot?
Yes. You shoot, view and approve your photos instantly on a large screen at the studio, between 8:30–17:30. Outside these hours, please book an appointment in advance.
A small photo, but the first thing the reviewing officer sees. At K-BLACK, you check the head proportion, background and lighting together on a large screen before printing, so your 3.5×4.5 photo is no longer a guessing game. The studio's ethos stays the same: If we do something at all, we go beyond expectations.
Book your Korean visa photo: book online at the K-BLACK booking page, or message on Zalo/call 0367 277 935. See package details on the ID, visa and passport photo service page. K-BLACK Studio – M3-06 Manhattan Glory, Vinhomes Grand Park, Thu Duc City.
