Guide
Japan’s New Residence Card Photos: Children Age 1–15 Need Them from June 14, 2026
From June 14, 2026, Japan’s new residence cards and special permanent resident certificates will show photos for children aged 1 to under 16. Some families may be asked to submit photos even before that date if the card will be issued after the change.
Japan is changing the card format. From June 14, 2026, new residence cards and special permanent resident certificates will display a face photo for children aged 1 to under 16.
That means a family application filed before the change can still be caught by the new rule if the actual card is issued after the change.
Effective date: June 14, 2026.
This is the enforcement date of the amended law and the start of the new card format. It is not simply an “application start date.” If your child’s card is expected to be issued on or after this date, Immigration may ask for a photo even before June 14.
Who’s affected
This matters if your child is:
- 1 year old or older
- under 16
- receiving a new residence card or special permanent resident certificate
Until now, children under 16 were generally treated as not needing a face photo for these cards. Under the new format, children from age 1 will have a photo shown on the card.
In Japanese, the key group is １歳以上１６歳未満 — age 1 or older and under 16.
What changes for residence card applications
If you apply at an Immigration counter before June 14, 2026, or have already applied, and the child’s residence card is expected to be issued on or after June 14, 2026, Immigration may ask you to submit a face photo voluntarily before the new rule formally starts.
The practical point: do not assume “my child is under 16, so no photo.” For applications around the changeover, the issue is when the card will be issued, not only when you file.
The online application catch
Online applications are awkward during the transition.
The current online residence application system has been using the “face photo attachment” field for data showing that a photo is not required for under-16 applicants. After June 14, 2026, the system is planned to be updated so applicants aged 1 or older can attach face photo data.
But before June 14, 2026, if your child is aged 1 to under 16 and the card will be issued on or after that date, you cannot submit the photo through the normal face-photo field.
Instead, Immigration says the photo should be:
- taken following the official photo guidance,
- converted into a PDF,
- named 「顔写真」,
- uploaded through the document attachment field — 資料添付欄.
If you already filed online, Immigration may contact you and ask for the photo data as an additional document.
If you submit a child’s photo before June 14, 2026 but the residence card is issued before that date, the card will not show the photo. The photo display starts with the new-format cards issued from the changeover.
Special permanent resident certificates
For special permanent resident certificates, the transition period is tighter.
If you submit a notification or application involving issuance of the certificate between June 10 and June 13, 2026, and the person will be at least 1 year old as of June 14, 2026, you will need to submit a face photo.
Even for filings before that period, officials may still ask you to submit a photo.
What you should do now
If your child’s application may result in a card issued on or after June 14, 2026, prepare the photo early.
For online filings, be ready to use the document attachment route instead of the normal photo field until the system changes. For counter filings, bring or prepare a compliant child photo even if the child is still under 16.
The main trap is timing: a pre-June application does not guarantee pre-June handling. If the card issuance crosses June 14, 2026, the new photo rule may affect you.
Common questions
Does my child under 16 now need a photo for a residence card?+
From June 14, 2026, children aged 1 to under 16 will have their photo printed on the new residence card. If you apply before that date but the card is expected to be issued on or after June 14, Immigration may ask you to submit a photo voluntarily.
What if I already applied before the change?+
If the card will be issued on or after June 14, 2026, Immigration may contact you and ask for the child’s photo as an additional document.
Does this apply to babies under 1?+
The new photo requirement described by Immigration applies to people aged 1 to under 16. For special permanent resident certificates, the rule is based on whether the person will be at least 1 year old as of June 14, 2026.