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My Number card photo for your baby.

Free photo check

Some authorities relax the rules for young children, so the age decides which rules apply.

Without an age we apply the strictest rules.

A frame in the document's proportions, with the head outline where the rules put it.

Any photo of your child, straight on. It is resized on your device, measured on our servers, and not kept.

What we check here

Head height
71.1%–80% required
Eye line
this document sets no requirement
Head pose
facing the camera
Gaze and eyes
at the camera
  • Face centred in the frame
  • Even light on the face
  • Too dark or too bright
  • Sharpness
  • Background: colour, shadows, creases

What we don't check here

  • Other objects in the frame
  • Print format

The app checks these when you shoot.

A My Number card photo is 35 × 45 mm, with the head 32–36 mm from chin to crown, on a plain white, off-white, or light blue background. Under 6, the photo may be taken lying down. It can be uploaded online or handed in as a print. Official source: 地方公共団体情報システム機構 (J-LIS).

What this document requires

All documents
Print size
35×45 mm
Submission
Upload or print
Background
  • White recommended
  • Off-white
  • Light blue

We don't replace the background — shoot on one of these.

Official source

Each row links to the authority's own page. TotShot is independent of every authority listed.

Rules for babies and children

Under 6 years

  • May be photographed lying down, from above

At every age

  • Eyes open
  • Looking straight at the camera
  • Neutral expression
  • Mouth closed
  • Head 32–36 mm from chin to crown
  • No smaller head size is published for babies, so a newborn's head has to fill the adult size.
  • Alone in the photo
  • No hands, arms or supports in the frame
  • No dummy, bottle or toys
  • Taken in the last 6 months

How to take a My Number card photo at home

Read the full guide

  1. Spread a smooth, plain white, off-white, or light blue sheet on the floor or a firm bed, close to a window with soft daylight — no flash, no overhead light.

  2. Lay your baby on their back and shoot from directly above, phone parallel to the floor. A photo taken lying down is accepted under 6. Keep every hand out of the frame.

  3. Check the photo before you print: TotShot measures the head, eye line, pose and background against the My Number card rules.

Questions parents ask

Can my baby's eyes be closed in a My Number card photo?

No. Closed eyes are not accepted at any age, even for a newborn. Shoot when your baby is fed, rested and awake — mornings often work best.

What size is a My Number card photo?

35 × 45 mm, with the head 32–36 mm from chin to crown. A baby's head has to fill the same share of the photo as an adult's — the hardest part of a baby photo to get right.

Can I take a My Number card photo of my baby at home?

Yes. A photo you take yourself is accepted as long as it meets every rule — the final decision is always the authority's. It can be uploaded online or handed in as a print.

Can I hold my baby for the photo?

Not in the frame — no hands, arms or supports may show. Lay your baby on a plain sheet and shoot from above instead: holding a baby up pushes the shoulders up and tilts the head, and a hand that slips into the frame gets the photo refused.

Does my baby have to look at the camera?

Yes, at every age. A baby's glance lasts about half a second, which is why TotShot plays a sound to catch it and takes the shot itself.

What background does a My Number card photo need?

Plain white, off-white, or light blue, evenly lit, with no shadows, creases or pattern. White is the safest choice. TotShot doesn't replace backgrounds — authorities refuse a photo whose background was replaced — so shoot on a sheet of the right colour.

Final acceptance is always the authority's decision.