Photo requirements — got mine rejected once already

Korean visa photos have their own spec and it is stricter than most passport standards. That is why a normal passport photo gets bounced.

What they want:

1. Size 35mm x 45mm. Not the 2x2 inch US format, not the 45x45 Japanese format.

2. Plain white background. Not off-white, not light grey, not blue. This is the most common rejection.

3. Taken within the last six months.

4. Head and shoulders, face taking up roughly 70 to 80 percent of the frame, both ears visible, neutral expression, mouth closed.

5. No glasses. Korea is strict on this even where other countries allow them. Take them off.

6. No hats or head coverings except for religious reasons, and then the full face must still be visible from chin to forehead.

7. Printed on photo paper, not office paper. Some consulates also want a digital copy for the online form.

On getting it done in Korea: yes, and it is genuinely better. Korean photo studios do this daily, know the spec exactly, and retouch lightly — expect 10,000 to 20,000 won for a set. Studios near any university or immigration office will know what "비자 사진" means without further explanation. But you need the photo for the visa application, which happens before you arrive, so this only helps for the ARC and later renewals.

For now: find a photo shop at home and say explicitly "Korean visa, 35 by 45 millimetres, white background, no glasses". Do not use a booth or a phone app — the background and cropping are exactly what gets rejected.

One extra: bring 4 to 6 spare copies to Korea. You will need them for the ARC, the school, sometimes the bank, and a gym membership. Getting them at home is cheaper than most places but Korean studios are fast.