How your K-ETA photo should look
You should not ignore the photo requirements imposed by the Government of South Korea for K-ETA applicants. Because of an incorrectly taken photo, it is very easy to receive a refusal. To prevent this from happening to you, follow our recommendations, which are up to date for 2026.
- The background must be perfectly white (not off-white, but truly white);
- The focus must be strictly on your face;
- Your eyes must look directly into the camera;
- Ears must be visible;
- Mouth closed (a neutral or slight, controlled smile is acceptable);
- Shoulders must be visible;
- There should be no shadows on the face;
- Your face should occupy at least 70% of the image area and be positioned in the centre of the photo.
The photo does not have to be taken in a professional studio – you can take it anywhere, as long as there is a plain white background. However, it is essential to avoid shadows on your face.
❗ For women: tie your hair back and secure it so that your ears, eyebrows and forehead are fully visible. Avoid bright makeup and bold lipstick. What matters is not how you look, but how well the photo complies with the K-ETA system rules.
What must not be in the photo
Let us go through the elements that are strictly not allowed under South Korean immigration rules:
- Fabric backdrops such as curtains or textured cloth;
- Head coverings and face veils (including niqabs), except where a head covering is required for medical reasons or by strict religious practice;
- Glasses with thick frames or tinted lenses, and any sunglasses (if you wear glasses, your eyes must be clearly visible, without reflections or glare);
- Cropped shapes such as ovals, angled corners or cut-off frames around the face;
- Red-eye effect;
- Visible traces of editing in graphic software (do not retouch moles, scars or other distinguishing features of your face).
Where to take the photo
The photo does not have to be taken in a studio – you can take it on your phone almost anywhere. The best lighting is natural daylight from a window. If there is not enough light and shadows remain, use artificial lighting as well.
Stand about 50 cm away from the wall and position the camera lens at your eye level. It is very important that the background is strictly white.
Example of a poorly prepared photo
The agency that accepted an application with the following type of photo ruined an entire family’s planned holiday: the applicant received a refusal. To avoid this happening to you, work with experienced visa consultants from MyVisa.World.
- Shadows on the face;
- Hair lying on the shoulders;
- Ears not visible;
- Neck covered.
Follow these simple instructions and your chances of K-ETA approval will be much higher. Have a great trip!
