K-ETA photo upload: the 700 px and 100 KB rule that fails everyone

Korea's K-ETA photo upload guidance asks for a color headshot around 700 pixels wide and 100 KB or less, as a JPG, with at least 75 percent of your face visible, no hats or sunglasses, and a plain background; the passport image has its own cap of 300 KB. The 100 KB limit is the reason so many uploads fail or hang: a modern phone photo is one to five megabytes, ten to fifty times over. Resize the photo to about 700 pixels wide, export as JPG at moderate quality, confirm it is under 100 KB, and upload that file instead of a fresh camera shot.

Fix it now: compress your photo under the limit

Runs entirely in your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.

Compress to

Upload a photo to compress

Runs in your browser. Your photo stays on your device.

Why the app or site chokes on your photo

Phone cameras produce multi-megabyte files, and travelers report the K-ETA app hanging or failing at the photo step when fed one, including photos taken with the app's own camera flow. Preparing a small file in advance sidesteps the whole problem: resize to about 700 pixels wide, export as JPG (RAW files are not accepted), and check the size is at or under 100 KB before you start the application.

The content rules

Beyond the file: a color headshot with at least three quarters of your face visible, eyes open, no hats, scarves or sunglasses, and a plain rather than colorful background. Keep the separate passport-page image under its 300 KB cap, sharp enough that the machine-readable lines at the bottom are legible.

The compressor below resizes and compresses in your browser, so you can hit the 100 KB target without your photo leaving your device.

Frequently asked questions

What size photo does K-ETA accept?

Per the K-ETA photo upload guidance: a JPG around 700 pixels wide and 100 KB or less, in color, with at least 75 percent of the face visible. The passport image is capped separately at 300 KB.

Why does the K-ETA app freeze when I upload my photo?

Almost always file size. Prepare a JPG under 100 KB before applying and upload that file rather than shooting live in the app.

Will a 100 KB photo be sharp enough?

Yes. At 700 pixels wide, moderate JPG compression lands well under 100 KB while staying clearly recognisable, which is all the system needs.