Photo PassMake my photo China visa photo requirements and digital size
Check the 33 × 48 mm China visa photo format, digital pixel range, head measurements, white background rule and upload checklist.
China visa photo requirements at a glance
A China visa application photo uses a taller 33 × 48 mm paper format rather than the common 35 × 45 mm format. Current Chinese Visa Application Service Center material specifies a digital image between 354 and 420 pixels wide and between 472 and 560 pixels high. The photo must be recent, in colour and taken against a plain white background.
- Paper size
- 33 × 48 mm
- Digital width
- 354–420 px
- Digital height
- 472–560 px
- Photo age
- Within 6 months
Application centres can publish local upload and print instructions. Check the centre responsible for your place of residence before submitting or printing the final file.
Head size and position
The paper-photo diagram places the head between 28 and 33 mm high and between 15 and 22 mm wide. Leave approximately 3–5 mm between the top of the head and the upper edge, with at least 7 mm between the chin and the lower edge.
Face the camera directly and keep the head centred and upright. Both sides of the face should be visible, the eyes open and the mouth closed. Do not submit a profile or three-quarter view.
Background and lighting
Use a clean white background with no border, pattern, object or visible shadow. Choose clothing that contrasts with white; a white shirt can blend into the background and make the shoulders difficult to distinguish.
Light the face evenly and preserve natural skin colour. Avoid red-eye, glare, deep shadows and overexposure. The image must remain sharp enough for facial features to be clearly recognisable.
Glasses, hats and coverings
- Remove sunglasses and tinted glasses.
- Ordinary glasses must not create glare or obscure the eyes; removing them is safer when possible.
- Do not wear a hat or fashion head covering.
- A religious covering should not hide the forehead, cheeks, chin or outline of the face.
- Keep hair away from the eyes and key facial features.
Digital photo versus paper print
The online application may validate the digital file, while the visa centre may also request a paper photograph. A successful upload does not automatically remove a local print requirement. Bring the output specified by the centre’s current checklist.
Do not stretch a 35 × 45 mm file into the China format. Use a fresh 33 × 48 mm crop so the face and margins remain proportionate.
Final China visa photo checklist
| Check | Required result | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 33 × 48 mm; digital file within 354–420 × 472–560 px | Uploading a generic 35 × 45 image |
| Head | 28–33 mm high and 15–22 mm wide | Head too small or crown too close to the edge |
| Background | Plain white and evenly lit | Grey cast, visible texture or shadows |
| Appearance | Recent, front-facing and natural | Filters, retouching or obstructed eyes |
| Submission | Follow the responsible visa centre’s checklist | Assuming online upload replaces every printed photo |
When to take a new photo
Retake the portrait if it is older than six months, blurry, noticeably compressed or does not reflect your current appearance. A new capture is also safer when the background needs heavy replacement or when hair, glasses or shadows obstruct the face.
A crop tool can set the dimensions, but it cannot prove that the source portrait meets identity or application-centre requirements.
Official source
Review the current Chinese Visa Application Service Center photo diagram and the instructions published by the application centre serving your location. The centre and Chinese authority make the final acceptance decision.
Related visa photo guides
Requirements change by destination, visa category and submission channel. Use the guide for the exact application you are preparing.
Prepare the photo after checking the rules
Photo Pass can frame and export the image for this preset in your browser. It does not submit an application or guarantee that an authority will accept the photo.
Make a China visa photo