China visa photo requirements

China visa photos have an unusual size, 33 × 48 mm, and the online application form checks the digital photo's pixels and file size strictly. Here are the rules from the Chinese Visa Application Service Center.

Checked against visaforchina.cn: Visa application photo requirements on 4 November 2026.

The rules at a glance

Photo size
33 mm wide × 48 mm high
Head height
28–33 mm, chin to crown
Head width
15–22 mm
Digital photo
354–420 × 472–560 pixels, JPEG, 40–120 KB
Background
White
Colour
Colour photo
Recency
Taken within the last 6 months

What gets photos rejected

  • Don't use a 35 × 45 mm photo

    Schengen and UK-size photos are the wrong shape for China. The visa photo must be 33 × 48 mm.

  • Head 28–33 mm high

    Measured from the chin to the crown, and 15–22 mm wide.

  • Digital file limits

    The online form accepts 354–420 × 472–560 pixels and 40–120 KB. Our download is 378 × 550 pixels within those limits.

  • White background

    Plain white, no shadows or patterns.

  • Ears and face visible

    Face the camera, eyes open, mouth closed, hair away from the face. No hats unless worn for religious reasons.

How to take it at home

  1. Pick the right wall

    Stand about half a metre in front of a plain white wall with nothing on it. Step away from the wall so your shadow does not fall on it.

  2. Face the light

    Stand facing a window or soft lamp so both sides of your face are evenly lit. Avoid overhead light, which casts shadows under the eyes.

  3. Get someone to take it

    Ask someone to hold the phone at your eye level, about 1–1.5 m away. A selfie at arm's length makes the nose look bigger.

  4. Check your face

    Remove glasses (they often cause rejection), keep hair away from your eyes and look straight at the camera with a neutral face, eyes open and mouth closed.

  5. Size and check it

    Use our photo maker to crop it to 33 × 48 mm and check every rule. We never edit your face or background.

Questions

Can I take my China visa photo at home?

Yes, if it meets every rule. Many visa centres can also take one for you when you submit your application.

Why does the online form reject my photo?

Usually the pixels or the file size are outside 354–420 × 472–560 pixels or 40–120 KB. Our China visa download is made to fit both.

Official source: visaforchina.cn: Visa application photo requirements (Chinese Visa Application Service Center). Rules can change, so check the official page before you apply.