🇨🇳China Visa Photo
for $1

The official requirements

The single fact to get right is the size. China visa photos are 33×48mm — a dimension almost no other country uses, and the most common reason a photo taken for another visa won’t work here. The full spec:

• Size: exactly 33×48 mm
• Background: plain white
• Head size: 28–33 mm from chin to crown
• Expression: neutral, full face clearly visible, both eyes open
• Glasses: allowed, provided the eyes are clearly visible with no glare
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months
• Color: color photo

For a digital upload the file is a JPEG, 354×472 pixels, 40–120 KB. Note the minimum file size — a file under 40 KB is rejected as too low-quality, which is unusual.

How to take a compliant photo

The mechanics are standard; the sizing is not. A phone camera works:

1. Stand 6–8 feet in front of a plain white wall, far enough out to cast no shadow.
2. Light yourself evenly from the front — face a window, avoid overhead light.
3. Have someone else take the shot, looking straight at the lens.
4. Crop to the 33×48 mm frame — do not reuse a 2×2 inch or 35×45 mm crop, the proportions are different and the photo will be rejected.
5. If uploading, export a JPEG between 40 and 120 KB — or use a tool that crops to 33×48 mm and exports a file inside that size band automatically.

Why photos get rejected

Chinese visa centres bounce a predictable set of problems. Each one, and the fix:

• Wrong size — the photo is not 33×48 mm. This is the most common rejection; a crop from a passport photo will not match.
• Head wrong size — must be 28–33 mm chin to crown within the frame.
• Background not plain white — any tint, pattern, or shadow fails.
• Full face not visible — hair across the face, or a head covering obscuring features.
• Photo too old — must reflect your current appearance, within 6 months.
• File too small — a JPEG under 40 KB is rejected as low quality; re-export at higher quality.

What to wear (and not wear)

There is no formal dress code, but some choices reliably cause trouble.

Avoid: hats and non-religious head coverings, headphones, and a white or very pale top that blends into the background. Glasses are permitted, but if they cause any glare or reflection, take them off.

Fine: ordinary everyday clothing in a solid darker color, light everyday makeup, and religious head coverings worn daily that leave the full face visible.

Glasses being allowed is the difference worth noting — unlike a US visa photo, you may keep prescription glasses on, but only if the eyes stay clearly visible.

Where to get your photo

You can get a China visa photo online or in person. The 33×48 mm size is the thing to verify whoever you use:

A general photo counter often defaults to the local passport size and will quietly hand you a 2×2 or 35×45 mm photo — always state “China visa, 33×48mm”. An online tool that crops directly to 33×48 mm removes that risk and gives you the upload file. Whichever you use, confirm the size before you rely on it.

Submitting your photo

China visa applications go through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in your country, or directly at a consulate.

Paper application — You attach one printed 33×48 mm photo to the visa application form. Glossy photo paper is expected.

Online / portal applications — Where an online form is used, you upload the JPEG (354×472 px, 40–120 KB). Bring a printed copy to your appointment regardless, as the service centre may still ask for one in person.