head 58–69 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceNational Immigration Administration of China
Verified
Quick answer: A China passport photo must be 33 × 48 mm. Plain white background. Head occupies 58–69% of photo height (28–33 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 33 × 48 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 58–69% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 28–33 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain white background. Make photo background white — China passport → |
| Pose | Full face, looking directly into the camera, head and shoulders fully visible. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. |
| Glasses | Glasses permitted only if eyes are fully visible and there are no reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 33 × 48 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 3.3 × 4.8 cm |
| Inches | 1.3 × 1.89″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 390 × 567 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 780 × 1134 px |
Chinese passport photo verification is run by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) through provincial Public Security Bureau (PSB) Exit-Entry Administration offices. The printed spec comes from PRC consular pages (e.g. the Consulate-General in Christchurch): 33 × 48 mm, head height 28-33 mm from chin to crown, white background.
The NIA page at s.nia.gov.cn also cited by this profile is an online photo-upload guide: it publishes only pixel rules (3:4 crop, width 400-1000 pixels, white or light blue background) and contains no millimetre figures. Applicants apply in person at a PSB Exit-Entry office; the same NIA guide also documents a fully-online submission route piloted in 20 cities.
Glasses are permitted only if the eyes are fully visible: no lens glare, no frames covering the eyes, no tinted lenses.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons China passport photos get rejected.
Common reasons a document photo is rejected, checked against the requirements National Immigration Administration of China publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Head height outside 28-33mm chin-to-crown | On-site capture only — applicants don't normally see this |
| Background not pure white (off-white, grey, coloured) | On-site studio uses calibrated white backdrop |
| Glasses with thick frames, tint, or anti-reflective glare | Remove or switch to clear thin frames |
| Non-neutral expression (smile, mouth open) | Mouth fully closed, neutral |
How to take it
Background: plain white
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 58–69 % of the photo height (28–33 mm)
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 33 × 48 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 9 (3 × 3) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 36 (6 × 6) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
| Authority | National Immigration Administration of China |
|---|---|
| Source | Guidelines for Travel Documents Photographs (出入境证件相片照相指引), 2011 |
| Verified |
Questions
The China passport photo must be 33 × 48 mm. The head must occupy 58–69% of the photo height.
Plain white background. Behind you there should be only a plain wall: no pattern, shadows or objects. Any light wall at home will do — the tool sets the exact background colour.
Yes. A phone and a light wall near a window are enough. The rear camera is sharper than the front one, so ask someone to take the photo or use a 3-second timer. The tool crops it to size, fixes the background and checks it against the China passport photo rules.
For this document the photo must be no older than 6 months. It should look like you today: after a new haircut or beard, take a new one.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the China authority — the refund policy page has the details.
Glasses permitted only if eyes are fully visible and there are no reflections. If you keep them on, tilt them slightly downwards by lifting the arms a little above your ears: this usually moves reflections of a window or lamp off the lenses.
33 × 48 mm = 3.3 × 4.8 cm = 1.3 × 1.89 inches. At 300 dpi that is 390 × 567 pixels; at 600 dpi, 780 × 1134 pixels.
Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. The face must stay fully visible from chin to forehead and on both sides, with no shadow across it.