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China permanent residence card photo 33 × 48 mm

Updated

Quick answer: This China permanent residence card preset uses 33 × 48 mm with plain white background. Head occupies 50–66% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. It is based on official general guidance; verify the final submission route on the authority portal. Last verified .

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Official — generalVerified 2026-05-17
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Compiled and cited by Yevhen Kravchenko — pending external review Last cited Editorial policy

Photo requirements

Format33 × 48 mm
Head height50–66% of photo height
BackgroundPlain white background.
PoseFull face, looking directly into the camera, head and shoulders fully visible.
ExpressionNeutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
GlassesGlasses permitted only if eyes are fully visible and there are no reflections. See full rules →
LightingShadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted.
Head coveringReligious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval.
Digital resolutionCheck the authority portal before digital upload
File formatJPEG · sRGB / 24-bit
File sizeCheck the authority portal before upload

How a permanent residence card photo is verified

China permanent residence card (中国绿卡 / "Chinese Green Card") photos are administered by the **Public Security Bureau / National Immigration Administration (NIA)**. The format follows the Chinese 33×48mm standard with white background. Same JPEG 40-120KB digital spec. China's permanent residence card is one of the particularly restrictive — historically requiring 5 years of continuous residency, married 5+ years to Chinese citizen, or significant investment. Applications include in-person biometric capture (photo + fingerprints) at NIA/PSB offices.

Local application route

AuthorityNational Immigration Administration of China
SourceChina entry-exit document photo upload guide
Verified
ConfidenceOfficial — general
What the source confirms
  • The NIA guide confirms that entry-exit document photos must avoid beautification, filters and face-shaping.
  • The NIA guide requires visible facial features, including eyebrows, eyes and ears.
  • The NIA guide recommends even lighting and a white or light blue plain background.
  • The NIA guide says uploaded photos should use a 3:4 crop and width between 400 and 1000 pixels.
Still conservative because
  • Document-specific numeric head or eye-line constraints are not fully published in the official source.

What makes a China permanent residence card photo accepted

One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for China permanent residence card applications. The final decision always belongs to National Immigration Administration of China, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.

✓ Accepted Compliant China permanent residence card photo example (33 × 48 mm) — centered face, plain background, neutral expression, eyes open, even frontal lighting. Meets National Immigration Administration of China biometric requirements.

Compliant China permanent residence card example (33 × 48 mm)

  • Face centred, looking directly into the lens
  • Plain background — no shadow, pattern or texture
  • Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed
  • No glasses, no hair across the face

Top 6 China permanent residence card rejection causes

Rejected China permanent residence card photo example — shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient. National Immigration Administration of China would reject this for permanent residence card applications.
Background shadow China permanent residence card: Shadow on the wall behind the head, or background with a visible pattern or gradient
Rejected China permanent residence card photo example — visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression. National Immigration Administration of China would reject this for permanent residence card applications.
Smile / open mouth China permanent residence card: Visible smile with teeth or open mouth instead of a neutral expression
Rejected China permanent residence card photo example — glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye. National Immigration Administration of China would reject this for permanent residence card applications.
Glasses with glare China permanent residence card: Glasses with a clearly visible light reflection covering part of the eye
Rejected China permanent residence card photo example — loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face. National Immigration Administration of China would reject this for permanent residence card applications.
Hair across the face China permanent residence card: Loose hair strands covering the eyes, eyebrows or part of the face
Rejected China permanent residence card photo example — eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens. National Immigration Administration of China would reject this for permanent residence card applications.
Eyes off-camera China permanent residence card: Eyes looking to the side instead of directly into the camera lens
Rejected China permanent residence card photo example — head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal. National Immigration Administration of China would reject this for permanent residence card applications.
Head tilted China permanent residence card: Head tilted so the eye line is no longer horizontal
Current profile Format: 33 × 48 mm Head: 50–66% Background: Plain white background.

Prepare your China permanent residence card photo

Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 33 × 48 mm rule automatically.

How to take a China permanent residence card photo correctly

Background setup

Plain white background. Plain, evenly lit, no shadow or texture. The photo is bound to your active legal residence status — immigration reviewers compare your live appearance to the photo at submission appointments, so quality matters.

Lighting

Use daylight from a window in front of you. Avoid overhead lights that cast shadow under the brow. Many residence permit reviewers run an automated check before the in-person appointment — uneven lighting fails this check.

Head position

Camera at eye level, head straight, looking at the lens. Even a 5° tilt is grounds for rejection at the automated review stage. Place your phone on a stack of books to keep it steady.

Shoulders and frame

Square shoulders, both visible. Centre your head in the frame. Residence permit applications often require both a digital upload AND a physical print — the same photo must work in both formats.

Eyewear

Glasses permitted only if eyes are fully visible and there are no reflections Removing glasses is the safest option for residence permit photos because the document validity is tied to legal status checks that may happen years later.

Expression

Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open. Residence permit photos are biometrically compared during status renewals — match the neutral expression style of an existing passport photo so future renewals do not flag inconsistency.

Attire

Solid dark colours that contrast with the background. Avoid uniforms, religious headwear except where permanently worn, and any clothing or accessories that cover the neckline or face.

Photo recency

Use a photo taken within the last three months. Residence permits are tied to active legal status — submitting an older photo, even one that technically meets the dimension rule, frequently triggers manual review and slows the application.

Authority rejection codes

National Immigration Administration of China publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.

CodeReasonFix
CN-PR-01 Photo not 33×48mm Reprint at Chinese unique size
CN-PR-02 Digital file outside 40-120KB Re-encode within limits
CN-PR-03 Background not pure white Re-shoot against white backdrop
CN-PR-04 Photo older than 6 months Re-shoot

China-specific things to know

Top reasons China permanent residence card photos get rejected

Frequently asked questions

This China permanent residence card preset uses 33 × 48 mm based on the official guidance available for this route. Use the 50–66% head-height profile unless the authority portal gives a more specific instruction. Submit the photo with your application file or online portal as required by the immigration authority.

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Photo rules & guides

Anfas.Pro is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any government authority. The final decision to accept or reject a document photo rests solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change — always verify on the official authority portal before submitting.