head 63–71 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceMinistry of Public Security and National Immigration Administration of China (exit-entry administration)
Verified
Quick answer: A China residence permit photo must be 33 × 48 mm. Plain white background. Head occupies 63–71% of photo height (30–34 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 33 × 48 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 63–71% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Head height (mm) | 30–34 mm chin to crownICAO 9303: 32–36 mm |
| Background | Plain white background. Make photo background white — China residence permit → |
| 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 |
| File size | min 20 KB · max 80 KB Compress photo to 50 KB — China residence permit → |
| 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 |
For a Chinese residence permit the guide of the Ministry of Commerce lists «a 33 mm × 48 mm bareheaded colour ID photo, taken recently against a white background» with the visa application form — and «free on-site photography is available» at the exit-entry office. The Ministry of Public Security's photo guideline — based on ICAO Doc 9303 and valid for all entry-exit documents, visas and residence permits included — gives the details: a colour photo within the last six months, 33 × 48 mm with an effective area 30 mm wide and 40 mm high, the face 16–24 mm wide, the head 30–34 mm high and 1–3 mm of space above it, the background an even white, light grey or light blue without gradient, shadow, other people or objects, sharp and true-coloured, printed on photo paper without stains, creases, scratches or a border, and not retouched (no scars, moles or hairstyle edited). You sit upright with level shoulders and look straight at the camera, with a natural expression and the eyes naturally open, hair not covering the eyes, no heavy make-up, dark clothes with a collar and no uniform; no tinted or thick-framed glasses, frames not covering the eyes and no reflection on the lenses; no head covering except for religious, medical or cultural reasons, and then it must not cover the face or cast a shadow; the lighting is even with no shadow or hot spot on the face.
A digital photo is a JPEG, 24-bit RGB, 20–80 KB, 354–480 × 472–640 pixels in the ratio 3:4, and a scan of a printed photo is made at not less than 300 DPI.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons China residence permit photos get rejected.
Typical reasons a photo is rejected under the rules Ministry of Public Security and National Immigration Administration of China (exit-entry administration) publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| A photo older than six months, black-and-white, or retouched (scars, moles or hairstyle edited) | A recent unretouched colour photo taken within six months. |
| A background that is not an even white, light grey or light blue, with a gradient, shadows, other people or objects | An even white background with no gradient, shadow, person or object. |
| Tinted or thick-framed glasses, frames over the eyes, reflections on the lenses, hair over the eyes, a head covering without a religious, medical or cultural reason | No tint or heavy frames, eyes clear, no reflection, hair off the eyes, no head covering unless required. |
| A face not straight to the camera, a tilted head or uneven shoulders, an exaggerated expression or closed eyes, shadows or hot spots on the face | Sit upright, shoulders level, look straight ahead with a natural expression and even light. |
| A digital file that is not a 24-bit RGB JPEG of 20–80 KB, or a scan below 300 DPI | Save a 24-bit RGB JPEG of 20–80 KB, and scan a printed photo at 300 DPI or more. |
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: 63–71 % of the photo height (30–34 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.
A Chinese residence permit is applied for at the exit-entry administration of the public security organ of your place of stay, with the application form, the passport and the photo — free photography is available on site.
nia.gov.cn — residence permit service guide; the 12367 service platform by hotline or online
33 × 48 mm bareheaded colour photo on a white background, within six months; free on-site photography available.
Authority page| Authority | Ministry of Public Security and National Immigration Administration of China (exit-entry administration) |
|---|---|
| Source | Guidelines for Travel Documents Photographs (出入境证件相片照相指引), 2011 |
| Verified |
Questions
A bareheaded colour ID photo of 33 mm × 48 mm taken recently against a white background (the Ministry of Public Security allows white, light grey or light blue), within six months, the head 30–34 mm high, facing the camera, no tinted or reflecting glasses; free on-site photography is available.
33 mm × 48 mm with an effective area 30 mm wide and 40 mm high; digitally 354–480 × 472–640 pixels in the ratio 3:4.
A JPEG in 24-bit RGB colour of 20 KB to 80 KB; a scan of a printed photo at not less than 300 DPI.
Yes: the guide of the Ministry of Commerce says free on-site photography is available.
The China residence permit photo must be 33 × 48 mm. The head must occupy 63–71% of the photo height.
For this document the photo must be no older than 6 months. Take a new photo that looks like you on the day you apply.
Plain white background. A plain, evenly lit wall without shadows or pattern is enough — the tool sets the required background colour.
Only if the size and rules are the same and the photo is still recent. Otherwise take a new one: the same selfie can be turned into photos for both documents.
Take a new photo: it should show how you look now — hairstyle, beard, glasses.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the rejection notice from the China immigration office.
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.