head 58–69 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceChinese Visa Application Service Center / Consular Department of MFA China
Verified
Quick answer: The recommended China visa photo size is 33 × 48 mm. Plain white background. Head occupies 58–69% of photo height (28–33 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, clear lenses only, 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 visa → |
| Pose | Full face, looking directly into the camera, head and shoulders fully visible. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible. |
| Glasses | Ordinary prescription glasses are allowed: untinted lenses, a thin frame that does not cover the eyes, no reflections; sunglasses are prohibited. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Digital resolution | 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | min 40 KB · max 120 KB Compress photo to 100 KB — China visa → |
| 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 |
China visa photos are administered by the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) / Consular Department of MFA China. The format is 33×48mm — one of few non-standard sizes worldwide (most countries use 35×45 or 51×51).
Head height 28-33mm chin-to-crown (about 58-69% of frame), with at least 7mm clear space above the head. White background only. The COVA digital application portal launched September 30, 2025: JPEG between 40-120KB, 354-420 px wide × 472-560 px tall.
Critical: even after a successful COVA digital upload, you must bring an identical printed 33×48mm photo to your CVASC appointment — the digital upload does not replace the physical print.
Examples and mistakes
A photo that will be accepted, next to the six most common reasons China visa photos get rejected.
Common reasons a document photo is rejected, checked against the requirements Chinese Visa Application Service Center / Consular Department of MFA China publishes: what is wrong and what to change.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photo not 33×48mm (most submit 35×45 by mistake) | Reprint at China-specific 33×48mm |
| COVA digital file outside 40-120KB range | Re-encode within COVA limits |
| Pixel dimensions outside 354-420 px wide × 472-560 px tall | Resize to COVA spec |
| No printed photo brought to CVASC after COVA upload | Print 33×48mm copy and bring to appointment |
| Background not pure white (off-white/cream rejected) | Re-shoot against pure white |
| Ears not visible | Re-shoot with hair tucked back |
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.
Clear lenses only, 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.
China visa applications are processed by the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) outsourced from the Consular Department of MFA China. The COVA online portal launched September 30, 2025.
cova.mfa.gov.cn + visaforchina.cn
After successful COVA upload, you must bring an identical printed 33×48mm photo to the CVASC appointment. Digital photo: 40-120 KB JPEG.
Authority pagefmprc.gov.cn embassy network
Direct embassy applications still possible in some countries; most are routed through CVASC.
Authority page| Authority | Chinese Visa Application Service Center / Consular Department of MFA China |
|---|---|
| Source | China visa photo requirements |
| Verified |
Questions
After September 30, 2025 the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system requires digital photo upload during form submission. However, you must also bring an identical printed 33×48 mm photo to the in-person CVASC (Chinese Visa Application Service Center) appointment. The COVA upload does not replace the printed photo — both are needed for visa sticker production.
The 33×48 mm format is uniquely Chinese and predates the ICAO 9303 baseline that other Asian countries adopted. China retained the historical dimension when modernising the visa workflow. Submitting a 35×45 mm photo at CVASC results in automatic rejection — you must use 33×48 mm specifically.
COVA (cova.mfa.gov.cn) is the online application portal. CVASC (visaforchina.cn) is the outsourced visa service center where you submit documents and undergo biometric capture in person. The Chinese embassy is the consular authority that issues the visa. Most applications flow through COVA → CVASC → embassy.
The recommended size for the China visa photo is 33 × 48 mm. The head occupies 58–69% of the photo height. For digital upload, use 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 px.
Plain white background. The wall should be evenly lit, with no shadow around the head and no pattern. You don’t need a studio backdrop: the tool sets the right background colour.
Consulates usually ask for a photo taken within the last six months, sometimes within three. Take a new one that looks like you today.
Often yes, but not always: tourist, student, work and transit visas can have different size or background rules. Compare the requirements of each China visa — if they match, one photo will do.
We refund the payment in full. Email us within 14 days of purchase with your order number and the consulate’s rejection notice.
Ordinary prescription glasses are allowed: untinted lenses, a thin frame that does not cover the eyes, no reflections; sunglasses are prohibited. 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.