Quick answer: A China visa photo must be 33 × 48 mm with plain white background. Head occupies 58–69% of photo height (28–33 mm chin to crown). Neutral expression, glasses prohibited. Last verified .
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| Format | 33 × 48 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 58–69% of photo height |
| Head height (mm) | 28–33 mm chin to crown |
| Background | Plain white background. |
| 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 prohibited, except for rare documented medical exceptions. See full rules → |
| Lighting | Shadows, overexposure, and reflections not permitted. |
| Head covering | Religious reasons only; must not cover the facial oval. |
| Digital resolution | 420 × 560 px |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| File size | min 40 KB · max 120 KB |
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 34-38mm (70-80% of frame). White background only. The COVA digital application portal launched September 30, 2025: JPEG between 40-120KB, 354-472h × 420-560w pixels. 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.
| Authority | Chinese Visa Application Service Center / Consular Department of MFA China |
|---|---|
| Source | China visa photo requirements |
| Verified | |
| Confidence | Official — exact |
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for China visa applications. The final decision always belongs to Chinese Visa Application Service Center / Consular Department of MFA China, but these are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
Upload a portrait — the tool crops, removes the background and checks compliance against the 33 × 48 mm rule automatically.
Stand 1–2 metres from a plain, light-coloured wall — match Plain white background. The gap eliminates shadow on the wall behind you. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with patterned wallpaper or any background colour gradient.
Face a large window during daylight hours. Even frontal light prevents shadow under the brow ridge and beside the nose — two of the most common rejection triggers for consular visa applications.
Look straight at the camera. Keep your head level and centred in the frame. Even a 3–5° tilt is flagged by the consular ICAO alignment check before a human reviewer sees the application.
Both shoulders square to the camera. Visa photos are biometrically checked against the same reference standard as passports — turned shoulders shift the perceived face centre.
Glasses prohibited, except for rare documented medical exceptions For visa photos, consular pre-screening is particularly strict on glasses glare. If you must wear glasses for medical reasons, document this in your application.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes fully open and looking directly at the lens. No smile, no raised eyebrows, no parted lips. Match the expression of someone sitting for an official photograph, not a friendly portrait.
Deep solid colours photograph cleanest against a light background. Avoid white tops (they merge with the background), uniforms, religious headwear except where permanent and documented, and any large jewellery near the face or neck.
Verify the photo dimensions match 33 × 48 mm, the head occupies 58–69% of the height, both eyes are clearly visible, and the background matches the rule above. The tool catches most issues automatically but a manual check prevents surprises.
Chinese Visa Application Service Center / Consular Department of MFA China publishes the following rejection codes. Knowing the exact code on your notice tells you precisely what to fix in the reshoot.
| Code | Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
CN-V-01 |
Photo not 33×48mm (most submit 35×45 by mistake) | Reprint at China-specific 33×48mm |
CN-V-02 |
COVA digital file outside 40-120KB range | Re-encode within COVA limits |
CN-V-03 |
Pixel dimensions outside 354-472h × 420-560w | Resize to COVA spec |
CN-V-04 |
No printed photo brought to CVASC after COVA upload | Print 33×48mm copy and bring to appointment |
CN-V-05 |
Background not pure white (off-white/cream rejected) | Re-shoot against pure white |
CN-V-06 |
Ears not visible | Re-shoot with hair tucked back |
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 pagePlain white background is required. Consular pre-screening systems are strict on background — even minor texture, gradient or off-white tone is grounds for immediate rejection before a human reviewer sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require photos taken within the last three to six months. Reused passport photos are a frequent rejection cause, especially for first-time visa applications.
Each visa type has specific dimensions. Submitting a passport-sized photo for a visa that requires different proportions is grounds for rejection. Verify the spec table above matches the visa category you are applying for.
The face must be centred horizontally and vertically with the head straight. Consular automated systems flag head tilt above 3–5 degrees before manual review.
Glasses glare, hair across the eye, head covering that obscures the facial outline (except for documented religious exception), or any accessory near the face is rejected by automated pre-screening.
Smile, raised eyebrows, parted lips or visible teeth all cause rejection. Consular photos use the same biometric standard as passports — neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open.
If submitting a physical photo, low-quality home printing, glossy paper instead of matte, ink streaks or finger smudges around the edges all cause manual rejection at the consular submission stage.
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 China visa photo must be 33 × 48 mm. The head must occupy 58–69% of the photo height. Many consulates also require a specific digital file size — see the spec table above for full details.
Plain white background. The background must be evenly lit with no shadow gradients, especially around the head. Consular automated pre-screening rejects photos with any wall texture or off-white shade before the human reviewer ever sees the application.
Visa authorities typically require the photo to be taken within the last three to six months. Submitting an older photo, even one that looks similar to your current appearance, is a frequent cause of immediate consular rejection.
Not always. Tourist, work, student and transit visa categories sometimes specify different dimensions or background rules. Use the exact profile for your specific visa type rather than assuming one photo fits all China visa applications.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the photo is the cause of rejection and you supply the consular rejection notice. The refund covers the €4.99 download fee. We recommend keeping the consular receipt with rejection reason as proof.
Glasses prohibited, except for rare documented medical exceptions. Consular automated checks flag glasses glare even when it is invisible to the human eye. Removing glasses entirely is the safest choice unless a medical exception is documented in your visa application.
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.