China Visa Photo Size & Requirements
33×48mm, head height 28-33mm, on a plain white or near-white background — per CVASC's own published FAQ for foreign visa applicants.
Same size and background rules — infant mode swaps the crop guide for a lay-flat framing box. See our infant photo guide.
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Blue band = acceptable head-height range · yellow dashed = eye line · fit your head between the solid lines
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China Visa passport photo specification
- Print size
- 33×48mm (1.3×1.89 in)
- Digital output
- 594×864px
- Head height (chin to crown)
- 28–33mm (58–69% of frame)
- Background
- Plain white or near-white background, no edge frame or patterns
- ·Head width 15-22mm, head height (chin to crown) 28-33mm, ears visible, head centered
- ·Plain white or near-white background, with no edge frame
- ·Neutral expression, eyes open, lips closed, facing the camera directly
- ·Head tilt limits: 20° or less left/right, 25° or less up/down
- ·Eyeglasses are allowed, except thick-rimmed, tinted, or glare-reflecting lenses
- ·Hats are only permitted for religious reasons, and only if they don't obscure facial features
- ·Colour photo, taken within the last 6 months
- ·Printed on glossy photo paper — not matte or plain paper — with no stains, scratches, or creases
Source: visaforchina.cn, the official photo-requirements FAQ published by the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC), the visa operator most foreign applicants use outside China, directly confirmed this session. This is the visa spec for foreign applicants, not the separate domestic passport spec used by Chinese citizens. Note that some third-party sources describing the newer COVA online application channel claim glasses have been banned entirely since 2024 — that's not confirmed against a directly-read primary source for that channel and contradicts the CVASC text above, so treat any online-application glasses restriction as unresolved and consider removing glasses to be safe if applying online.
This is the visa spec, not the domestic passport spec
This page covers the photo requirements for a Chinese visa application through CVASC (the Chinese Visa Application Service Center), the process most foreign applicants outside China use. It's a separate spec from the domestic passport photo Chinese citizens submit, which this page doesn't cover.
Glasses: an unresolved conflict for online applications
CVASC's own published FAQ allows glasses, as long as the lenses aren't thick-rimmed, tinted, or glare-reflecting — that's what this tool follows. Some third-party sources claim glasses were banned outright for the newer COVA online application channel starting in 2024, but that isn't confirmed against a primary source for that specific channel. If you're applying online through COVA, it's safer to remove your glasses just in case.
Related photo requirements
Common rejection reasons
Background isn’t plain or uniform
Shadows, patterns, furniture, or other people in frame are among the most common reasons photos get bounced back. Use a plain wall and even, shadow-free lighting.
Head size or position is off
Too zoomed in, too zoomed out, or off-center. Each country specifies an exact head-height range and crown position, and that's exactly what the crop guide in this tool aligns to.
Glasses, glare, or head coverings
Most countries now disallow glasses entirely (or require them glare-free with no frame over the eyes), and disallow non-religious head coverings that hide the hairline or face.
Photo is filtered, retouched, or AI-enhanced
Beauty filters, background blur, skin smoothing, and AI-generated backgrounds are explicitly rejected by several passport authorities, including the UK’s HM Passport Office.
Photo is outdated
Most countries require a photo taken within the last 6 months (the UK requires within the last month). An old photo, even a good one, can be rejected on this basis alone.
Expression or eye contact issues
Closed eyes, mouth open, smiling with teeth showing, or not looking straight at the camera are all common rejection triggers. A neutral, closed-mouth expression is the safe default.
Want the full picture across every country? See all passport photo requirements for 2026, read how to take a passport photo at home, or check what to wear and expression rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a China visa photo?
33x48mm (33mm wide, 48mm tall), with head width 15-22mm and head height (chin to crown) 28-33mm. This is the spec used by CVASC, the Chinese Visa Application Service Center that most foreign applicants outside China apply through.
Can you wear glasses in a China visa photo?
CVASC's own published FAQ says yes, as long as the lenses aren't thick-rimmed, tinted, or glare-reflecting. Some third-party sources claim glasses were banned entirely for the newer COVA online application channel starting in 2024, but that isn't confirmed against a primary source for that specific channel — if you're applying online, it's safer to remove them.
What background does a China visa photo need?
Plain white or close to white, with no edge frame, border, or patterns.
What are the China visa photo requirements?
A recent (within 6 months) colour photo against a plain white or near-white background, neutral expression, eyes open, lips closed, facing the camera directly with limited head tilt. Hats are only allowed for religious reasons, and the print itself needs to be on glossy photo paper, not matte or plain paper.
What is the China visa photo size in inches and pixels?
About 1.3x1.89in, or 33x48mm. This tool exports it at 594x864 pixels, matched exactly to that ratio.
Is this the same as the Chinese domestic passport photo?
No. This page covers the visa spec used by CVASC for foreign applicants applying outside China, which is a different process from the domestic passport photo Chinese citizens use.
Does this tool upload my photo anywhere?
No. All the cropping and resizing happens locally in your browser using the canvas element, so your photo is read from your device, processed there, and never transmitted anywhere.
Can you smile in a China visa photo?
No. A neutral expression with lips closed is required, same as most biometric photo standards. See our guide to smiling in a passport photo for what counts as neutral.
Are the requirements different for a baby or infant applying for a China visa?
The size and background rules stay the same, but a baby obviously can't hold a neutral, forward-facing pose unassisted. See our newborn and infant passport photo guide for how that's usually handled.