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Chinese visa photo requirements
A China visa photo is usually a 33 × 48 mm print, with the head 28 to 33 mm tall and 15 to 22 mm wide. Digital uploads are often a separate size: about 354 × 472 up to 420 × 560 pixels, and 40 to 120 KB.
Start with a photo
Drop a photo here, or use the buttons.
JPEG or PNG. The file is read in this browser and is not uploaded.
Live view is mirrored on a front camera. The photo you keep is not.
Drag to move the crop. Arrow keys nudge. Plus and minus zoom.
Compliance check
PassOkay crops and checks. It does not replace the background, apply filters, or retouch the face.
These checks are estimates. They are not an acceptance decision, and PassOkay is not a government site. Head height is guessed from the chin and forehead, so nudge the crop if the guides miss the hair.
Those two shapes are not the same aspect ratio. The tool on this page starts on the digital 420 × 560 file and compresses it into the 40–120 KB window. Switch the document menu to “China visa (33×48 print)” if you need the paper size and a 4×6 sheet.
Background is white. Expression is neutral. Do not wear glasses. Visa centers and embassies sometimes add a local note, so read the page for the office that will take your application. The links below are the ones this summary is based on.
Size and file
| Size | Print size is 33 × 48 mm. The digital upload is a separate 3:4 frame. |
|---|---|
| Pixels | 420 × 560 px (allowed digital range is about 354 × 472 to 420 × 560) |
| Head | On the 33 × 48 mm print: head height 28–33 mm, head width 15–22 mm |
| Background | Plain white |
| File | JPEG, 40–120 KB |
| How recent | Recent, typically within 6 months. Confirm with the visa center. |
| Glasses | No |
| Size | 33 × 48 mm (about 1.30 × 1.89 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels | 390 × 567 px at 300 DPI, for a 4×6 print sheet |
| Head | Head height 28–33 mm, head width 15–22 mm |
| Background | Plain white |
| File | JPEG. Use the digital spec instead if the visa center wants 354×472 to 420×560 px. |
| How recent | Confirm with the visa center |
| Glasses | No |
How to do it
- Choose digital or print. Digital if you are uploading. Print if you need a 33 × 48 mm photo on paper.
- Fit the head. Keep the head inside the published height, and watch the head-width row. It is estimated from the cheeks.
- Save the JPEG. The digital file is kept between 40 and 120 KB when the photo allows it.
Questions
What size is a China visa photo?
Print: 33 × 48 mm, head height 28–33 mm, head width 15–22 mm. Digital: commonly 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels, 40–120 KB.
Why are there two sizes?
The paper photo and the online upload are specified separately, and they are not the same shape. Pick the one your visa center asked for.
Can I replace the background?
No. If the wall is not white, retake the photo on a white wall.
Specs last checked . Print spec and the digital pixel range checked against the Chinese visa guidance linked below.