Country guide · Last verified: April 2026
China Passport & Visa Photo Requirements 2026 — Complete Guide
Quick answer: Chinese passport and visa photos must be 33 mm × 48 mm — not the common 35×45 mm size. Background: white, light grey, or light blue (plain). Head height 28–33 mm (chin to crown). No glasses. Neutral expression, mouth closed. Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs — consular services. Biometric framing aligns with ICAO Doc 9303.
Written by the PixID.studio compliance team. Always confirm the latest visa or passport notice at your Chinese embassy or consulate before submitting.
Why China’s photo size is different
Most EU and UK booths default to 35×45 mm. Chinese authorities use 33×48 mm — consulate systems often reject wrong dimensions. Ask any studio explicitly for 33×48 mm.
| Document | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese passport | 33 × 48 mm | Standard passport applications |
| Chinese visa (all common types) | 33 × 48 mm | Tourist, business, student, work, etc. |
| Chinese Resident ID card | 26 × 32 mm | Different — confirm with issuing authority |
| Student visa (X) | 33 × 48 mm | Same as standard visa photo |
Official photo specifications
Dimensions and file
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Width | 33 mm |
| Height | 48 mm |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 28–33 mm |
| Face coverage | ~60–75% of photo height |
| Resolution | 300 DPI minimum for prints |
| Format | JPEG (digital submissions) |
| Colour | Full colour |
| Recency | Within 6 months |
Background
White (safest), light grey, or light blue — plain only. No patterns, gradients, or shadows. Confirm with your consulate if they require white only.
Glasses
Glasses are not permitted — rule enforced strictly for passports and visas. Remove prescription frames; contact lenses are OK if eyes are fully visible and not tinted.
Head position and framing
Head height 28–33 mm means your face fills roughly 58–69% of the 48 mm height. Face the camera squarely — no tilt. Both ears visible where possible. No portrait-style angles.
Expression and appearance
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Expression | Neutral — no smile |
| Mouth | Closed |
| Eyes | Open, looking at camera |
| Hair | Must not hide face edges or eyes |
| Jewellery | OK if it does not obscure the face |
| Headwear | Religious only — full face visible |
| Uniforms | Not permitted |
| Retouching | No beauty filters or blemish removal |
Visa types (same 33×48 mm)
L (tourist), M/F (business), X1/X2 (study), Z (work), G (transit) — same photo format on the application. e-Visa (where available): JPEG, 33×48 proportions, light background, often under ~200 KB — follow the live portal.
China vs other countries
| Country | Photo size | Background |
|---|---|---|
| China | 33 × 48 mm | White / light grey / light blue |
| USA | 51 × 51 mm (2×2 in) | White |
| UK | 35 × 45 mm | Light grey or cream |
| Australia | 35–40 × 45–50 mm | White or light |
| India (consulate) | 51 × 51 mm | White / light grey |
You cannot reuse a 35×45 mm Schengen photo for China without reformatting.
How to take a compliant photo at home
White or light grey wall, 60–80 cm from background, daylight from the front, no glasses, neutral face. Upload to PixID and select China — we set 33×48 mm, head height, and background.
China passport & visa photos: precision beats guessing
Chinese documents specify tight geometry—typically 33×48 mm for many mainland passports with defined head height and top margin. Visa forms and online portals may impose different pixel ratios; always read the live form because consulates update crop tools without fanfare.
Lighting and wardrobe pitfalls
Off-white walls that read “clean” to your eye can skew warm under domestic LEDs, pushing backgrounds out of tolerance. Wear mid-tone clothing; avoid pure white collars that merge with the backdrop after segmentation.
Digital submission hygiene
Export a fresh JPEG rather than screenshotting a preview. Screenshots recompress edges and can trim head room silently. If a portal offers a live silhouette, align ear visibility and chin line before accepting the crop.
For adjacent workflows, compare Chinese visa photo and Chinese passport photo guides, and verify any announcement on the official Chinese consular site you are applying through.
Official U.S. passport photo rules are summarized on travel.state.gov. Biometric framing for many countries aligns with ICAO Doc 9303.
Public security bureau pickups
Some mainland ID cards require on-site re-capture even when you uploaded online—dress as you will appear daily; temporary styling can fail live comparison.
Hong Kong SAR and Macau variations
Do not assume mainland crop tools match SAR portals—export separate files per jurisdiction.
ICAO Doc 9303 · travel.state.gov for comparison.
Final checklist before you pay or upload
Compare numeric head height and eye line against the official PDF for your document—not a blog screenshot from last year. This page focuses on China passport and visa photo dimensions; requirements drift quietly when embassies refresh forms. Rename exports with today’s date so you do not accidentally resubmit an older crop during a stressful deadline.
Archival hygiene
Keep the untouched camera original in one folder and the portal-ready JPEG in another. If an embassy requests a re-upload, you want the same geometry, not a panicked re-crop that shifts chin position.
Official references
ICAO Doc 9303 · travel.state.gov · GOV.UK photos · USCIS photos
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Chinese passport photo?
Can I wear glasses?
What background colours are allowed?
Can I smile?
How recent must the photo be?
Is the e-Visa photo the same size?
Can I use one photo for passport and visa?
33×48 mm — automatic crop & checks
Get your China photo — $4.99
Select China in PixID for passport or visa. No facial retouching — ICAO-aligned geometry.
Create your China photo ($4.99) →Verified against cs.mfa.gov.cn and ICAO Doc 9303. Last updated April 2026.