Visa photo guide · China (US applicants) · Updated May 2026
Chinese Visa Photo Requirements — Complete Guide 2026
If you walk into CVS for a “passport photo,” you will get the wrong size for China. This page is built around 33×48 mm print rules, COVA JPEG bands, and the interview-day print you still have to carry.
Written by the PixID.studio compliance team. Official sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (English) — confirm current COVA instructions with the consulate that covers your state · ICAO Doc 9303 · travel.state.gov (US 2×2 contrast) · USCIS photos · GOV.UK photos.
Visa photo guide · 🇨🇳 China · Last verified: May 2026
Getting a Chinese visa photo wrong is one of the most common mistakes US travelers make. The size is different from a US passport photo, the COVA system has a known bug, and you still need a printed photo even after uploading digitally. This guide covers everything.
Quick facts
| Size | 33×48 mm |
| Background | Plain white only |
| Head height | 28–33 mm (chin to crown) |
| Eye height | 21–24 mm from bottom |
| COVA digital | JPEG, 354–420×472–560 px, 40–120 KB |
| Photos required | 1 (bring 2 to be safe) |
| Recency | Within 6 months |
| Glasses | Allowed with conditions |
| Source | Chinese Embassy in the United States |
The most common mistake: wrong size
Chinese visa photos are 33 mm wide × 48 mm tall — not 2×2 inches.
The US passport photo format (51×51 mm / 2×2 inches) is wrong for a Chinese visa. Most US pharmacies — CVS, Walgreens — are set up for the US format. If you walk in and ask for a "passport photo," you'll get the wrong size.
Always specify 33×48 mm at any photo lab. Better yet, use an online service that knows the Chinese format and generates the correct file.
Photo specifications
Size and dimensions
- Photo size: 33 mm wide × 48 mm tall (3.3 × 4.8 cm)
- Head height: 28–33 mm from chin to crown
- Eye height: 21–24 mm from bottom of photo
- Head width: 15–22 mm
- Face centred horizontally
Background
Plain white only — no off-white, no light grey. Chinese consulates reject photos with any background that isn't pure white. No patterns, textures, shadows, or borders.
Avoid white or very light clothing — it blends into the white background.
Expression and appearance
- Expression: strictly neutral, mouth closed, no smiling
- Eyes: both open, looking directly at camera
- Head position: straight, no tilt beyond 20° left/right or 25° up/down
- Both ears visible
- Glasses: allowed if not thick-framed, not tinted, no glare, and eyes clearly visible. Sunglasses always prohibited. However, removing glasses is safer — even technically compliant glasses sometimes trigger rejection.
- Head coverings: only for religious or cultural reasons, full face must be visible
- Clothing: dark-coloured clothing recommended. No white tops, no uniforms
Quality
- Colour only — black and white not accepted
- Glossy photo paper for printed copies
- Sharp, no blur or pixelation
- Even lighting, no shadows
- No digital retouching, filters, or beauty enhancements
- File: JPEG for digital submissions
The COVA system — what changed in September 2025
China launched the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system on September 30, 2025. All visa applications now go through COVA.
How COVA works:
- Create an account at the COVA website
- Fill out the application form online
- Upload your digital photo (JPEG, 354–420×472–560 pixels, 40–120 KB)
- Print your completed COVA form (must be signed)
- Visit the consulate in person with your printed form + printed photo + passport
Key COVA digital photo specs:
- Format: JPEG
- Dimensions: 354–420 pixels wide × 472–560 pixels tall
- File size: 40–120 KB
- Same white background and face requirements apply
The "Photo check failed" bug
COVA sometimes displays "The photo check failed." even when your photo meets all official requirements. This is a known bug that Chinese authorities are aware of. If you see this error:
- Continue your application — do not stop
- Your photo is still valid — consular officers manually review all photos
- The automated checker doesn't determine final acceptance — human review does
Do you still need a printed photo with COVA?
Yes. Even after a successful digital upload on COVA, you must bring a printed 33×48 mm photo to the consulate and attach it to your printed COVA form. Chinese consulates do not take photos on-site.
Bring 2 identical printed photos — one to paste on the form, one as backup in case the form needs to be reprinted.
Where to get 33×48 mm photos in the US
Most US pharmacies only offer 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) format. Your options:
- Online services (PixID, Snap2Pass): generate correctly sized 33×48 mm file — print on glossy 4×6 paper at Walmart or any photo lab
- Chinese-owned photo studios in major cities: familiar with the exact format and glossy paper requirement
- Some larger CVS and Walgreens: a few locations offer international photo sizes — call ahead to confirm 33×48 mm
Chinese consulates in the US by jurisdiction
| Consulate | States served |
|---|---|
| Embassy (Washington DC) | DC, MD, VA, WV, DE, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, TN, KY |
| Consulate General New York | NY, NJ, CT, PA, ME, VT, NH, MA, RI |
| Consulate General Chicago | IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, MN, IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD |
| Consulate General Houston | TX, OK, AR, LA |
| Consulate General Los Angeles | CA-Southern, AZ, CO, UT, NM, NV |
| Consulate General San Francisco | CA-Northern, OR, WA, AK, ID, MT, WY |
Apply at the consulate covering your state of legal residence.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Chinese visa photo?
What background for a Chinese visa photo?
Can I use a US 2×2 inch passport photo for a Chinese visa?
What is the COVA system?
COVA shows “Photo check failed.” What do I do?
Can I wear glasses in a Chinese visa photo?
Do Chinese consulates take photos on-site?
See also
Need a compliant photo now?
Create photo in PixID