Chinese visa photo maker

China visa photo requirements

China visa photo requirements

Print size	33 x 48 mm
Head height (chin to top of head)	28–33 mm
Background	White, with no frame or border and no shadow on the face
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
Glasses	Allowed if there is no glare and your eyes are fully visible
Head covering	Only for religious reasons
How recent	Taken in the last 6 months

• One color photo; head 15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high
• Face the camera with the whole head and face clearly visible, ears visible, head centered; tilt no more than 20° left or right and 25° up or down
• Glasses are allowed, but not thick-rimmed, tinted or glaring ones
• Hat or head wear only for religious reasons, with no facial feature hidden
• Natural tone: not over- or under-exposed, no red eye, not distorted; no damage or marks on the photo
• Online application (COVA): you upload the photo and the system lets you drag and crop it, then checks it; if it keeps failing, carry on and bring a standard printed photo when you hand in your passport

Official source: Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco — Photo requirements for Chinese visa application

Chinese visa photo requirements

Chinese embassies and consulates ask for one photo with your visa application that meets these rules:

• 33 x 48 mm, in color, taken in the last 6 months;
• head 15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high (chin to crown), centered in the photo;
• a white background with no frame or border;
• your whole head and face clearly visible, ears visible, a neutral expression, eyes open and lips closed;
• head tilt no more than 20° left or right and 25° up or down;
• glasses allowed, but not thick-rimmed, tinted or glaring ones;
• hats or head wear only for religious reasons, with no facial feature hidden;
• natural tones: not over- or under-exposed, no red eye, no distortion, no shadow over the face, and no damage or marks on the print.

The online application (COVA) and your photo

Chinese visa applications start in the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system. You upload your photo there; the system lets you drag and crop it and checks it automatically. Then you submit your passport and the printed application page at the visa office. If the photo keeps failing the automatic check, you can still finish the form and bring a standard printed photo with your passport. Upload the JPEG from this tool, and keep a printed photo from the tool’s sheet as a backup.

How to take a Chinese visa photo at home

1. Stand in front of a white wall, about half a meter away, with soft, even light on your face.
2. Tuck your hair behind your ears and take off hats and tinted glasses.
3. Ask someone to take the photo at your eye level from about 1.5 meters away.
4. Face the camera directly with a neutral face, lips closed and eyes open.
5. Upload the photo above. The tool crops it to 33 x 48 mm, sizes your head to about 30.5 mm, can make the background plain white and checks the photo.
6. Download the JPEG for COVA and the print sheet for your backup photos.

What the tool checks for a Chinese visa

On the 33 x 48 mm frame the tool measures your head from chin to crown against 28–33 mm and checks that you are centered and straight, that your eyes are open and your lips closed, and that the photo is sharp, evenly lit and well exposed. It checks the white background and can replace the wall behind you with plain white. It asks you to confirm the glasses and head-covering rules. It does not measure head width; a head of normal proportions at 28–33 mm high is 15–22 mm wide.

Common reasons Chinese visa photos are rejected

• Wrong size: a 2 x 2 inch or 35 x 45 mm photo instead of 33 x 48 mm.
• Head too big or too small, or not centered.
• Ears hidden by hair, or hair over the face.
• Tinted or thick-rimmed glasses, or glare on the lenses.
• Background not white, or a border around the photo.
• Shadows on the face, over- or under-exposure, red eye.
• Smiling or an open mouth.

Printing Chinese visa photos

Use Download print sheet with the 10 x 15 cm size (6 x 4 in). It places several 33 x 48 mm photos on one sheet at true size, with cut guides. Print it at a photo counter or at home on photo paper at 100% scale, and cut along the guides. See the print sheet maker for tips on keeping the size exact.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a Chinese visa photo?

A Chinese visa photo is 33 mm wide and 48 mm high. Your head must be 15 to 22 mm wide and 28 to 33 mm high from chin to crown. It is a color photo on a white background, taken in the last six months. The tool makes a 390 x 567 pixel file, which is 33 x 48 mm at 300 DPI.

Can I use a 2 x 2 inch photo for a Chinese visa?

No. A 2 x 2 inch photo is square and larger, while the Chinese visa photo is a narrow 33 x 48 mm rectangle with a smaller head. Cutting a square photo down does not give the right proportions, so make a new photo in the Chinese size. The tool frames your head for 33 x 48 mm from your original picture.

Can I wear glasses in my Chinese visa photo?

Yes, ordinary glasses are allowed. Thick-rimmed glasses, tinted lenses and glasses with glare are not. If the lenses reflect the light, take the photo again from a different angle or take your glasses off. Your eyes must be open and clearly visible.

How do I upload the photo in the online application (COVA)?

The China Online Visa Application system asks you to upload your photo and lets you drag and crop it, then checks it automatically. Upload the file from this tool. If the system keeps rejecting the photo, you may continue with the rest of the form and bring a standard printed photo when you hand in your passport.

Must my ears be visible?

Yes. The Chinese consulate rules ask for your whole head and face to be clearly visible, with your ears showing, your eyes open and your lips closed. Tuck your hair behind your ears and face the camera directly. Hair over the ears or across the face is one of the most common problems with home visa photos, so check the preview before you download.

Can I wear a hat or a head covering?

Only for religious reasons, and no facial feature may be hidden. Hats, caps and other head wear worn for style are not allowed, so take them off before the photo. The tool asks you to confirm the head-covering rule before you download your photo and print sheet.

How far can I tilt my head?

The consulate rules allow at most 20 degrees to the left or right and 25 degrees up or down. It is still best to keep your head straight and level. The tool measures the tilt and straightens a small roll automatically.

Sources

1. Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco — Photo requirements for Chinese visa application (opened September 30, 2026)
2. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the USA — Guidelines for China Online Visa Application (COVA) (opened September 30, 2026)
3. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the USA — Requirements and procedures for Chinese visa application (updated September 2025) (opened September 30, 2026)

Last checked: September 30, 2026

passportvisapic.com is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority makes the final decision on every photo.