China Visa Photo Size
China uses a size no other major visa shares: 33 mm wide by 48 mm high, with tight limits on both the height and the width of your head. This page crops to that frame on white and keeps the file inside the 40–120 KB window the online application form is known for.
Passport Photo
or drop JPG, JPEG, JFIF … files here ·
Max 95 MB per file· Up to 20 files· Deleted after 30 minutes
Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.
Quality is lowered until the photo is at or just under this size; tiny files are padded up to the spec's minimum.
300 DPI is the print standard for passport photos; a 35×45 mm photo is then 413×531 px.
Place several copies on a 4×6 in (10×15 cm) photo print or an A4 page, ready for a photo kiosk or home printer.
How many photos on the sheet. A 4×6 in print fits 6 photos of 2×2 in or 6 of 35×45 mm; an A4 sheet fits more.
How to use this tool
- 1
Shoot head and shoulders, ears level
Face the camera with your hair off your face and no hat. Keep your shoulders square; a turned body makes the head look wider than 22 mm.
- 2
Let the China preset measure you
China visa — 33×48 mm draws the 28–33 mm Head-size guide and turns on Limit file size at 120 KB, with Background on White.
- 3
Upload or print
Press Make for a 354 × 472 px JPG to attach to the online form, or choose a 4 × 6 in Print layout if the visa center asks for a printed photo.
What size is a China visa photo?
33 mm wide × 48 mm high, head 28–33 mm tall and 15–22 mm wide, white background, taken within six months; for the online form, a 354 × 472 px JPEG of 40–120 KB.
China visa photo size in numbers
- Printed photo
- 33 × 48 mm
- Head height, chin to crown
- 28–33 mm
- Head width
- 15–22 mm
- Online file window
- 40–120 KB
Most visa photos limit only head height. China also limits width, so a face photographed slightly turned, or framed by a wide hairstyle, can fail even when the height is right. The preset scales your face for height first, then the guide shows whether the width lands inside 15–22 mm; if it does not, retake with your hair tied back rather than squeezing the image.
The 33 × 48 mm frame is narrower than the common 35 × 45 mm, so a Schengen or Indian print is 3 mm too short to be trimmed into it. Start from the original picture each time. The Chinese visa photo requirements page covers clothing, expression and children in more detail.
China visa photo requirements people misread
MythAny light background is fine.
FactWhite or near-white only; light blue and grey studio backdrops are refused.
MythA 35 × 45 mm photo is close enough.
FactThe frame is 33 × 48 mm; a 45 mm tall print cannot be trimmed to fit it.
MythA bigger file looks better to the officer.
FactThe online form refuses files above its KB ceiling; 120 KB is plenty for 354 × 472 px.
MythA photo from last year's visa still counts.
FactIt must have been taken within the last six months.
Before you attach the China visa photo
Quick check
- Bare head, unless worn for religion
- Hair off the forehead and face edges
- No glare on glasses, or no glasses
- Neutral expression, mouth closed
- JPEG, not PNG, for the online form
- Same face as your passport scan
China visa photo questions
How big must the head be in a China visa photo?
Chinese visa centers ask for a head 28–33 mm tall, chin to crown, and 15–22 mm wide on the 48 mm tall print. The width limit is unusual and catches people with a lot of hair, so tie long or voluminous hair back.
Are glasses allowed in a China visa photo?
Visa center notices allow ordinary glasses but not thick rims, tinted lenses or glare. Some centers and consulates simply say no glasses, so the safe choice is to take them off for the photo.
What pixel size does the China online visa form accept?
The online form is widely reported to accept JPEG files from 354 × 472 px up to 420 × 560 px, sized 40–120 KB. The preset exports the smaller end of that range; confirm on the form itself, because the consulate's instructions take priority.
Can a China visa photo have a light blue background?
No. The background should be white or very close to white, with no border, pattern or shadow. A blue backdrop that is normal for some Asian ID photos is refused for the visa.
Do I need a China visa photo if my country is visa-free?
Only if you still need a visa. Since December 2023 China has added many countries to its unilateral visa-free entry list, but work, study, family stays and trips longer than the visa-free period still require an application with a photo.
Why is my file never smaller than 40 KB?
Because the form rejects files under its minimum as well as over its maximum. The preset lowers quality until the photo is under 120 KB and pads a very small file up to 40 KB; for other uploads, compress image to 100 KB has no floor.