Updated · Rules checked against us.china-embassy.gov.cn
China visa photo rules
These requirements come from the Chinese Embassy in the US.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 33 mm wide × 48 mm high |
| Head height | 28–33 mm, from the chin to the crown |
| Space above the head | 3–5 mm from the crown to the top edge |
| Space below the chin | At least 7 mm from the chin to the bottom edge |
| Digital size | 354×472 to 420×560 pixels |
| Digital format | JPEG |
| Digital file size | 40–120 KB |
| Background | White or close to white |
| Expression | Neutral, with eyes open and mouth closed |
| Eyeglasses | Allowed if the lenses are untinted and there's no glare |
| How recent | Taken within 6 months |
How the measurements fit together
The 48 mm height is divided into three parts: a thin strip of background above the head (3–5 mm), the head itself (28–33 mm), and the chin, neck and shoulders below (at least 7 mm). If you add up the extremes, the space below the chin always lands somewhere between about 10 and 17 mm once the other two rules are met. The strip above the head is the tightest of the three, with only 2 mm of leeway. A crop made for another document, with more background above the hair, can easily miss it.
The digital sizes, 354×472 and 420×560 pixels, both have a 3:4 shape. That's a little wider than the 33×48 mm print, so the digital file is its own crop rather than a scan of the print.
Make a China visa photo with this tool
- Check that the document above the buttons says China visa. It's already selected on this page.
- Take the photo against a white wall, or choose a recent one. White or close to white is the rule here, so a gray or cream wall is a poor choice.
- The tool crops to the China format and sizes your head for the 28–33 mm range. The checks flag a head that's too large or too small, or one that runs off the top of the frame. Fine-tune with the head-size slider and the arrows.
- Read the reminder next to the save button: a recent photo, with no filters or edits.
- Save the JPEG with the main button. It's made within the pixel range and the 40–120 KB file size range, ready to upload in the online application. If you need printed 33×48 mm photos, the print sheet and the Letter PDF are there too.
The 40 KB minimum catches people out. A file that's squeezed too hard to save space can fall below it. Use the JPEG the tool saves as it is, without running it through another compressor.
Things to watch for
- Online applications since September 30, 2025. According to the embassy, visa applications are now filed online at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA, and the system crops and checks the photo automatically. Automatic cropping can't fix a dark room, a shadowed wall or a blurry face, so check those here first and upload a sharp, evenly lit photo. If the photo still doesn't pass after several tries, the embassy's guidelines say you can finish the form and bring a standard printed photo when you submit your passport.
- Glasses and glare. Untinted glasses are allowed, but any glare on the lenses isn't. Glare is hard to avoid with a window in front of you. If you can see well enough without them, the simplest fix is to take them off.
- Changing the background. Change background is available for this document, but it's off by default. A replaced background is an edit and can still be rejected, and the result never says Ready with one. A white wall is the safer choice.
- Not a trimmed US photo. A 2×2 inch print trimmed with scissors won't reliably land in the 3–5 mm band above the head or reach exactly 33×48 mm. Make a new photo in the China format.
- Not a Schengen or UK size either. 35×45 mm is a common size elsewhere, but it isn't the China size.
Questions
What size is a China visa photo?
A printed photo is 33 mm wide and 48 mm high. A digital photo is a JPEG between 354×472 and 420×560 pixels, with a file size of 40–120 KB.
Can I wear glasses in a China visa photo?
Yes, if the lenses are untinted and there's no glare on them. If you can manage without them, removing them avoids the glare problem altogether.
What background color is required?
White or close to white. Plain and evenly lit matters as much as the color, so stand a step away from the wall and avoid shadows behind your head.
If the online system crops my photo, do I still need to prepare it?
The system crops and checks the photo, but it can only work with what you upload. A sharp, well-lit photo on a white background, already cropped to the right format, gives it the least to fix.
How recent must the photo be?
It must have been taken within the last 6 months.