China visa photo size
A Chinese visa photo is 33 × 48 mm on a white background, with the head 28–33 mm tall and 15–22 mm wide. The online COVA form takes the same photo as a 354–420 × 472–560 px JPEG of 40–120 KB. Align your photo with the crown, chin and eye-line guides and export either.
- Document
- Visa
- Photo size
- 33 × 48 mm
- Chin to crown
- 28–33 mm
- Background
- White or close to white, no edge frame
- Photo age
- Within the last 6 months
- Online upload
- 420 × 560 px (354 × 472 to 420 × 560 px accepted), JPEG, 24-bit RGB true colour, 40 KB to 120 KB
- Print export
- 390 × 567 px at 300 ppi, 8 copies per 4 × 6 in sheet
Both the paper form photo and the online COVA upload use the same specification; visa centres take 28–33 mm as the head height.
Glossy photo paper, colour only: crown 3–5 mm below the top edge and at least 7 mm between the chin and the bottom edge.
GA/T 1180-2014 at 354 × 472 px: face width 205 ± 14 px, top of the hair 10–70 px below the top edge, eyes at least 256 px above the bottom edge.
Official requirements — Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
Place the crown and chin at the guide lines and the eyes in the band when one is shown. The oval is an approximate placement guide, not a face measurement or approval check.
This authority publishes no head height: keep the face centred with space above the head and the shoulders visible.
Chinese visa photo dimensions
The paper photo is 33 × 48 mm: crown 3–5 mm below the top edge, at least 7 mm between chin and bottom edge, head 28–33 mm tall and 15–22 mm wide. It must be in colour on glossy photo paper with no shadow on the face.
Pixel rules for the online form
At 354 × 472 px the GA/T 1180-2014 standard puts the face width at 205 ± 14 px, the top of the hair 10–70 px below the top edge and the eyes at least 256 px above the bottom edge. Files may be up to 420 × 560 px, JPEG in 24-bit RGB, 40–120 KB.
Eye line, crown and head width guides
This profile shows the extra guides the standard needs: a crown band near the top, an eye line about 26 mm from the bottom, and a narrower oval for the 15–22 mm head width. Head tilt is limited to 20° sideways and 25° up or down.
Which numbers differ between sources
Older embassy copies of the 2016 notice print the head height as 20–33 mm; the visa centres and the April 2025 Morocco notice say 28–33 mm, which this page uses. The same specification serves Chinese passports.
How to take a valid photo
The shared ICAO points first, then what this authority adds.
- Have someone else take the photo at eye level from a few steps away; most authorities reject selfies.
- Face the camera straight on with your head level, both eyes open, mouth closed and a neutral expression.
- Light the face evenly: no shadows on the face or the background, no flash reflections, no red-eye.
- Keep the photo as taken: no filters, retouching, background replacement or AI edits.
- Only you in the frame, nothing covering the face, hair away from the eyes, no uniform.
- Leave space around the head and shoulders so the crop can follow the guide.
- Glasses are allowed except thick-rimmed, tinted or glare-prone ones.
- Hats only for religious reasons, with the facial features not obscured.
- Neutral expression, eyes open, lips closed, ears visible; head tilt at most 20° sideways and 25° up or down.
- No over- or under-exposure, no red-eye, no shadow on the face.
Official sources
Requirements checked on 27 October 2026 against the official pages below. The issuing authority makes the acceptance decision; nothing on this page certifies a photo.
To compare formats, see passport photo sizes by country.
Related free photo tools
- Free toolPassport photo size by countryCompare passport photo sizes and official application rules for 40 countries. Align a private head guide; export prints, 4 × 6 in sheets and upload files where the authority allows it.
- Free toolFinland passport photo sizeFinnish passport photos are 36 × 47 mm, or exactly 500 × 653 px JPEG under 250 KB for the police photo server. Crop with the 445–500 px head guide and read the studio-code route.
- Free toolFrance passport photo sizeFrench passport and ID photos use 35 × 45 mm. Check head size, background and the approved photographer or booth requirement with a private size preview.
- Free toolGermany passport photo sizeGerman passport and ID photos are 35 × 45 mm with the face at 70–80%, but since 1 May 2025 only digital photos from a photographer or a PointID terminal are accepted. See the rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a Chinese visa photo?
33 × 48 mm printed, or a 354–420 × 472–560 px JPEG of 40–120 KB for the online form.
Why must the file be at least 40 KB?
The standard sets 40–120 KB. The export searches the JPEG quality to stay within both limits; a very plain photo at the smallest size can fall under 40 KB, in which case choose the larger export.
Are glasses allowed in a Chinese visa photo?
Yes, except thick-rimmed, tinted or glare-prone glasses. Ears must be visible and lips closed.
Can I use the same photo for the passport and the visa?
The specifications are the same GA/T 1180-2014 standard, but each application sets its own recency rule: within the last 6 months.