China Visa Photo Size: 33 × 48 mm (At Least 354 × 472 Pixels)

Official rules: 33 × 48 mm, at least 354 × 472 px, 40 KB to 120 KB, background: white or close to white, no border. Source: consular.mfa.gov.cn, checked 28 Sep 2026.

China Visa photo size at a glance

The China Visa photo is 33 × 48 mm, at least 354 × 472 pixels, uploaded as a file from 40 KB to 120 KB.

Printed size33 × 48 mm
In other units (a conversion)33 × 48 mm · 3.3 × 4.8 cm · 1.3 × 1.89 in · 390 × 567 px at 300 DPI · 780 × 1134 px at 600 DPI · ratio 11:16
Pixels (official rule)3:4 portrait, at least 354 × 472 pixels; exactly 354 × 472 is safest
File size40 KB to 120 KB
BackgroundWhite or close to white, no border
Head size58% to 69% of the photo height, chin to top of head
Sourceconsular.mfa.gov.cn
Checked28 Sep 2026
Size diagram of the China Visa photo: 33 × 48 mm, with the head 58% to 69% of the photo height
The China Visa photo, drawn to its shape: 33 × 48 mm, with the head 58% to 69% of the photo height. From the official rules (consular.mfa.gov.cn, checked 28 Sep 2026).

What the official pages say about the China Visa photo

Chinese visa applications start in the China Online Visa Application system (COVA) at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA, where you choose the city of the embassy or consulate you apply through. This note follows the guide from the Chinese Embassy in the United States. Your photo goes in the Personal information section. The system lets you drag and crop it, then checks automatically whether it meets the requirements. If it keeps failing after several uploads, you can still finish the form, but bring a standard ID photo when you hand in your passport.

Other papers are uploaded as image files; PDF is not accepted. Embassy staff review the application online first. If something is missing or wrong, its status changes to "Rejected and to be modified", and you correct it as they ask. Once the online review is approved, you take your passport, the printed application page with its barcode and some original documents to the visa office. Approval online does not guarantee a visa, and you may still be asked for an interview.

Sources, checked 5 Oct 2026: Guidelines for China Online VISA Application (Chinese Embassy in the United States) and China Online Visa Application.

How to make your China Visa photo

  1. Stand about an arm's length from the camera in front of a plain wall (white or close to white, no border). Face a window for soft, even light.
  2. Add the photo on this page. It stays on your device.
  3. Drag and zoom until your face fills the green oval: top of the head on the top line, chin on the bottom line.
  4. Download the photo. The pixels, file size and format are checked before you save it.
  5. Upload it to the official application.

Questions and answers

What size is the China Visa photo?

The photo is 33 × 48 mm. Official pixel rule: 3:4 portrait, at least 354 × 472 pixels; exactly 354 × 472 is safest. SafeResize makes a 354 × 472 pixel file that meets it.

What is the China Visa photo size in cm, inches and pixels?

33 × 48 mm is 3.3 × 4.8 cm or 1.3 × 1.89 inches, in a 11:16 shape. Printed at 300 DPI it is 390 × 567 pixels, and at 600 DPI 780 × 1134 pixels. These are conversions of the official size, not extra rules. For the upload, the official pixel rule is: 3:4 portrait, at least 354 × 472 pixels; exactly 354 × 472 is safest.

What file size does the China Visa photo need to be?

Between 40 KB and 120 KB. SafeResize checks the size before you download, and keeps it inside the limit whether the website counts 1 KB as 1,000 or 1,024 bytes.

What background colour does the China Visa photo need?

White or close to white, no border. Stand in front of a plain wall with no pattern, and face a window so there are no shadows behind you. If your wall is not plain enough, the photo maker on this page can make the background white with an AI that runs on your device. Check the edges around your hair afterwards.

How big should my head be in the China Visa photo?

From the chin to the top of the head, your head should fill 58% to 69% of the photo height. The face guide in the tool shows both lines.

Can I wear glasses in my China Visa photo?

The official rules say: No thick-rimmed, tinted or reflective glasses.

Is the China Visa photo the same for Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani applicants?

Yes. The photo rules on consular.mfa.gov.cn do not change with nationality, so Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani applicants follow the same ones. Which visa you can apply for does depend on your nationality, and a visa centre in your country may add its own checklist.

What else do the China Visa photo rules say?

Colour, taken in the last 6 months. Neutral expression, eyes open, lips closed, ears showing. Head tilt: up to 20° sideways, 25° up or down. No thick-rimmed, tinted or reflective glasses. Headwear for religious reasons only. At least 60 pixels between the eyes. Upload fails 3 times? Bring a printed photo on glossy paper to the visa centre.

Which file format should I use?

JPG (other photo files are also accepted). SafeResize saves a JPG (JPEG) file.

Can I take this photo at home?

Yes. A photo taken at home is fine if it follows the rules above. It is easier if someone else takes it for you.

Is my photo uploaded to SafeResize?

No. The photo is processed inside your browser and never leaves your phone or computer.

Please note: The largest allowed photo size is not clear, so use exactly 354 × 472 pixels to be safe.

Source: consular.mfa.gov.cn, checked 28 Sep 2026. Rules can change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.

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