China Visa Photo Size
Chinese passport and visa photos are usually 33 × 48 mm, narrower than the 35 × 45 mm used elsewhere. Make a correctly proportioned picture here, and use the custom option when your visa centre sets pixels and KB limits.
1. Position the frame
Drag the frame to move it and the round handles to resize it. Put the top of the head at the top of the dashed oval and the chin at its bottom.
2. Preview and options
Use it only where the form allows edited photos. The US, UK and Canada reject photos with a changed background.
Higher removes more background but can eat into hair or shoulders.
3. Your photo
🔒 Runs in your browser. Your files and text are not uploaded.
How to use the China Visa Photo Size
- Choose “China – passport / visa (33 × 48 mm)”. The output is 390 × 567 px, which is 33 × 48 mm at 300 dpi.
- Drop a recent portrait against a plain white wall, facing the camera with a neutral expression.
- Fit the head in the oval and press “Create photo”.
- If an online system lists its own pixels or KB, choose “Custom size”, type those numbers, keep the 33:48 proportion and set the Max file size.
Commonly quoted requirements
China’s embassies, consulates and visa application centres publish the photo rules for their region, and the details can vary between a paper application and an online form. The figures below are the ones most often quoted. We could not confirm them against a single official page, so treat them as a starting point and check the instructions of the office you apply to.
| Item | Commonly quoted requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 33 mm wide × 48 mm high |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 390 × 567 |
| Head size | Chin to crown about 28–33 mm, and about 15–22 mm wide |
| Background | Plain white, without shadows or patterns |
| Age of photo | Recent, normally taken within the last six months |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open, face and ears visible, looking straight at the camera |
| Glasses and headwear | No tinted glasses or glare; no head covering that hides the face |
| Online uploads | Pixel and file-size limits are set by the system, so follow the form |
Where to check: the website of your Chinese embassy or consulate and the Chinese Visa Application Service Center for your country. Last reviewed: October 2026. Photo rules change from time to time, so always confirm the current requirements on the official page before you apply.
A narrower, taller photo
At a ratio of 33:48 the picture is slightly narrower than the 35:45 photo used for most passports. A photo cut to the wrong shape will either lose the edges of the head or leave margins that the visa centre rejects. The locked frame in this tool keeps the 33:48 proportion for you, so the only job left is to put the head in the oval. The head takes up a smaller share of the height than in the UK or Schengen pictures, which is why the oval is smaller on this preset.
Online uploads: pixels and kilobytes
Online systems typically accept a JPEG within a pixel range and under a maximum file size, and different centres use different numbers. When you know the numbers, choose “Custom size”, type the width and height in pixels, set the Max file size, and create the photo. If the system says the file is too small, set the Min file size as well, or raise it afterwards with Increase Image Size in KB. If it says too large, compress it with Compress Image to 100 KB or a similar tool.
Photo tips
- Use a white wall and daylight, and stand away from the wall so your shadow does not fall on it.
- Do not wear white clothes that blend with the background, and avoid very dark clothing against a pale wall that could look like a cut-out edge.
- Keep your hair behind your ears if the rules ask for the ears to be visible.
- Do not retouch, filter or replace the background: consular staff compare the picture to your face and passport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of a Chinese visa photo?
It is commonly quoted as 33 × 48 mm, which is 390 × 567 pixels at 300 dpi. Check the rules of the office you apply to, because online systems may use other pixel sizes.
What background colour is needed?
A plain white background is the usual requirement, free of shadows and patterns.
Why is the preset 33 × 48 mm and not 35 × 45 mm?
Chinese documents use the narrower and taller shape. Using 35 × 45 mm may cause the photo to be rejected.
What if my online form lists pixels and KB?
Choose “Custom size” and enter the numbers. The tool will fit the file below the maximum size and raise it to the minimum when you set one.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser.