A Chinese visa photo is 33 x 48 mm with the head measuring 28 to 33 mm from chin to crown. That size is not used by any other country in this tool, so a photo cropped for a European or US application will not fit. Requirements can also differ by application channel, so check the instructions from the visa centre handling your application.
The Chinese visa photo size is unique among the countries in this tool, so a photo prepared for any other application will need re-cropping.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 33 x 48 mm |
| Head height | 28-33 mm (chin to crown) |
| Background | Plain white |
| Minimum resolution | 300 DPI for a printed photo |
At 33 x 48 mm the Chinese format sits close enough to the 35 x 45 mm European rectangle to be mistaken for it, and far enough away that a European crop will not fit. It is narrower and noticeably taller in proportion.
Crop from your original photograph rather than resizing a photo already cropped for another country. Re-cropping an export throws away resolution you may need to stay above the print requirement.
Applications may be made through a visa centre, by post, or online depending on where you are, and each channel can come with its own instructions on file format, print count and how recent the photo must be.
Check the guidance for your channel rather than assuming the printed specification covers an upload.
This tool helps you crop and prepare a photo. It does not guarantee acceptance by any government, embassy, consulate, airline or application service, and it cannot check the things that get photos rejected in practice — lighting, expression, glare on glasses, or whether the image has been retouched.
Photo rules change, and they can differ by document type, application method and applicant age. Check the Chinese embassy or visa centre for your application before you submit: https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/visa/chinavisa/201611/t20161122_5421687.htm
Last reviewed: August 2026. Requirements can change after that date — the official page above is the authority, not this one.
33 x 48 mm. It is narrower and taller than the 35 x 45 mm European rectangle, so the two are not interchangeable even though they look similar.
A plain white background. Unlike some authorities that accept off-white or light grey, white is the published expectation here.
No. The dimensions differ, and so does the head band. Re-crop from the original image rather than resizing an already-cropped photo, which loses detail.
They can. Applications made through a visa centre, by post, or online may each come with their own instructions on printing, uploading and photo age. Follow the ones for your channel.
Use a neutral expression with the mouth closed and both eyes open. A neutral face is the safe choice for any biometric-style document photo.