China Visa Photo 2026 (33x48mm, COVA + Consulate Compliant)

The short version

• Size: 33 x 48 mm exact (not 35x45, not 51x51)
• Background: pure white only - no light grey, no tint
• Head height: 28-33 mm chin to crown, about 60-70% of frame
• Glasses: not allowed since 2016 - remove for the photo
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no teeth visible
• File for COVA online application: JPG, 354 x 472 px minimum, under 1 MB
• Print copies: 2 identical printed photos required at most consulate appointments
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months

Why the Chinese visa photo is unusual

Most countries follow ICAO 9303 biometric specifications with minor variants. The standard Schengen visa is 35 x 45 mm. The US passport is 51 x 51 mm (square). The Chinese visa is 33 x 48 mm - narrower and taller than Schengen, not square like the US. This means a photo taken to any other country's spec will be rejected at the size check alone.

The 33 x 48 mm format is shared with Chinese passports and Chinese ID cards (resident card). For foreign applicants, the photo also has to satisfy the Ministry of Public Security biometric checks, which are stricter than most Schengen embassies on background uniformity and expression.

Practical consequence: do not reuse a passport photo from your home country, even if it looks similar. The Chinese visa center checks dimensions to the millimeter.

Visa categories and which need a photo

Most Chinese visa categories require a photo. The exceptions are limited. Quick reference:

For all photo-required categories the spec is the same 33 x 48 mm, white background, no glasses. The Z work visa additionally requires a medical exam photo at the local Chinese authority later in the process - that is not the same as the application photo.

Exact specifications

Published by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (waijiaobu) and applied uniformly across consulates and the COVA online portal:

• Print size: 33 x 48 mm (1.3 x 1.9 inches)
• Digital size: 354 x 472 pixels minimum, 420 x 560 px recommended, JPG only
• File size: 40 KB to 1 MB for COVA upload
• Background: plain white, no shadow, no pattern, no tint
• Head height: 28-33 mm from chin to crown of head (top of hair)
• Head width: 15-22 mm ear to ear at widest point
• Eye line: roughly 28-32 mm from bottom of frame, eyes open and facing forward
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no teeth
• Glasses: not allowed (2016 rule, no exceptions)
• Head covering: only for religious reasons, must not cover face from hairline to chin
• Lighting: even, no shadow on face or background
• Recency: taken within the last 6 months
• Color: color photo only, no black and white

For exact size validation see our China visa photo tool which crops to 33 x 48 mm and outputs a COVA-ready JPG.

Top rejection reasons at Chinese consulates

Based on consular feedback collected from applicants in 2024-2026, these are the issues that get flagged most often:

1. Wrong size. Submitting a 35 x 45 mm Schengen photo or a 51 x 51 mm US photo. The 33 x 48 mm spec is non-negotiable.
2. Off-white background. Light grey, cream, eggshell, or any photographic backdrop with subtle texture. Pure white only.
3. Glasses still on. Even thin metal frames are rejected. Remove for the photo.
4. Smile or visible teeth. Chinese visa rules require fully neutral expression. Even a closed-mouth smile is borderline.
5. Hair covering eyes or eyebrows. Both eyes and the eyebrow line must be fully visible.
6. Shadow on background. Common when photographed in a corner or with a single light source.
7. Head too small. A passport-style photo from far away leaves the head occupying only 40-50% of the frame. Must be 60-70%.
8. Photo over 6 months old. Not always flagged but a frequent reason cited for older applicants.
9. JPG quality too low for COVA. Files compressed below 40 KB or saved at low quality settings.
10. Photo printed at wrong size. If you print at home, verify the actual print is 33 x 48 mm with a ruler before going to the appointment.

Country-specific notes for foreign applicants

Photo specifications are the same for all foreign applicants. Practical preparation differs depending on where you are applying from.

Indian applicants

The Chinese embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru process L (tourist) and M (business) visas heavily. Standard Indian passport photos are 51 x 51 mm with a slightly different aspect ratio - do not reuse them. Many local photo studios near the consulates offer the 33 x 48 mm Chinese visa size on request, but quality varies. Free DIY option: take a photo at home and use our Indian passport photo tool as the starting frame, then re-crop to 33 x 48 mm with the China visa photo tool.

Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, Pakistani applicants

Embassies in Jakarta, Hanoi, Bangkok, and Islamabad apply the same 33 x 48 mm spec. In all four locations, photo studios near the consulate often charge a premium for the China-specific size. The COVA online portal works in English and accepts the digital JPG directly, removing the need for printed photos at some consulates - check your local consulate's requirements before printing.

Russian, Belarusian, CIS applicants

China-Russia visa traffic is heavy on M (business) and Z (work) categories. Russian passport photos are 35 x 45 mm and do not match the Chinese spec. The Chinese embassy in Moscow and consulates in Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok require both digital upload and 2 printed copies. Plan ahead - print quality at express photo kiosks in Russian shopping malls is variable.

US, UK, EU applicants

Chinese consulates in Western countries are typically processed through a CVASC visa center (China Visa Application Service Center) rather than the embassy directly. CVASC has its own photo service for around USD 12-20, but bringing your own correctly-sized digital file or print is accepted and avoids the queue. The COVA online portal is the primary channel for most Western applications.

African applicants

Chinese embassies in Lagos, Cairo, Nairobi, Pretoria, Algiers, and Casablanca process all visa categories. Photo studios near the embassies are limited in some cities and may not offer the 33 x 48 mm size as a default. DIY photo with self-validation against the spec is often the fastest path.

COVA online application photo upload

The China Online Visa Application (COVA) portal at cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn is the primary submission channel for most consulates as of 2026. Photo upload requirements:

• JPG format only (PNG, HEIC, WebP not accepted)
• Minimum 354 x 472 pixels (33 x 48 mm at 300 DPI)
• Recommended 420 x 560 pixels for clearer biometric checks
• Maximum file size 1 MB; minimum 40 KB
• Must be a single face (no group, no other people in frame)
• Auto-validation runs on upload - if rejected, you get an error code with the failure reason

Common COVA error codes: E001 size mismatch, E002 background not white, E003 face not centered, E004 file size out of range, E005 format not JPG. If you get any of these, regenerate the photo with strict 33 x 48 mm cropping before retrying.

Printing the visa photo

Most consulates require 2 identical printed copies in addition to the digital upload. Printing tips:

1. Print the exact 33 x 48 mm dimensions, not 35 x 45 mm. Some print labs default to the standard passport size - specify the China visa size explicitly.
2. Use photo paper, not standard paper. Glossy or matte are both accepted. Standard A4 paper is rejected for ink bleed and color shift.
3. Print at 300 DPI minimum. Lower resolution causes pixelation visible to the consular officer.
4. Verify with a ruler before submission. Some home printers default to fit-to-page scaling which alters dimensions.
5. Free home option: our China visa photo tool outputs a print-ready PDF with 6 photos per A4 page at exact dimensions, plus the standalone JPG for COVA.

Comparison with other major visa photo specs

The China spec is the only one with a 33 x 48 mm format. Reusing photos across visa applications does not work.

DIY at home: step by step

1. Find a plain white wall. True white, not eggshell or cream. Avoid windows directly behind you.
2. Stand 2 metres from the wall. This eliminates shadow on the background.
3. Use indoor diffuse light. A bright window in front of you, no overhead spotlight. Cloudy daylight is ideal.
4. Have someone take the photo. Self-portraits at arm length distort facial proportions. If alone, use a tripod or stable surface with a 10-second timer.
5. Use the rear camera, not the selfie camera. The rear camera has higher resolution and less lens distortion.
6. Frame from chest up, leaving headroom. The crop happens later; start with extra space around the head.
7. Neutral expression. Mouth closed, no smile, eyes open and facing forward.
8. Remove glasses. Even if you wear them daily.
9. Validate the file. Use our China visa photo tool to crop to 33 x 48 mm, replace background with pure white if needed, and output a COVA-ready JPG plus a print-ready PDF.

For more general advice on home setup including lighting and distance, see our iPhone passport photo guide.

If your photo gets rejected

CVASC and Chinese consulates typically reject the application at the document review stage if the photo fails. You will be asked to provide a corrected photo before processing continues. Steps:

1. Read the rejection notice. Most cite a specific issue (size, background, glasses, expression).
2. Regenerate the photo addressing exactly that issue. Do not change everything.
3. Re-upload to COVA or bring printed corrections to the consulate. There is no penalty for resubmission.
4. If you used a CVASC photo service originally, the resubmission is normally free of charge for the same applicant.

Single-issue rejections (like a slightly off-white background) are the most common and the fastest to fix. Avoid the trap of submitting a wholesale new application with a different photo - this can delay processing by days.

FAQ