Make China visa photo size online & free: simply upload your selfie to PhotoGov and get a 33 × 48 mm picture, 100% compliant with Chinese visa photo requirements — ready in under 30 seconds.
PhotoGov is an independent service. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, or consulate. All information on this website is based on official government requirements and verified primary sources. Final acceptance is determined solely by the issuing authority.
Create a China visa photo online for free using your smartphone or laptop. Upload your selfie, and follow the on-screen instructions below to receive an official photo, 100% compliant with government requirements.
The PhotoGov Chinese visa photo editor uses state-of-the-art photo-processing technology to convert your original image into a Chinese visa photo. It adjusts the picture's size, crop, framing, face positioning, and background, not altering facial features in any way. In under 30 seconds, you are ready to download your visa photo.
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Take a selfie and upload it to the PhotoGov platform.
Processing
In about 30 seconds, the system processes the image.
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Authored by:
John Bates (Travel/Visa expert)
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China visa photo specifications are defined by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (MFA of China). These guidelines are based on the biometric standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) published in the Document 9303. When you apply for a Chinese visa, your photograph must adhere to each and every one of these standards — and our China visa photo size online free tool applies them automatically. In under 30 seconds, you get a 100% compliant, application-ready photo that meets all requirements listed below.
For most Chinese visa applications, one photo is required to be submitted with the online form, but some embassies and visa centers may ask you to bring two identical printed photos.
The China visa photo must be taken within the last six months to reflect the applicant's current appearance.
China visa photo size for paper applications is 33 × 48 mm, with the head height between about 28 mm and 33 mm, and at least 7 mm of space above the head. The corresponding digital photo size requirements are 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels, with the face width 191–251 pixels and a minimum height of 256 pixels.
Only colored photos are accepted with Chinese visa applications.
Plain light-colored or white background, or free of shadows, patterns, textures, or frames, is required.
Chinese visa photos require professional, even lighting that naturally reflects the applicant's skin tones and hair color. No over- or underexposure is allowed.
The applicant must face the camera directly with the face and shoulders square in the frame.
Keep a neutral expression with eyes open and mouth closed.
Avoid camouflage, uniforms, or casual clothing in light colors. Choose darker colors that don't blend with the background. Head coverings are not allowed, unless worn for medical or religious reasons — and only if they don't obstruct the applicant's facial features.
Eyeglasses are allowed, but only if the frames don't cover the eyes, keeping them fully visible, and there is no glare or flash reflections on the lenses. Tinted glasses, sunglasses, or colored lenses are not allowed.
Only high-quality photos printed on glossy or matte photographic paper are accepted. No frame, wrinkles, or color distortions are allowed.
High-quality image in RGB 24-bit true color, high resolution of at least 300 DPI, saved as JPG, file size 40-120 kB are accepted.
A Chinese visa photo can be taken in many locations worldwide, but we recommend keeping in mind that a 33*48 photo (354x472 pixels) format is rather uncommon in most countries. If you are wondering where to take a Chinese visa photo near me, it is best to inquire about it in your local photo studio or use an online China visa photo tool like PhotoGov. It allows you to make a picture for your visa application online, download a digital copy, and print it at home or in a local photo shop.
In some countries, large pharmacy and retail chains provide Chinese visa photo services. In the United States, for example, Walgreens Chinese visa photo is a popular option: Walgreens pharmacy takes and prints a 33x48 photo on the spot. Don't forget to inquire about the availability of this service, or use shops like Walgreens mainly as a convenient printing point for a ready‑made file.
Self‑service photo booths are one of the quickest ways to get ID photos. They are often installed in subway stations, shopping centres, and near government offices. Most booths are set up for local passport sizes, so check on the screen whether they offer a Chinese visa 33 × 48 mm option. However, being one of the most convenient options, this is not the most reliable one — the quality of the final image may be inconsistent, so we recommend choosing a more reliable option.
Professional photo studios often offer a wider range of document photo formats, including Chinese visas. This option is usually the most reliable and includes a professional setting with correct lighting, background, and templates. When you contact a studio, simply mention that you need a Chinese visa photo and confirm that it can provide the required 48 × 33 mm format before you book your visit. Keep in mind that this is the most pricey option, and one photo can cost up to $70 or more.
As we mentioned above, the 354x472 or 48×33 mm Chinese visa photo size is quite uncommon, so the most convenient way to get a compliant photo is to use the Online China visa photo editor PhotoGov. You simply upload a selfie, and the tool automatically applies Chinese visa requirements, setting the correct size, framing, background, and head position. In under 30 seconds, you download a 354x472 digital photo for online applications, or a 33x48 mm print‑ready file. Just print it on professional photo paper, and you're ready for submission.
Service | Time to get a 33 × 48 mm Chinese visa photo | Pricing | Chance of approval |
|---|---|---|---|
Pharmacies & Retail Chains (e.g., Walgreens, CVS) | 10–20 minutes on site | Around $17 for a set in the U.S. | High–moderate (depends on staff experience with 33 × 48 mm format) |
Self‑Service Photo Booths | 5–10 minutes | $5–$10 equivalent (varies by country) | Low (size/quality often not optimized for China visa) |
Professional Photo Studios | 1 hour to 1–2 days | $20-30, and $50-100 in premium studios | High (if familiar with Chinese visa specs) |
Online China Visa Photo Editor PhotoGov | Under 30 seconds | Free. In some countries, a digital photo can cost $5.90, and a printable file $9.90 | High (size 33 × 48 mm and 354 × 472 px auto‑matched to official Сhinese visa photo requirements) |
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With a China visa photo editor like PhotoGov available at hand, you don't need to spend time and money on a professional studio visit. You can take a perfectly acceptable picture at home with your smartphone, upload it to our platform, and get a compliant China visa photo. Follow the instructions below, and we'll take care of the rest.
Lighting. Find a well‑lit spot, preferably with natural daylight or several soft light sources. Make sure the background is plain white by hanging a simple white sheet or standing against a clean white wall.
Camera settings. Use a modern smartphone or a high‑quality digital camera, making sure the image is sharp, well‑exposed, and not blurry.
Posture. Stand straight, look directly into the camera, and check that your shoulders are square in the shot. Do not move or tilt your head.
Taking a shot. Hold the camera at eye level, frame your head and upper shoulders in the center, and take several photos to choose the sharpest, most natural-looking one.
Processing in PhotoGov. Upload your best shot to PhotoGov, choose the Chinese visa option, and let the tool automatically crop, resize, and adjust the background to meet 33 × 48 mm requirements.
Download. Your high-quality image is ready. Download a digital file for online submissions or a printable PDF for in-person applications.
Taking Chinese visa photos of children may require a little bit more time and patience. That's why more and more people prefer to do it from the comfort of their home, avoiding the hassle of visiting a photo studio. With our convenient online China visa photo tool, you can do it fast and stress-free. Just use the basic requirements below, and convert photo to China visa size for free.
Uniform lighting from a natural source, plain background.
A newborn may lie on a blanket; older children — sit or stand.
Neutral facial expression, no crying or laughing.
No toys, parents’ hands, or other objects in the frame.
PhotoGov formats your portrait according to the photo specifications issued by the Consular Department of China’s MFA and Chinese visa application centers, as well as biometric guidelines based on ICAO Doc 9303 principles. The system automatically adjusts the background, head position, and facial proportions, and applies the exact 33 × 48 mm / 354 × 472 px layout used for Chinese visa photographs. Every technical element — from the distance between key facial features to overall brightness and contrast — is aligned with the standards used by Chinese authorities when checking visa photos.
For applicants who prefer an extra layer of assurance, PhotoGov offers Human Verification. A dedicated compliance specialist manually reviews the image, checking alignment, lighting, head size, background uniformity, and biometric accuracy before approving the final file. This additional review step helps ensure that your Chinese visa photo meets the requirements applied by consular offices and visa centers.
Here is a list of 6 basic China visa photo requirements:
Size: 33 × 48 mm; digital file 354 × 472 pixels.
Background: plain white or light grey, evenly lit, no shadows.
Framing: full face, centered, head straight, shoulders level, eyes looking at the camera.
Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open.
Accessories: no hats or head coverings (except for religious reasons), no sunglasses or tinted lenses.
Recency: taken within the last 6 months.
For paper visa applications:
The photo size — 33 × 48 mm.
The head height — between 28 mm and 33 mm, with at least 7 mm of space above the top of the head.
For China visa online submissions:
The digital photo size — 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels.
The face width — between 191 and 251 pixels.
The face height — at least 256 pixels.
The photo must have been taken within the last six months to accurately reflect your current appearance.
You can get your Chinese visa photo taken in local farmacies and retail chains (like Walgreens China visa photo option, or CVS in the US), in a professional photo studio, or online with China visa photo online free tools like PhotoGov. The latter allows you to take a compliant visa image in under 30 seconds simply using your phone. Upload your selfie, and convert photo to china visa size for free: choose the document type Chinese visa, and wait until the tool processes it to meet all official requirements. Download a digital file or a printable PDF page, ready for submission.
Yes. You can make your China visa photo size 33x48 mm with a mobile app, or our mobile-friendly platform. Upload your selfie, wait 30 seconds, and get a 100% compliant visa photo. Additionally, choose the formal clothes adjustment or expert verification if your application is of high priority.
When the processing of your photo in our China visa photo editor is completed, choose the printable PDF file upon checkout. Print it on high-quality photographic paper at home or at the nearest photo shop.
Do not wear camouflage or uniforms. Choose casual attire in darker colors, free of patterns or obtrusive details.
A basic white or light-colored background is required. It has to be free of shadows, patterns, or textures. Use our background adjustment tool for 100% compliance with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (MFA of China).
For a China visa, you normally need to upload a digital photo with your online application, even if you plan to submit the visa offline at a visa centre.
The current process in most countries requires filling in the visa form online and uploading a digital photo that meets the Chinese visa photo requirements (size, background, recency, etc.).
If the uploaded digital photo is rejected by the system several times or marked “unqualified”, you may then bring a printed passport photo to the visa centre with your other documents.
Some agencies explicitly state that one photo must be uploaded as a JPG file with the form, and a second identical printed photo is handed in at the visa centre.
So yes, you generally do send your photo digitally first, and only use a printed photo as backup or when specifically required by your local Chinese visa centre. Always check the exact instructions of the visa centre or embassy responsible for your country, as procedures can vary slightly.
To avoid rejection, make sure your photo meets all the requirements mentioned on this page.
In the unfortunate case of rejection, retake your photo with our tool. For an extra level of assurance, choose Expert verification — when a senior compliance specialist manually checks your photograph, providing feedback and recommendations to avoid further rejections.
No, selfies are unacceptable with Chinese visa applications. But tools like PhotoGov allow you to take a selfie and then convert photo to China visa size for free. Ask someone to snap your picture or set up a tripod. Take a selfie, upload it to our China visa photo checker — it will adjust its size, framing, background, and face proportion, giving you a fully compliant picture, ready for application.
Yes, given that the picture satisfies the criteria for every application. The China visa photo size 33x48 is relatively uncommon, but you can always adjust your photo to the requirements of another visa. Just choose the country and the visa type in our passport photo maker, and it will produce the needed picture in under 30 seconds.
China Visa Photo Requirements: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America
China Online Visa Application (COVA): Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Chinese Embassies Worldwide: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Chinese Consulates Worldwide: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
China
17 doc.
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