China visa photo size — exact dimensions for 2026

Exact dimensions and pixel size

The Chinese visa photo dimension is 33 millimeters wide by 48 millimeters tall (3.3×4.8 cm). At the official 600 DPI resolution this becomes 780 pixels wide by 1134 pixels tall. CVASC and the COVA online portal accept JPEG only, with a target file size between 40 KB and 240 KB. Photos that don't meet the pixel dimensions exactly are auto-rejected at upload.

If you're printing the photo for an in-person paper application at a CVASC center, print at 600 DPI on glossy or matte photo paper at exactly 33×48 mm. Cropping at the lab is the most common cause of size rejection — bring a digital file rather than letting the lab redraw the crop.

Head height and positioning

Head height (chin to crown, including hair) must be between 28 and 33 millimeters. That's roughly 58-69% of the photo's vertical dimension. The eyes must be horizontal — head tilt is rejected.

Critically, the top of the head (including any hair) must have at least 3 mm of white space between it and the top edge of the frame. This is the spec rule most often missed by selfie-based generators. If you've cropped tight to your hairline, the photo will fail.

The face must be centered horizontally, eyes facing the camera lens directly, expression neutral, mouth closed. Glasses are not allowed since 2017.

Background and color requirements

Background must be plain white (#FFFFFF), uniform, with no shadows behind the head or on the wall. No textures, patterns or props are allowed. The photo must be in full color — no black-and-white, no sepia, no filters.

Skin tone must be natural. CVASC's automated check now flags AI-smoothed skin or heavy retouching as 'altered photograph' which is grounds for visa refusal. Use a generator that preserves natural skin texture.

Recency and file requirements

The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. CVASC compares against your passport photo on file — if they differ significantly, the visa application is held for review.

Digital file format: JPEG, sRGB color space, 24-bit color depth. File size 40-240 KB. The COVA online portal rejects files outside that range immediately. We deliver right in the middle of that window automatically.

FAQ