China Visa Photo Editor Online 2026

China Visa Photo Requirements 2026: 33×48mm and COVA Rules

Every Chinese visa category — tourist (L), business (M), work (Z), student (X), and transit (G) — requires a photo that meets the specifications published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Consular Department. These rules took effect in December 2016 and remain the current standard in 2026. The required print size is 33mm × 48mm, identical to the Chinese passport photo, and unlike any other country's visa format.

Since the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system became the standard entry point for applications, every submission starts with a digital photo upload that an algorithm checks before a consular officer ever opens the file. Getting the pixel count, file size, or format wrong stops the application before it starts. This tool outputs a file validated against every COVA check and a physical print ready for the visa centre appointment.

Official Biometric Specifications

What the COVA Portal Checks on Upload

COVA runs four automated checks the moment a photo is uploaded, and all four must pass before the application proceeds:

• File format: JPEG only. PNG, HEIC, and WebP are rejected outright.
• Pixel dimensions: Width between 354 and 420 pixels; height between 472 and 560 pixels.
• File size: Between 40 KB and 120 KB, with no tolerance at either boundary.
• Background colour: Pure white only. Off-white walls and cream studio backdrops trigger an upload error.

This tool compresses and validates every photo to land inside all four bands in a single export, so the upload passes on the first attempt.

Digital Upload Does Not Replace the Printed Photo

Even after a successful COVA upload, applicants must bring one printed 33×48mm photo on glossy paper to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) appointment. This download includes both the COVA-ready digital file and a print-ready A4 template for exactly that purpose, so the digital and physical photos come from the same source image.

Full Compliance Checklist

Photo Size and Format

Print size: 33mm × 48mm. This differs from the European 35×45mm standard and the US 2×2 inch format, and a US passport photo is one of the most common rejection causes at CVASC counters worldwide. Digital file: JPEG, 354–420 × 472–560 pixels, 40–120 KB.

Background

Pure white with no shadow, gradient, or colour cast. Unlike many countries that accept light grey or light blue for visa photos, Chinese consular rules require white only, and COVA flags any detectable shift away from it.

Expression and Head Position

• Neutral expression, eyes fully open, mouth closed
• Both eyes looking directly at the camera
• Head centred, filling 58%–69% of the frame height
• Minor head tilt is technically tolerated, but a straight-on angle produces the cleanest result

Ears

Both ears must stay fully visible, a requirement stricter than many Western passport standards. Hair covering the ears should be pinned back before the photo is taken; this tool's compliance checker flags obscured ears and prompts a retake.

Eyeglasses

Thin, plain prescription glasses without glare or reflection are currently permitted for visa photos — unlike Chinese passport photos, which prohibit glasses entirely. Any glare, tint, or shadow across the lenses causes rejection, so removing glasses remains the safest choice.

Clothing

Casual clothing that contrasts with the white background works well. White or pale tops merge with the background and break the edge-detection algorithm. Uniforms and military-style clothing are not permitted, and formal dress is not required.

Head Coverings

Head coverings are allowed only for documented religious reasons and must not shadow the forehead, cheeks, chin, or ears. Secular hats, caps, and berets are never permitted.

Print Quality

The physical photo submitted at the CVASC appointment must use glossy photo paper. Matte, plain, and standard inkjet paper are all rejected, and the print must stay free of creases, perforations, or marks.

Recency

The photo must be no older than six months and reflect the applicant's current appearance, a rule stated in the official 2016 MFA guidance and unchanged since.

Children and Infants

Every child needs an individual visa and an individual photo; no parent or guardian may appear in the frame. The same 33×48mm size and 58%–69% head height apply, though infants under six months are permitted to have their eyes closed. A white or near-white sheet works well as a background for infant photos taken in a car seat or on a lap.

Common Rejection Reasons and Fixes

• Wrong dimensions: automatic re-crop to exactly 33×48mm with landmark-based head positioning
• Background not pure white: AI background replacement to verified #FFFFFF
• File outside 40–120 KB: automatic compression into the accepted range
• PNG uploaded instead of JPEG: output always saved as JPEG
• Ears obscured by hair: compliance checker flags this before download
• Head size outside 58%–69%: landmark detection re-crops to the compliant zone

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the China visa photo the same size as the Chinese passport photo?

The print size matches at 33×48mm, but the rules differ: glasses are conditionally allowed for visa photos and banned entirely for passport photos, and only the visa photo needs a separate COVA-compliant digital file.

Can I use a smartphone photo for my visa application?

Yes. Take the photo in natural light facing a window, at eye level, at least 1.5 metres from the camera, against a plain white wall, then upload it here for automatic background removal, cropping, and compression.

Why does COVA reject a photo that looks correct on screen?

The usual invisible causes are a file size just outside the 40–120 KB band, pixel dimensions that miss the 354–420 × 472–560 px range, or a background with a faint colour cast the portal detects even though it looks white. This tool checks all three automatically before export.