# China Visa Photo Maker, 33x48 mm

Country: China

Document: Visa

Page language: en

Page: [China Visa Photo Maker, 33x48 mm](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/cn-visa-photo/)

Requirements last verified: 2025-01-15

## Photo specifications

These are document-specific values from the page data. Printed and digital requirements may apply to different application routes; consult the guide and sources below.

| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo dimensions | 33 × 48 mm |
| Photo paper | glossy |
| Digital pixel dimensions | 354 × 472 px (see guide/source for applicability and minimum vs exact sizing) |
| Digital file format | JPEG |
| Minimum digital file size | 40 KB |
| Maximum digital file size | 120 KB |
| Photo age | Taken within 6 months |

## Appearance and composition

- Background: Plain white background
- Head size: 28-33mm from chin to crown
- Glasses: Permitted; check the source for restrictions.
- Even lighting; no harsh shadows.
- Filters, beauty modes and retouching are forbidden.
- Color photo.
- Head coverings are permitted for religious reasons; check the source for conditions.
- Uniforms are restricted; check the source for exceptions.
- No earphones or wireless devices.

## Common rejection reasons

- Wrong photo size — Must be 33×48mm (unique to China)

- Non-white background — Background must be plain white

- Wrong head size — Head must measure 28-33mm from chin to crown

- Full face not visible — Entire face must be clearly visible

- Photo too old — Must be taken within the last 6 months

## Source for the document requirements

[Source linked by the document page](https://www.nia.gov.cn/)

The complete guide below includes additional sources and application-specific qualifications when available.

## Create a photo with One Dollar Passport Photo

The service sizes, crops and checks a photo for the selected document. Its output settings are service choices, not additional government requirements.

- Digital photo download: $1 USD.
- Print-ready sheet download: $5 USD. Printing is separate.
- Optional human expert review: +$4.99 USD.

[Open the photo tool](https://onedollarpassportphoto.com/cn-visa-photo/)

Complete Guide

## China visa photo: the 33×48mm requirements and where to get one

China visa photos use an unusual 33×48mm size that no other major country shares. What the spec is, how to shoot it, and a straight comparison of where to get one.

Written by

Jake

Community & Writing, One Dollar Passport Photo

Reviewed by

Lisa

Expert Reviewer, One Dollar Passport Photo

Fact-checked & verified

May 17, 2026

## The official requirements

The single fact to get right is the size. China visa photos are **33×48mm** — a dimension almost no other country uses, and the most common reason a photo taken for another visa won’t work here. The full spec:

-   **Size:** exactly 33×48 mm
-   **Background:** plain white
-   **Head size:** 28–33 mm from chin to crown
-   **Expression:** neutral, full face clearly visible, both eyes open
-   **Glasses:** allowed, provided the eyes are clearly visible with no glare
-   **Recency:** taken within the last 6 months
-   **Color:** color photo

For a digital upload the file is a JPEG, 354×472 pixels, **40–120 KB**. Note the minimum file size — a file _under_ 40 KB is rejected as too low-quality, which is unusual.

## How to take a compliant photo

The mechanics are standard; the sizing is not. A phone camera works:

1.  Stand 6–8 feet in front of a plain white wall, far enough out to cast no shadow.
2.  Light yourself evenly from the front — face a window, avoid overhead light.
3.  Have someone else take the shot, looking straight at the lens.
4.  Crop to the **33×48 mm** frame — do not reuse a 2×2 inch or 35×45 mm crop, the proportions are different and the photo will be rejected.
5.  If uploading, export a JPEG between 40 and 120 KB — or use a tool that crops to 33×48 mm and exports a file inside that size band automatically.

## Why photos get rejected

Chinese visa centres bounce a predictable set of problems. Each one, and the fix:

-   **Wrong size** — the photo is not 33×48 mm. This is the most common rejection; a crop from a passport photo will not match.
-   **Head wrong size** — must be 28–33 mm chin to crown within the frame.
-   **Background not plain white** — any tint, pattern, or shadow fails.
-   **Full face not visible** — hair across the face, or a head covering obscuring features.
-   **Photo too old** — must reflect your current appearance, within 6 months.
-   **File too small** — a JPEG under 40 KB is rejected as low quality; re-export at higher quality.

## What to wear (and not wear)

Unlike a US visa photo, China lets you keep prescription glasses on, so the choices that trip people up here are the ones around them and the background rather than the glasses themselves.

**Avoid:** hats and non-religious head coverings, headphones, and a white or very pale top that blends into the background. Glasses are permitted, but if they cause any glare or reflection, take them off.

**Fine:** ordinary everyday clothing in a solid darker color, light everyday makeup, and religious head coverings worn daily that leave the full face visible.

## Where to get your photo

You can get a China visa photo online or in person. The 33×48 mm size is the thing to verify whoever you use:

| Where | Price | 33×48mm sizing | Digital file | Speed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Photo studio | varies locally | Yes — ask for China visa size | Sometimes | Same day |
| Pharmacy / print shop | varies locally | Often defaults to 2×2 — confirm first | Rarely | Same day |
| Online tool (this site) | $1.00 | Yes — exact 33×48mm crop | Yes | ~2 minutes |

A general photo counter often defaults to the local passport size and will quietly hand you a 2×2 or 35×45 mm photo — always state “China visa, 33×48mm”. An online tool that crops directly to 33×48 mm removes that risk and gives you the upload file. Whichever you use, confirm the size before you rely on it.

## Submitting your photo

China visa applications go through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in your country, or directly at a consulate.

**Paper application** — You attach one printed 33×48 mm photo to the visa application form. Glossy photo paper is expected.

**Online / portal applications** — Where an online form is used, you upload the JPEG (354×472 px, 40–120 KB). Bring a printed copy to your appointment regardless, as the service centre may still ask for one in person.

### Sources & References

This guide is fact-checked against official government publications and updated regularly to reflect the latest requirements.

1.  \[1\]
    
    [National Immigration Administration of China](https://www.nia.gov.cn/)
    
    nia.gov.cn