Here are the full rules and requirements for the Chinese passport photo:1
- Paper photo size: The photo must be 33mm wide and 48mm high.
- Digital photo size: must be between 354 pixels (width) x 472 pixels (height) and 420 pixels (width) x 560 pixels (height).
- Head Size and Orientation for the Paper Photo: The width of the head should fall within the range of 15mm to 22mm, and the height, measured from the base of the chin to the crown of the head, should be between 28mm and 33mm. Maintain a space between the crown and the upper edge of the photo ranging from 3mm to 5mm. Additionally, ensure a gap of 27mm between the chin and the bottom edge of the photo.
- Head Size and Orientation for the Digital Photo: For a digital photo measuring 354 pixels (width) x 472 pixels (height), center the head horizontally with a face width of 219 pixels. Maintain a space of 10-70 pixels from the upper edge to the crown, and ensure a vertical distance > 256 pixels from the bottom edge to the eye level. In specific cases of excessive hair height, consider trimming to maintain the face size.
- Color: The photo must be in color RGB 24bit true color.
- Background: The background must be white or light blue.
- Expression: The expression must be neutral, with the eyes and mouth closed and ears visible.
- Subject: The photo should not include any objects, such as hands, toys, or other individuals.
- Hair: The hair must be neatly combed and not cover the face.
- Glasses: Glasses are permissible in the photo as long as the lenses are clear, without tinting, and there are no glares, shadows, or frames obstructing the eyes.
- Headwear: No headwear is allowed, except for religious headwear.
- Recency: The photo must be taken within the past six months.
- Sharpness: The photo must be clear and sharp.
- File format: The photo must be in JPEG format with an image file size of 40 KB-120 KB.
- Quantity: You need to provide two identical passport photos.
Visas for Future Passport Photo Service
Here At Visas for Future, we make getting passport photos for your China passport application easy and stress-free. Just take a picture of yourself using our guidelines, send it to us, and we’ll handle the editing. Your edited passport photos will be sent to you quickly by post, and we even cover the shipping costs.
How it works
Take a photo.
We verify your photo.
Passport photos are delivered by post or email.
How to take your passport photo
Here’s how you can take passport photos at home to ensure that they’ll be high quality:
1.) Stand .5 meters or 2 feet from the wall. This ensures that there’s no shadow on your portrait.
2.) Place the camera 2 meters or 6 feet away from the subject. This will prevent distortion and give you a prettier picture!
3.) Have the camera on the same level as the subject’s face.
4.) Use plenty of lighting. Natural light is preferred but plenty of light in general is the best. Make sure it is even and doesn’t leave a shadow.
Benefits Of Using An Online Passport Photo Service
There are many choices when it comes to getting a passport photo, but here are the reasons why you should go with an online agent:
- You don’t have to leave your house.
- We know the passport photo rules of the country you’re applying to.
- We validate your photo and check your passport photo to ensure it is in order.
- Save money with bulk orders – you can order many passport photos and save.
Why Choose Us
Visas for Future is a convenient service that can help you with your passport photo needs. Here are six reasons why you should choose Visas for Future for your passport photo services:
- Expertise: Our experts ensure that your passport photo meets the official requirements of your destination country.
- Convenience: You can upload your photo or take one with your smartphone, and we will crop, resize, and enhance it to create a perfect biometric photo.
- Support: We’re visa and passport photo experts. You can ask us travel questions, making your trip-planning process easier.
- Speed: Your photos are shipped within a day!
- Unlimited retakes: You can also take as many photos as you want until you are satisfied with the result.
What are the specifications for Chinese passport photos?
Size And Dimensions
Make sure your China Passport photo is precisely 33×48 mm.
Color
The photo must be in natural colors, not altered or edited. Avoid using filters or effects that change the colors.
Subject
Only the person applying for the passport should be in the photo, without any relatives, friends, or children.
Head Size And Position
Center your head in the frame, taking up 60-80% of the image. The photo should be taken at eye level.
Focus
Ensure the photo is clear and sharp, avoiding blurriness or distortion to prevent rejection.
Recency
Take the passport photos within the last six months to reflect your current appearance.
Background, Contrast, And Shadows
Use a plain white or light blue background without patterns. Maintain sufficient contrast and avoid shadows on your face or behind your head.
Smile
A natural smile is acceptable but avoid forced or exaggerated grins. Keep an overall neutral expression.
Eyes
Ensure your eyes are open and visible with no obstructions, maintaining direct eye contact with the camera lens.
Red-Eye
Prevent red-eye by avoiding the camera flash if possible. If necessary, look slightly away from the camera.
Glasses
Wear glasses if you normally do, ensuring no glare or reflection on the lenses. Frames should not cover any part of your eyes.
Headgear
Keep your entire face, including the forehead and eyebrows, visible. Most headgear is not allowed except for religious reasons.
Background And Borders:
The photo’s background should be white or color-to-white with no borders around the edge of the image.
Attire, Clothing, And Dress Code
Wear everyday clothing, avoiding uniforms or disguises. Choose plain, solid-colored backgrounds over busy patterns or prints.
Beard
Facial hair is acceptable if it doesn’t hinder identification but maintains a consistent appearance for international travel.
Makeup
Keep a natural, everyday look with minimal makeup, such as light foundation, mascara, and lip color.
Earrings
Opt for small studs or hoops that won’t distract from your face or hair.
Guidelines and criteria for Chinese passport and visa photos for babies
The photo requirements for a child’s Chinese visa and passport photo are similar to those for adults, although there is a bit more flexibility for infants. Capturing pictures of newborns can be challenging, but by following the instructions below, you can easily take a suitable baby photo:
- Photograph the child individually, ensuring no one else is visible in the visa photo. Utilize a baby seat or place your little one on the floor covered with a blue or white blanket.
- Infants under six months can have their eyes closed and mouths open. However, you can try capturing a moment when the baby is wide awake—schedule a photo session after a feed before they get sleepy. Attach your child’s attention with a noisy toy behind the camera for a frontal view.
- The photo should display both the ears and the chin of your child.
- Avoid including children’s bottles, dummies, and toys in the photo.
- Do not use a flash; avoid shadows in the background and across the baby’s face, as it is unacceptable.
Here is an example of a baby’s visa photo.2
Here are the guidelines and criteria for the Chinese passport photo:
- Size: The photo must be 33mm wide and 48mm high.
- Color: The photo must be in color.
- Head size: The head must be between 15mm and 22mm wide and between 28mm and 33mm high.
- Background and Borders: The photo’s background should be white or light blue with no borders around the edge of the image.
- Expression: The expression must be neutral, with the eyes open and the mouth closed.
- Hair: The hair must be neatly combed and should not cover the face.
- Recency: The photo must be taken within the past six months.
China Visa Photo Guidelines:
- Background: Use a solid color, avoiding white or light blue.
- Outfit: Wear a contrasting color, avoiding white or blue tops.
- Pose: Look straight at the camera, avoid tilting your head, and maintain a neutral expression.
- Red Eyes: Avoid using a camera flash.
- Lighting: Use natural daylight or position electric sources at head height, approximately 45° from your face.
Accepted and Unaccepted Chinese Passport Photo Samples
Here are samples of accepted and unaccepted Chinese passport photos.2
Advice and tips for and recommendations for capturing a passport photo successfully
Here are some advice, tips, and recommendations for capturing a passport photo successfully:
- Follow the guidelines
Follow the guidelines provided by your passport agency or embassy for a successful passport photo.
- Find a well-lit area
Make sure the lighting in the area is bright and even, without any harsh shadows.
- Use a plain background
The background should be a plain, light-colored surface, such as a white wall or a sheet.
- Dress appropriately
Wear clothing that contrasts with the background and doesn’t cover your face or head.
- Position the camera correctly
The camera should be at eye level and facing you directly.
- Hold still
Make sure your head and body are still and in the correct position for the photo.
- Avoid shadows
Make sure there are no shadows on your face or background.
- Check the size and requirements
Make sure you know the size and other requirements for the passport photo in your country.
- Don’t edit the photo
Do not edit the photo or add filters. It should be a clear and unedited image.
- Smile naturally
Smile naturally but do not show your teeth.
How to get a Chinese passport photo online?
Follow this step-by-step guide to obtain your passport photo online through Visas for Future:
Step 1: Visit the Visas for Future website and locate the “Get Passport Photo Now” button.
Step 2: Complete the order form with vital information, including your full name, email address, and country of residence, and clearly specify the country for your application.
Step 3: Move on to the payment section and complete the transaction to cover the application fee, set at $5.50.
Step 4: Upload your passport photo, ensuring it adheres to the specified requirements regarding size, background, and other criteria.
Step 5: Anticipate receiving your processed photo within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pixels is a Chinese passport photo?
The required China passport photo size in pixels is between 354 pixels (width) × 472 pixels (height) and 420 pixels (width) × 560 pixels (height).
Is the passport photo 2×2 or 4×6?
A passport photo is typically 2×2 inches in size, and it is a requirement for most passport applications. However, some countries may have different size requirements for their passport photos.
How do I convert my passport photo to 4×6?
You can use photo editing software or an online converter to change your passport photo to a 4×6 size. One way to do this is by using a free online converter such as Passport Photo Online or Print Passport Photo.
- Auckland China Consulate. Photo Requirements for Chinese Visa Application. auckland.china-consulate.gov.cn Retrieved February 9, 2024, <P020210524192603554625.pdf (china-consulate.gov.cn)> [↩]
- China Consulate. Photo Requirements for Chinese Visa Application. alexandria.china-consulate.gov.cn. Retrieved February 9, 2024, <P020210817711100537834.pdf (china-consulate.gov.cn)> [↩] [↩]
Ask a question
If you still have a question about this topic after reading the article, let us know and we'll update the article. Include your email if you want us to reply to you.
Written by
James Abel Diego 
James Abel Diego is a content writer at Visas for Future who is an expert in travel and visa policies for Turkey, India, Colombia and Egypt. He is an Education graduate who is inclined with passion in writing informative content. He has been in several training sessions making him more of value in content and fulfilling customer orders efficiently. James maintains his understanding of visa processing by executing real visa orders once per quarter.
Managed by Glen Vidania
Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
Published by Visas for Future
Visas for Future strives to help you virtually, so that your research is complete in one visit. Our articles are informative, complete and to-the-point. We write in an accessible way, so that non-native English speakers will understand. Our website is accessible for the visually impaired. We have full oversight of our articles and are unbiased in writing. Check our editorial guidelines.
Send fan mail
We love to hear from you! If our article helped you in anyway, let us know and we'll share it with the team on our Friday meetings.
Cite this article
MLA Style
Diego, James Abel. "China Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/chinese-passport-photo-size-in-inches/. Accessed on 13 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Diego, James Abel. "China Passport Photo Guide." Visas For Future. September 13, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/chinese-passport-photo-size-in-inches/.