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China visa photo size

What to check when preparing your China visa photo: size, background, and file requirements.

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China visa photo size

The photo conditions to check first

China visa photo size: print and COVA use different checks

For a China visa photo, printed submission and COVA digital upload are checked in different units. A printed photo is prepared as a 33 × 48 mm high portrait photo, while a COVA-style digital file is checked by pixels, file size, color format, and JPEG encoding.

The photo rectangle is not enough by itself. Face height, head width, and top margin also matter because the photo is used for identity confirmation. Crop the image with the face position in mind, not just the outer frame.

Printed photo
33 × 48 mm high
COVA-style file
354 × 472 px JPEG, usually 40 KB–120 KB

Why 48mm × 33mm may still mean the same vertical photo

Some official pages write the dimensions as 48mm × 33mm, using height before width. In practice, this refers to the same vertical China visa photo: 33 × 48 mm high.

If your application route shows a different value on the COVA screen or a local embassy, consulate, or visa center page, follow that current instruction for your actual submission.

Create your photo in the browser

Prepare the photo for China Visa directly in your smartphone or computer browser. Creating and reviewing are free.

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What this tool creates

  • the required face photo (for digital upload)

Also available as an iPhone appOpen the App Store

Check before you apply

Check the COVA upload screen and the embassy, consulate, or visa center instructions for your actual application route.

Photo conditions that can cause problems

Check these photo conditions before you submit. Getting them right during the shoot saves a retake later.

  1. Incorrect Head Size

    Your head should be 28–33 mm tall. Tilting the head is also not allowed.

  2. Wrong File Size or Dimensions

    The COVA digital upload requires a JPEG within the official file size range at the standard pixel size. An incorrect file size or resolution can fail upload validation.

How the App Helps You Prepare Your Photo

On-Screen Template Guide

Align your face with the official guide lines to easily meet the strict height and width specifications.

Background Check & Guidance

Check whether the background is plain white or near-white, with no shadows. It is safest to take the photo in front of a white wall from the start. If you use a background cleanup feature, use it carefully and verify the final image looks natural.

COVA-Style JPEG Export

Export a JPEG sized for COVA's digital upload requirements — the exact pixel and file-size targets are in the table above. Final acceptance depends on the COVA upload check, visa center, embassy or consulate.

Privacy First Processing

All image adjustments are processed entirely on your device. Your photos are never sent to a server.

Note: shoumei.org is an independent photo formatting tool to assist in preparation. It is not affiliated with COVA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, any Chinese embassy or consulate, or any visa application center. It does not submit visa applications or guarantee acceptance.

Check China Visa Photo Requirements Guide

View all guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a China visa photo?

Paper submissions: 33 × 48 mm high. COVA digital uploads: 354 × 472 px. Some centers mention up to 420 × 560 px; follow your upload screen or local visa center instructions.

Is the China visa photo 33 × 48 mm or 48mm × 33mm?

Both expressions describe the same photo in landscape wording. Official Chinese embassy and COVA pages sometimes write the dimensions in reverse order, meaning height by width.

Does a China visa photo need to be 354 × 472 px?

For COVA online uploads, yes — that pixel size is the standard requirement. A few centers mention up to 420 × 560 px, so follow your upload screen if it shows a different limit.

Do I need a printed photo or digital upload?

It depends on your application route. COVA online requires a digital upload (JPEG at the standard pixel size within the file size range). Some procedures may also require printed photos. Check the specific embassy, consulate, or visa center instructions.

Where these requirements come from