China Visa & Travel Document Photo Requirements
Every number from the official NIA photography guide — print and digital sizes, background values, eye-line rules — as a quick-reference page with a mm↔px converter and a 9-point self-check.
Verified against the official source. The 2011 guide is the written photo standard currently published on the NIA website (re-verified September 2026: the source page is unchanged and no newer guide has been issued). Digital file size 20–80 KB reflects the 2011 written guide. Online application systems and individual visa centers may enforce different upload limits — always follow the prompt inside your application system and the requirements of the receiving agency.
Quick specs — the four cases at a glance
Print sizes are identical for adults and children; only the eye-line and expression rules differ.
- Photo size: 33 × 48 mm
- Valid area: 30 × 40 mm
- Head height: 30–34 mm
- Face width: 16–24 mm
- Eye zone (from valid-area bottom): 14–22 mm
- Head top to crop edge: 1–3 mm
- Size: 354–480 × 472–640 px
- Ratio: 3:4
- Format: JPEG, 24-bit RGB true color
- File size: 20–80 KB
- Eyes from top edge: 30%–50% of height
- Pupil distance: 23%–33% of width
- Photo size: 33 × 48 mm (same as adult)
- Valid area: 30 × 40 mm
- Head height: 30–34 mm (same as adult)
- Eye zone (from valid-area bottom): 26 mm (adult: 14–22 mm)
- A natural expression and level, straight-to-camera gaze are NOT required for children under 4.
- Children under 1 may have their eyes closed in the photo.
- Size: 354–480 × 472–640 px (same as adult)
- Ratio: 3:4; file specs identical to adult
- Eyes from top edge: 30%–60% of height (adult max: 50%)
- Pupil distance: 23%–33% of width
- No hands, toys or other objects in front of or behind the child.
| Background color | Hue | Saturation | Brightness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure white | Uniform white — no reference values given, no gradient | ||
| Light gray | 0 | 0 | ≥ 198 |
| Light blue | 135 | 240 | ≥ 167 |
mm ↔ px converter (300 DPI)
The guide ties the two systems together at 300 DPI: the 30 × 40 mm valid area scanned at 300 DPI is exactly the 354 × 472 px minimum digital size.
| Dimension | Paper (mm) | Scanned @ 300 DPI (px) |
|---|---|---|
| Photo size | 33 × 48 | 390 × 567 |
| Valid area | 30 × 40 | 354 × 472 |
| Face width (adult) | 16–24 | 189–283 |
| Head height | 30–34 | 354–402 |
| Eye zone (adult, from valid-area bottom) | 14–22 | 165–260 |
| Eye zone (child, from valid-area bottom) | 26 | 307 |
| Head top to crop edge | 1–3 | 12–35 |
Where your head and eyes go
Two proportional frames — the digital 3:4 crop and the printed 33 × 48 mm sheet. Bands show where the guide allows features to land. Switch between adult and child to see the eye-line shift.
9-point self-check before you submit
Each point pairs the guide's requirement with the counter-examples it explicitly flags.
1. Head position
✓ Face centered; proportions within spec; head neither too large nor too small.
✗ Head off-center · Head too high in frame · Head too large · Head too small
2. Lighting and exposure
✓ Even lighting; correct exposure; no shadows or bright patches on the face.
✗ Overexposed · Underexposed · Shadow on face · Bright patch on face
3. Background
✓ Uniform white, light gray or light blue; no gradient, shadows, other people or objects.
✗ Wrong color · Gradient background · Shadow on background · Clutter in frame
4. Posture
✓ Sit upright; shoulders level; look straight at the camera.
✗ Head tilted back · Head lowered · Head tilted sideways · Shoulders uneven
5. Facial expression
✓ Natural expression; eyes open naturally; mouth closed naturally.
✗ Exaggerated expression · Eyes closed · Teeth showing · Crossed/averted gaze
6. Glasses
✓ No tinted lenses (medical exception only); heavy frames discouraged; frames must not cover the eyes; no lens glare.
✗ Tinted lenses · Heavy frames · Frames covering eyes · Lens glare
7. Face coverings and hair
✓ Hair must not cover the eyes; no head coverings (religious/medical/cultural items must not hide the face or cast shadows); no temporary accessories; face and clothing should contrast with the background.
✗ Hair over eyes · Hat or hood · Scarf covering face · Headscarf hiding face · Temporary jewelry/stickers · High bun hiding outline · Clothing blends into background
8. Quality
✓ In focus; clear skin detail; no scan noise, stains, creases, borders or scratches; no red-eye; no heavy makeup.
✗ Out of focus · Color cast · Scan noise · Stains · Border visible · Scratches · Red-eye · Heavy makeup
9. Children
✓ No hands, toys or other objects in front of or behind the child. A natural expression and level, straight-to-camera gaze are NOT required for children under 4. Children under 1 may have their eyes closed in the photo.
✗ Holding a toy · Wearing a hat · Profile view · Teeth showing · Hands/objects in front · Head tilted · Face too large in frame · Cluttered background
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a Chinese visa photo?
The printed photo is 33 × 48 mm with a 30 × 40 mm valid area — smaller than the 35 × 45 mm used for many other visas. The digital version must be 354–480 px wide and 472–640 px high with a 3:4 ratio. Most photo studios in China know the 33 × 48 mm visa format by name, and studios near visa application centers abroad can print it on request.
What are the pixel and file requirements for a digital Chinese visa photo?
Dimensions 354–480 × 472–640 pixels (3:4 ratio), JPEG format, 24-bit RGB true color, scanned or exported at no less than 300 DPI. The written guide sets the file size between 20 KB and 80 KB — this figure dates from the 2011 edition, and online application systems may enforce different upload limits, so follow the prompt inside the system you submit through.
What background color does a Chinese visa photo need?
A uniform background in pure white, light gray or light blue — no gradients. The guide gives reference values: light gray with hue 0 and saturation 0, brightness at least 198; light blue with hue 135, saturation 240, brightness at least 167. Your clothing should contrast with the background, which is why dark clothing is recommended.
Where exactly should my eyes and head sit in the photo?
Your eyes must sit between 30% and 50% of the image height from the top edge (up to 60% for children), and the distance between your pupils must be 23%–33% of the image width. At the minimum 354 × 472 size that means eyes 142–236 px from the top and pupils 82–118 px apart for adults. On the printed 33 × 48 mm photo, the top of your head should be 1–3 mm from the edge and your head 30–34 mm tall.
Can I wear glasses or a head covering in a Chinese visa photo?
Glasses: tinted lenses are banned (except for medical reasons), heavy frames are discouraged, frames must not cover your eyes, and the lenses must be glare-free — many applicants find it simplest to remove them. Head coverings are not allowed unless required by religion, medicine or culture, and even then the covering must not hide any facial feature or cast a shadow.
Do children have to follow the same photo rules?
The core format is the same, but the guide relaxes expression rules: children under 4 are not required to show a natural expression or look straight at the camera, and babies under 1 may have their eyes closed. No hands, toys or other objects may appear in the frame, and the child's eye line sits higher than an adult's — 26 mm above the bottom of the valid area versus 14–22 mm.
How old can my visa photo be?
It must be a recent color photo taken within the last six months, printed on photo paper with no stains, creases, scratches or borders, and it must not be retouched — scars, moles and hairstyle must stay as they are. If your appearance has changed significantly since a six-month-old photo was taken, take a new one.
What is the official source for these requirements?
The National Immigration Administration's "Guidelines for Travel Documents Photographs" (2011 edition, issued by the Ministry of Public Security Exit-Entry Administration), published at nia.gov.cn. The page presents the guide as an image, so this page transcribes its numbers into text. Requirements can vary by embassy, consulate and visa application center — the receiving agency's instructions always prevail.
Source & verification
Source: National Immigration Administration — Guidelines for Travel Documents Photographs (出入境证件相片照相指引), 2011. https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741445/n763221/index.html
Last verified: 2026-09-06
The 2011 guide is the written photo standard currently published on the NIA website (re-verified September 2026: the source page is unchanged and no newer guide has been issued).
Digital file size 20–80 KB reflects the 2011 written guide. Online application systems and individual visa centers may enforce different upload limits — always follow the prompt inside your application system and the requirements of the receiving agency.
Requirements may vary by embassy, consulate and visa application center — the receiving agency's instructions always prevail.