Chinese Passport Photo
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Chinese Passport Photo - Size and Requirements
Height: 48 mm
- Head height: 31 mm
- Top of the Photo to Top of the Hair: 5 mm
How to make a photo?
Chinese Passport Photo - Size and Requirements
When submitting your Chinese passport application (or even for a Chinese Visa application), you will be required to provide a Passport Photo, that me Chinese Passport Photo official requirements. You will be asked to submit a passport photo that matches biometric photo size and requirements. Having your face and your facial trait clearly visible on your passport photo are key points that have to be respected when taking your photo for your Chinese Passport (or Chinese Visa) application. Here below, you will find our completed guideline that will provide you all the precise requirements for Passport Photo in China.
General Requirements & Size for a Chinese Passport Photo
Whatever you are creating or renewing any type of Chinese passport, you will need to submit a photo of you that will comply to Chinese passport photo requirements with some basics and general elements for the photo to be accepted by Chinese authorities or by Chinese embassy/consulate. We have listed here below some requirements and size information about Chinese passport photo to help you in taking your photo :
- Two photos are required when submitting your Chinese Passport application,
- Your two passport photos have to be identical and recent, not older than 6 months old as it could get your photo rejected.
- Regarding the background for Chinese passport photos, it either has to be a neutral, solid white background or either a light-blue background.
- Your facial traits should clearly contrast from the background color
- A close-up of your head and shoulders must appear in the Passport photo
- The Passport photo must be clear and in sharp focus. The photo should not be blurry.
- There should be no unwanted shadows in your Passport Photo either on your face or background.
- It is okay to wear glasses, however there should be no reflection on the lenses.
- No accessories such as sunglasses, jewelry or even hair should not obscure your eyes or cover your face.
- Your face must be centered, looking directly at the camera with eyes open. On your Chinese Passport Photo, your face has to be centered, you are also required to look directly at the camera with your eyes open.
- On your Passport Photo, your mouth should be closed, showing no teeth
- Chinese Requirements for passports photo states that you should have a neutral expression, with no smiling expression and without showing teeth.
- It is specified in Chinese Passport Photo criteria that the face should be uncovered without hats or headcovers, except for religious reasons.
Technical Requirements for the Chinese Passport Photo
- Size: The standard passport photos size in China is 33mm width and 48mm length
- Color: The Chinese passport photo has to show your true skin tones, therefore you are required to submit a passport photo in color.
- Head Size: Regarding your head size, the required width is between 15mm and 22mm and the required length is 28mm to 33mm. There should be white space at the top of your head and the top of the photo itself, this space needs to be 3mm to 5mm.
- Resolution: There are no specifications regarding resolution in Chinese official passport photo requirements, but we still recommend you to have a photo in 600dpi resolution or better
Shadows and colours of the Passport photo
The Passport photo must represent the color of your natural skin tone. It is for this exact reason that it must not be black and white, over-exposed or under-exposed. We recommend you to try to use natural daylight, this way you will get rid of any kind of unwanted shadows. We have listed few tips to help you to take the best photo possible without dealing with problematic shadows :
- Pose in front of a window or a natural source of light and take your photo posing.
- Leave a 2 meters space (7 feet) between you and the camera.
- Check that the light is evenly dispersed on your face
- Do not use a flash lamp, it could create a "red eyes" effect, and that may cause the rejection of your photo
What about headgear, makeup or jewelry on Chinese Passport Photo?
- You can wear makeup and jewelry on an official biometric photo for a passport in China. Pay attention, however, excessive makeup will get your Passport photo rejected.
- Excessive jewelry will also get your Passport application refused. Facial traits like your ears and the oval of your face should be entirely visible.
- You cannot wear any sort of hats, bonnets or large headpieces, according to China’s Passport Photo requirements. There is an exception for headpieces worn for religious reasons. But still, you should keep in mind that it cannot hide your facial traits in any way.
How about wearing sunglasses or glasses on Chinese Passport Photos?
It is strongly forbidden to wear sunglasses on your Passport Photo in China. You are allowed to take your Passport photos with glasses on if it is really needed, according to China passport photo requirements. However, it should not be blocking the eyes’ visual. Even if it is not forbidden, we still recommend people wearing glasses to take them off when taking their picture, that way it would be sure that their passport photos will not get rejected.
What about hair and beard for a Chinese Passport photo
- Hairs should be blocking your face. Therefore, people with bangs should pay close attention to not cover their facial traits with it.
- People with big hair also have to be aware of not covering their face, your hair should not go outside the photo edge as it can get your photos and your Chinese passport application denied. That is why we advised you to tie it back.
- If you have a beard on a regular basis, it is okay for you to take your Passport photo with it as it reflects your everyday look. However, if you don’t, then avoid growing one for your Passport photo.
What can you wear for your Chinese Passport photo?
In fact, you are perfectly free to wear whatever you feel like - but we still recommend you to go for something casual and elegant. It is not quite recommended to wear light-colored clothes or uniforms. Tank tops should also be avoided, as it could give the impression that you are naked on your passport photo, and that it is not the best outfit you could have for an official photo you are going to use and show repeatedly for ten years.
Validity of the Passport photo and changes in appearance
When submitting your Chinese Passport application (or Chinese Visa application), you are required to provide 2 identical pictures of you taken within the last 6 months. You probably already have a template and you would like to attach it to your Passport application ? Of course you can use these photos, but you have to make sure that this photo has been taken within the last 6 months.
However, if you have drastically changed your appearance within the last 6 months, you are required to take a new photo for your Chinese passport application. It is not necessary to take a new photo each time you cut, dye hair or grow a beard. In China, most of the time, it is not asked for children and teenagers under the age of 16, and going through the development process, to have a new photo for their passport. Nevertheless, sometimes depending on the changes you had, it will be mandatory for you to send a new photo. Here below are listed situations when you will be required to submit a new photo :
- Made a gender change.
- Underwent a facial plastic surgery
- Experienced a permanent facial deformation
- Added or removed tattoos / piercing on your face.
- Lost / gained a large amount of weight.
Children - Biometric Photo Passport China
Children need to have their own Chinese passport when travelling with their parents or family to non-vas free countries. When it comes to passports, age does not matter, and so children also have to follow the same rules as adults. When you are applying for a Chinese passport (or Chinese visa), you must submit an individualized Passport photo of them that should not be older than 6 months. We know that it can be quite difficult to get one, but it is mandatory to have one when you are submitting your Chinese passport application. Apart from the other requirements mentioned above, there are also other details that you should pay attention to when taking your child passport photo.
- Only the child can be in the photo. Toys, bottles and pacifiers or any other objects cannot be photographed with your child. No toys, pacifiers or any other objects should be visible on your child Passport photo.
- If you're holding your child while taking the photo, it should be visible on the final photo.
- Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.
- You have to pay attention that the child’s eyes are clearly visible and wide open.
- To assure a good position, the child can be either placed on the floor or you can place them in a car seat.
Most common mistakes on Chinese Passport Photos
Is there a thing more irritating in the world than to have to redo your whole passport application just because your passport photo was rejected ? You took a lot of time to arrange and prepare this passport application, only to get it rejected because of a small mistake, and so here you have to go through the whole process once again. To prevent from this frustrating situation, we listed for you some common mistakes that can be easily avoid to not have your Chinese passport photos :
- Do not smile or make any kind of funny face. Smiling on your passport photo will get it 100% rejected. A little tip, just look like people on mugshots - keep a neutral and serious expression on. You should try to look as smart and as respectable as you can.
- Do not use a strong flash to avoid the “Red eye” effect - using a strong flash when taking your photo can make your pupils appear as if they are red - and your photo won’t be accepted by Chinese authorities. To avoid this, please be careful that your pupils are clearly visible, that the light is natural and evenly dispersed so that your eyes and the structure of your face is well defined.
- The Passport photo should not be creased, having staple holes or marked in any way, as your passport photo would be declared as invalid by Chinese authorities.
- Uneven lighting - For your face to be precisely defined on the biometric photo and to prevent unwanted shadow, the light must be evenly distributed on your face.
- Head tilted - You must look straight at the camera! If you take a semi-profile, a profile type of photo or any other snap where your head is tilted and your eyes are not looking directly into the camera lens, your picture will get rejected.
- Do not retouch digitally your photo afterward to alter or enhance your facial features - Using any photo editor software like Photoshop to modify your appearance is not allowed for official passport photos. A passport photo should reflect your true self and your true appearance :)
Online photo tool for Chinese passport photo
Congratulations, you read all the text above and you are still alive! You might now be considering taking your perfect Chinese Passport Photo at home, or in your garden or even in your bathroom! But you may wonder, and so what do I have to do next? Basically, all you have to do is to download our app, and let our application prove to you that there is nothing easier to make your dream Passport Photo from home in less than a minute. Your main mission, if you accept if, is to look decent and take in consideration every guideline we mentioned above. Then, leave everything to us! Our application and algorithms will be the ones to take care of cropping and resizing your Passport photo to make it match Chinese Passport Photo general and technical requirements.
Did you know that your Chinese Passport photo might be rejected by Chinese official authorities if it does not meet all the official requirements? According to China Passport Photo official requirements, passport photos have to be recent, no objects should be present in the background, your face should also be clearly visible and the light has to be even on both sides of your face. These are only part of the passport photo requirements you must comply with when submitting your Chinese passport application. Not everybody is expert in photo editing apps, so here comes our Passport Photo Online with this easy-to-use China passport photo editing app! We would be the one to take care of deleting the background, cropping the photo to the appropriate size, and preparing a printable Chinese passport photo template for you!
Passport photo for China - cropping and resizing tool
The Chinese required dimensions and size for Chinese passport photos is 33 x 48 mm. But you do not really need to worry about that because our Artificial Intelligence will take care of it for you. After you’ve picked the type of document you want in our online photo creator, our Artificial Intelligence will take care of cropping and resizing your photo to the right measurements, and will also adjust it to the right resolution. So all you have to do is take the best photo of yourself, and we will do the rest. You have as many tries as you want, and you are only going to pay for the one you will choose at the end. The other pictures are free of charge.
There’s no need to worry about your background
Regarding background, our online editor tool is capable of generating any color of background (from the basic white one to a beautiful rainbow one). Our Artificial Intelligence will take care of shadows or shapes on the background or of other people or items visible, and will delete them. Our online photo generator handles every challenge! All you have to do is wait a little (only a second), and you will get the perfectly clear, white and valid background in your Passport photo. Our background removing tool is very precise and offers a 100% valid result.
Chinese Passport Photo Validating Software powered by AI
Do you want to be completely sure that your Passport Photo meets all the Chinese official Passport Photo requirements? You don’t need to go to a licensed photographer or to a photobooth. Our Passport Photo Generator is a complete tool that will give you an entire satisfaction! If your passport photo validated by our verification method is not accepted by official authorities (that never happens, just for you to know), just let us know. We will help you as quickly as we can and send you back your money. But be reassured, it never happens, we assure you a guarantee of approval.
One Photo Template - Hundreds of possibilities
Once your photo shoot has been created and approved, you can decide to order the digital version that will then be sent to your email address. You can also decide to get it printed in shops around you. If you are submitting your Passport application online, your photo will be ready to be attached to the application form. Of course, you can reuse your photo template more than once.
Our Passport Photo Online tool works for both Android and iPhone
To use our Passport Photo Online application, the operating system does not matter. Our app is available for both iOS and Android. You can download our app from the Google Play Store for Samsung, LG, Huawei, HTC, Lenovo and Sony smartphones or from the AppStore for your iPhone.
Reasons to choose an online photo app
Maybe you want to take your Passport Photo by yourself and you do not really want to use any support to take it. In some way, we can understand it, but it is very time-consuming and can cause you a lot of stress too. You have to resize and crop the frame according to specific requirements; modify the background to have the perfectly clear and white background. And still, you will not be 100% sure that your Passport Photo will be accepted by Chinese authorities. That is why let us help you and leave stressful and complicated things to us. By using our app, you can be 100% sure that your passport photo will be :
- created with the required background
- perfectly sized and cropped
- approved by embassies or consulates
- 100% satisfying as you can take even one million shots and choose your favourite one!
You can of course go and search the nearest photo booth or ask a licensed professional photographer. But we have one question to ask you, is it really worth it? Do you really want to waste your time and money on such a simple thing that you could do right at home in less than a minute? Especially considering actual conditions, where we need to maintain social distance, which means it's not the safest choice to go to the mall or city center to sit in a queue and wait.
Feel protected and do what you can through the Internet. And sure to take the right Chinese passport shot! You might enjoy it and end up having lots of fun! You should try various clothes, hairstyles and makeup, take a lot of shots and play with the lights. It doesn't matter how many shots you take, you're just paying for the one you're ordering. And you've got a photo approval guarantee. What do you have to lose?
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are passports for nationals of Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China the same?
Macau Passport and Hong Kong Passport are a bit different from the Mainland China one, as they are delivered from the local authorities of Macau and Hong Kong. Mainland China inhabitants will not be able to apply for a Macau or Hong Kong passport if they have no document proving that they are actually living or coming from those two independent administrative regions. But apart from that, all of those passports are equally valid when travelling to non-visa free countries.
❓ What is the difference between Chinese Passport photo and Chinese Visa photo ?
Basically, there is no difference between those two photos, both documents have the same official photo requirements. Which means that you could use your Chinese Passport photo when applying for a Chinese visa and that you can also use your Chinese Visa photo when applying for a Chinese passport.
❓ Can I take my own passport photo?
Of course! With Passport Photo Online, there’s nothing easier! All you have to do is use a smartphone, face a natural light, follow the guidelines and let our tool do the rest!
❓ What is the size of a passport photo in China ?
The standard passport photos size in China is 33mm width and 48mm length. Regarding your head size, the required width is between 15mm and 22mm and the required length is 28mm to 33mm.
❓ How can I change the background of a passport photo?
Our background removing tool precisely deletes the wrong background to replace it with a light, white, correct background. So there is no need for you to worry about changing yourself !
❓ How should passport photos look?
For Chinese Passport, your Passport photo should look as professional and as serious as you can, you should also have a neutral face expression. You basically have to look exactly like people on a mugshot (not the most glamorous pictures we know). So, no funny face, no teeth showing and no smiling on your Passport Photo ! Maintain a straight position and get a beautiful white background.
❓ How do I take a passport photo at home with my phone?
It is extremely easy: stand in front of a window (preferably, natural light will reflect your true appearance, stand at about 1 metre from the camera, and ask a friend, or use a tripod to take a photo. After that, all you have to do is to select the type of document you are applying for (Chinese Passport for exemple), then upload your photo and let our app take care of the rest !
❓ Who can check passport photos?
Artificial Intelligence can check photos in a very precise manner and verify if they will be accepted by the competent authorities. However, if AI cannot seem to understand what is wrong with your photo, one of our agents will verify it themselves. Therefore, when we sent you your photo in the end, you can be sure that it will be accepted - and if for whatever reason (which never happens) your photo gets rejected, we will send you your money back.
❓ Can I smile on my passport photo?
Sadly, you cannot smile on your Passport Photo, no matter how beautiful your smile is. Smiling on your passport photo would be a reason for it to be rejected. You must have a neutral facial expression - eyes open, mouth closed.
❓ How many passport photos do I need?
When applying for a Chinese passport, you need to submit 2 identical photos of yourself taken within the last 6 months.
❓ Can I photoshop a Chinese passport photo?
Photoshopping your face is strongly forbidden ! If you change any of your facial features or use a filter and alter the natural true skin tones and color of your face, the photo will get rejected, because it is not considered biometric. You are perfect as you are, no need to change that!
❓ Can I use my smartphone to take a passport photo?
Of course - any device with a camera that takes relatively good pictures works!
❓ What makeup should I wear in a passport photo?
If you like makeup, go ahead and wear some! It is totally accepted. However, be careful to not have too much on as it could alter your facial features. Your facial traits must be clearly recognizable on a biometric photo and represent your actual appearance.
❓ Can I wear lenses in my passport photo?
If there is no reflection and “red eye” effect, you can wear contact lenses in your passport photo. However, please note that glasses, sunglasses and tinted glasses are not allowed. In the case where you have a medical obligation to wear glasses, please make sure that your pupils are clearly visible, that there is no flash reflection and that the stems/branches are not too large so they don’t hide your face structure.
❓ Is there a passport photo dress code?
There is not a precise and detailed dress code for a passport photo. We recommend you to avoid wearing white or light-colored clothes, as it may fade into the background. Tank tops should also be avoided as it could look like you are naked in your photo. Wearing uniforms is also not recommended at all.
❓ Can I take a passport photo in a photo booth?
Yes, you can! However, with the COVID-19 pandemic going on and the current restrictions, it might be better to avoid going out and choose to do at home what you can do at home! Using our app would be more “COVID-friendly”, as you will not have to move around and you can peacefully take your photo at home.
❓ Can I have a beard in my passport photo?
If you have a beard on a daily basis, you can of course keep it on your Passport Photo. However, if you don’t, we don’t recommend you to grow one before taking your Passport Photo.
❓ What is the best passport photo app?
Passport Photo Online, obviously! We can provide any size for any country upon your request, and we also use highly developed algorithms to ensure that you receive fantastic, high-resolution images.
❓ Are selfies allowed?
Selfies (and duckfaces) are not accepted, and it is important to use the rear camera of your electronic device for better quality. So, just ask a friend, a family member or use a tripod to take a photo of yourself, this way you will get the perfect Passport Photo.
About the document
Passport in China - Specifications
The Chinese passport or the People's Republic of China passport (中华人民共和国护照) is a passport issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC) who are registered as residents of Mainland China, which also means they hold a hukou - a legal document containing the personal information of each citizen, for example, their name, their date of birth, their family’s names and marital status. It is part of a system of household registration used in mainland China, which is a means of facilitating the identification of Chinese people, but also an important population management tool for the Government, and it entitles its bearer to the protection of China's consular officials overseas.
Keep on reading, and you will learn what the Chinese passport photo requirements are, what the biometric passports in China are, what are the different types of passport in China, how to renew your Chinese passport, what are the procedures for a lost/stolen passport, how much do they cost, and what are the photo size and format requirements.
Types of Chinese Passport:
- Ordinary passports普通护照 : issued to nationals who intend to go abroad for non-official purposes, such as taking up residence in other countries, visiting relatives, studying, working, travelling, or engaging in business activities.
- Diplomatic passports外交护照 : issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to diplomats, consuls and their families, as well as to diplomatic couriers.
- Service passports公务护照 : issued by the MFA to employees who are dispatched by the Chinese government to work for Chinese foreign missions, the UN or its special commissions, or other international organizations, as well as to their family.
- Passport for public affairs公务普通护照 : a special variation of the service passport, which is issued to public servants who "lead divisions or equivalents" of the county or state-owned companies, and employees of state-controlled companies.
- Macao Special Administrative Region passport: passport issued to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Macau. This passport is issued by the Identification Services Bureau of the government of Macau under the prerogative of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport: passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. The passport is issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorization of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.
E-passports / Biometric passports
Biometric passports were launched in May 2012. All new passports issued by China since January 2015 are biometric e-passports, and non-biometric passports are no longer issued. As of April 2017, China had issued over 100 million biometric ordinary passports.
Chinese Ordinary Biometric Passport specifications
New security features include a second ghost picture of the holder and supplementary holographic graphs including the PRC emblem and a laser-printed world globe. The other included descriptions are as follows:
- Passport code (P)
- Country Code (CHN)
- Passport number (E########)
- Name (Chinese characters on top, Pinyin transcription on bottom)
- Sex (M/F)
- Nationality (Chinese)
- Date of birth (DD.MMM.YYYY)
- Place of birth (Country code if born abroad)
- Date of issue (DD.MMM.YYYY, month is transcribed into Arabic numbers)
- Place of issue (Province, or city of diplomatic/consular authority if issued abroad)
- Date of expiry (DD.MMM.YYYY, month is transcribed into Arabic numbers)
- Authority
- Bearer's signature
- Machine Readable Code
Passport Validity
The Chinese passport used to be valid for 5 years. Since 2007, ordinary passports are valid for 10 years for people over 16 years-old and for 5 years for people under 16 years-old, and diplomatic or military passports are valid for 4 years.
Create or renew your Chinese passport
Since February 2021, Chinese citizens abroad may apply for passport renewals or replacements at any overseas Chinese embassies or consulates. Chinese nationals who want to renew their expired passports must simply present their original passport as well as a declaration of their nationality, along with other regular requested papers, such as an application form and valid passport photos. If a Chinese passport holder loses or damages their passports whilst traveling, they are expected to make a declaration of additional loss or harm ; keep reading to find out more about this topic.
Chinese citizens living abroad who are applicants for passport renewal should fill in a passport form on the Online Appointment for Overseas Passport Application website (which could be called another way depending on the country who are living in), print it out and sign it by hand. Passport applicants might also have to sign by hand other forms depending on their age and condition, so please note that signatures will be scanned and developed on the new passport and will be compared with the signature of the applicant in the future when applying for international visas.
Please provide a photo to the completed application form and bring another one if needed. Please make sure the photo follows the requirements (48mm x 33mm, white background, dark clothing, face clearly visible, no hat, taken within the last 6 months) non-compliant photos will cause the rejection of your application and a new online appointment will be required. To make sure you won’t make any mistake, read our detailed photo requirements below.
Depending on the country you are living, some people might have to meet by video with the embassy for the renewal of their passport. In such cases, the embassy staff will contact the applicant by telephone to schedule the time and procedure for the interview.
The standard processing time is about 3 weeks for Chinese nationals living abroad. The time needed to replace lost or damaged documents may be longer. For Mainland China residents, the usual processing time is 10 business days, and 15 business days for Chinese diplomatic missions outside Mainland China (with Hong Kong and Macau). The fee for a Chinese passport varies but is around CNY 120.
For more information, go to the official internet page of the Chinese Embassy of the country you live in, or find information through the Chinese government’s official website.
Procedures for Lost or Stolen Chinese Passports
Any Chinese citizen living or travelling overseas who have lost/destroyed their passports or got their passport stolen are required to fill in a form online and attach a "Statement of Lost/Destroyed Passport/Travel Document" and sign it. In the past, Chinese nationals who lost or damaged their passport during a short stay abroad would have only been issued a travel permit to return. The new arrangement removes this restriction and gives embassies and consulates the chance to issue new passports on request.
Save time and money by preparing a professional Chinese passport photo online! Our passport photo editor will crop and edit the background automatically and verify if your passport picture meets all the official requirements (such as size) for a Chinese biometric photo (suitable for China passport application and renewal). This way, you can be sure your biometric photograph will be accepted by any China passport office.
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