Hong Kong Visa Photo: How to Submit an Acceptable Photo [And a Hassle-Free Visa Photo Tool]

You can get your Hong Kong visa photo in 3 seconds! Take it with your smartphone, adjust to the requirements and save money and time!

Hong Kong SAR Visa Photo Guidelines

When applying for visas, it's important to know the specific photo requirements for the country you're visiting. For instance, a US visa photo online must have dimensions of 51 mm x 51 mm, whereas for Schengen Zone countries, the required size is 35 x 45 mm. Some countries allow smiling in visa photos and some not, the same situation applies to eyeglasses - they can be allowed or not - and there are different rules about head coverings or clothing. Before you capture your picture for the Hong Kong visa, you have to learn which standards it must satisfy. Read our article and in a couple of minutes you will know:

• what are the HK visa photo requirements
• how to save money and time taking a perfect Hong Kong visa picture
• how to take a correct visa photo with your smartphone
• why you don’t need to go anywhere in order to get a perfect photo for your visa

Hong Kong Visa Photo Requirements

A picture for a Hong Kong SAR visa must be biometric. That means that the image must meet strict requirements, but the good news is that it is not required to be professionally taken. If you have a smartphone, tablet or digital camera, you can prepare a picture to your HKSAR visa application on your own and if you meet all the requirements, you will be issued a visa without any problem. You just need to know everything about a correct:

• size
• colors
• background
• lightening
• head position
• face expression
• allowed and forbidden accessories such as jewellery, glasses, etc.

Remember to attach 2 identical, printed photos.

Hong Kong tourist visa photo DIY in a moment!

You are still not sure if you are able to produce a photo meeting the requirements set by Hong Kong authorities? This is easier than you think. All you need to do is to choose your favourite outfit, prepare lightning and ask somebody for help as selfies do not comply with the standards of biometric pictures. If you prefer to do it yourself, use a tripod. In the next step take the right pose and… that is it!

Easy, right?

Now, you can upload your picture to the online HK visa photo tool and adjust it automatically to the requirements. The Hong Kong Visa photo editor will change the background, crop, and resize the image in a moment. In the end, artificial intelligence verifies your photo and once the tool accepts it, that means that the picture has a warranty of being accepted also by Hong Kong diplomatic missions. The ready image saved in the JPEG file will be sent to your e-mail address. Now you may download and print it or start your application online. Of course, you can use the same photo many times, to the other documents, if you like.

Hong Kong tourist visa photo validity

Every photo in an official document must represent the current look of its holder. This means that your picture attached to the application form must not be older than 6 months.

But, to be valid, the photo must be original too. It means that you must not cut the image of your head from the bigger photo. An “original” photo means also that the picture is not altered by any computer software. Do not process your picture with Photoshop or filters.

Hong Kong SAR Visa photo size and crop

The correct size of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region visa photo is 40 mm in width x 50 mm in height.

The photo must clearly show the candidate's facial features from the tip of the chin to the top of the head as well as both sides of the face. The face’s height must be between 32 and 36 mm. That includes the hair, so if you have a voluminous hairstyle, it is your responsibility to make sure that the head with the hair is fully depicted without reducing the size of the face.

Upload your picture to the Hong Kong Visa Photo Resizing App and have it instantly resized and cropped!

Hong Kong Visa photo background’s color

The background in the Hong Kong visa should be white, clear and plain.No shadows, patterns, other people, or objects must be visible in your visa photo.

But you do not need to worry about it. You can take a picture against any background, even in your room or kitchen, and just use our HK visa photo background editor which changes any background into the required one.

Composition and facial expression in the HKSAR visa photos

The head in the Hong Kong visa photo must be centred and must not be tilted in any direction. Only an en-face view is accepted. You can smile naturally in the visa picture, but a neutral facial expression is recommended. Keep your mouths closed but not tightened. Before capturing the photo you may put on some make-up, this is allowed.

Selfie as a Hong Kong visa photo

Selfies are not accepted by HKSAR immigration services. That is because selfies distort facial features. The recommended distance between a camera and a photographed person must be between 1,20 and 2 metres and the head should be neither at an angle nor turned. All the head and neck must be visible, optionally the upper part of the shoulders. To take the required view we recommend you use a tripod or ask another person for help. 

Colors and lights in Hong Kong visa photos

Your HKSAR visa photo must be in color, moreover, the picture must be natural in color (not too much red or blue) and skin tones should be represented as they are in reality. The same applies to the color of the eyes. That means that the “red eyes” effect caused by the flash lamp disqualifies the picture. Use natural, daylight. The best option is to stay frontally to the window keeping a distance of 1,5-2 m from it. Remember that your face must be evenly illuminated - both sides must be visible, no shadows are accepted.

If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, you can keep it (read more in the next paragraphs) but remember that it must not be white just to contrast with the background.

Headgears in the Hong Kong visa photos

Some types of headgears are allowed in the HKSAR tourist visa picture and some - not.

Hair and head covering used as a part of a religious attire (like hijab, turban, yarmulke, etc.) may be worn in the Hong Kong visa picture. So, you can cover your head for religious reasons but make sure that this item does not obscure your face. Your facial features including forehead and chin must be clearly visible. For a proper contrast, wear headgear in color contrasting to the background, as mentioned above. You may keep your head covered also for medical reasons such as a loss of hair or recent head surgery.

Glasses and accessories in the Hongkong visa photo

You can keep your glasses in the Hong Kong visa photo under the condition that they are not tinted. Only transparent glasses are accepted. Make sure that light does not give a glare on them and their frames do not cover your eyes.

When it comes to accessories such as jewellery or hair decorations - massive earrings might obscure your face oval and in such a case your picture will be rejected. Huge hair decorations and scarves are also not welcomed. If you have facial piercing, you do not need to remove them for a photo, but these items must not give a shadow or glare on your skin and cover your facial features.

Technical requirements for photos to a Hong Kong visa

At the moment it is not possible to apply for a Hong Kong tourist visa via the Internet. Only Indian citizens are eligible for pre-arrival registration online. In any other case, when you apply for a Hong Kong SAR visa, you must submit a paper application form together with two printed colour photos.

The photos you attach to your visa application form should be:

• printed on high-quality paper
• produced using dye-sublimation(not printed with a home printer)
• of resolution at least 600 dpi if you have taken it with a digital camera
• of high-quality (sharp, focused, tich in contrast and clear)
• properly exposed
• not stamped, scratched or damaged

If you want to take a picture with your smartphone, it is easy to produce a high-quality picture, especially if you use a visa photo maker cropping, resizing, and adjusting your visa photo.

Disqualifying mistakes in Hong Kong visa photos

If you want your photo to be accepted and avoid the delay in processing your visa application, strive towards creating a perfect photo. Below we present the mistakes made by some candidates. Maybe it helps you to avoid them.

1. Wrong size (remember that American passport size 2 x 2 inches is not correct here)
2. Open or tighten mouths
3. Tilted head or not an en-face view
4. Quality problems (photos damaged, scratched, etc.)
5. Face not entirely visible because of head coverings or voluminous hair
6. Computer software alterations (most commonly by Photoshop)
7. Photos blurred, not well-focused, overexposed or underexposed

Hong Kong visa photo near me

Did the question “where can I take a Hong Kong visa photo near me?” crossed your mind? If so, the answer is very easy: 

You can take the Hong Kong visa photo wherever and whenever you want! 

With our smart visa photo app, you are able to produce an absolutely correct visa photo in 3 seconds. Your photo will be resized, cropped, and adjusted to all demanding.

So, stay at home, pick up your favourite outfit (we advise to dress casual or smart) and take some shots. Then, choose the one you like the most and create your Hong Kong visa picture in a moment!

Hong Kong Visa Photo Maker

Do you know that we designed a special online tool that adjusts the size, crop and background of your visa photo in one second?

Learn more about the intelligent Hong Kong visa photo app! You can download it from the AppStore for iOS operating devices or from the Google Play Store for Samsung, Nokia, and many other smartphones. In a few seconds, you will get your perfect visa photo ready to attach to your application form!

This photo tool is available online, easy to use, and will surprise you by low prices!

Hong Kong visa photo checker

Your photo created with the HK Visa Photo Generator will be accepted by authorities for sure! It is because you pay only for correct photos and they have a guarantee of acceptance by authorities!

This App verifies every uploaded photo, so you will get feedback about your visa picture. And if the App marks it as a correct one, we guarantee you the acceptance of the Chinese or Hong Kong SAR consular or diplomatic missions!

Last update: 6/7/23