Explore Chinese visa photo regulations—and learn how you can take this biometric picture yourself.
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Taking a photo for your ID has never been so easy.
Follow these simple instruction to take the perfect ID photo.
The distance between the face and the camera should be about 40 cm. Ideally the photo should be taken by the other person.
Place your face in front of the lens. Hold the camera at eye level and keep neutral face expression.
Stand facing the light source, for example an exposed window. The background will be cut out, don't worry about it.
Looking for concise and easy-to-follow information about Chinese visa photos? You’ve come to the right place! Discover the requirements you must adhere to when taking a Chinese visa picture, its finer details (e.g., what you’re allowed to wear), and where you can get your photo both on-site and online.
In this piece, we will focus on the photo regulations of the main Chinese visa. If you’re looking for more specific document types, you can find such information on the Chinese Embassy website or take a look at our Hong Kong visa photo guidelines.
Keep reading to discover the official visa photo requirements of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the US. You’ll also find tips on preparing for your Chinese visa photo and how to take it at home.
Chinese Visa Photo Requirements: Explained
Requirement |
Prints & Digital |
Size |
48x33 millimeters |
Color |
In color, showing natural skin tones |
Recency |
Last 6 months |
Image clarity |
Clear and sharp, without visible blurs, pixels, or damage |
Filters |
Not allowed |
Background |
Plain white or off-white |
Print Quality |
High-quality photos printed on either glossy or matte photographic paper |
Resolution |
600 DPI |
Digital Alterations |
Not allowed |
Note #1: A digital Chinese visa photo must follow its own requirements:
Note #2: If you’re submitting a digital picture to your online visa application, remember to bring two printed photographs to your visa interview, too.
Important: Biometric photographs, such as Chinese visa photos, must reflect your current appearance. You can’t use any filters (especially social media ones) or digital alterations, such as color enhancements, in your visa pictures.
Apart from the technical aspects of your visa pictures, the requirements for your appearance are equally important. Here’s what to pay attention to while preparing for your Chinese visa photo:
The size regulations of a Chinese visa photo, including the ranges for your head size, are very precise. Ensure you get all the dimensions right by following these points:
Getting your Chinese visa photo in a traditional, brick-and-mortar spot can be difficult. The most common biometric picture size in the US is 2x2 inches (51x51 mm), and popular services may not be familiar with the Chinese visa photo size. In that case, you can also use online providers conveniently from your home.
Here, we’ve reviewed five most popular applications for biometric photographs:
Provider |
User-friendliness |
Essential features |
Large country database |
Compliance guarantee & refund |
Printing service |
Price |
Passport Photo Online |
5/5 |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
$16.95 |
Passport Photo & ID Maker |
5/5 |
❌ |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
$6.99 |
ID Photo For Passports And IDs |
4/5 |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
Free |
iVisa Passport Photo |
3/5 |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
✅ |
Unclear |
Passport Photo-ID Photo |
4/5 |
❌ |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
$6.99 |
Last update: 10/4/23
Search for “Chinese visa photos near me” if you prefer visiting physical locations. While some Walgreens passport photo centers might take your Chinese biometric photos, finding another one that offers the exact photo sizing for a Chinese visa might be difficult—in that case, try professional photo tools like Passport Photo Online.
The photo size for a Chinese visa is 33x48 mm.
No, you can’t. A Chinese visa requires a picture that measures 33x48 mm. A 2x2-inch photo is too big since it measures 51x51 millimeters.
You need two printed pictures for your Chinese visa application. Glue one directly to the application form and attach the second one with the paper clip. You mustn’t staple your Chinese visa photo to the application.