China Visa Photo Requirements — the official guide for foreign applicants

Based on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular notice on visa photos, as published by Chinese embassies and consulates and the official China visa application centres. Last verified September 2026.

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Quick answer

33 × 48 mm printed photo (portrait), taken within the last 6 months, plain white or near-white background. For the online COVA application form, upload a matching digital photo — 354 × 472 px JPEG is the size most applicants are asked for. The head must measure 28–33 mm chin to crown (about 70–80% of the photo height). Note: the official notice writes the size as "48×33 mm" (height × width) — it is the same portrait format, 33 wide × 48 tall.

Official specifications (MFA consular notice)

Print size	33 × 48 mm portrait (stated as "48×33 mm" in the notice)
Digital size (COVA)	354 × 472 px JPEG; online form commonly expects a small file (roughly 40–120 KB)
Head size	Width 21–24 mm, height 28–33 mm chin to crown (some visa-centre FAQs cite 15–22 mm width; the safe target is the head filling ~70–80% of the frame)
Background	Plain white or near-white, no scenery or objects, no shadows
Expression & pose	Facing the camera, both eyes open, mouth closed, ears visible, natural expression; head turn ≤ 20°, tilt ≤ 25°
Glasses & headwear	No thick-framed, tinted or reflective glasses; no hats or headwear — religious headwear must not cover the face
Recency & print	Taken within the last 6 months; print on matte photo paper, borderless, no creases, stains or scratches

Why COVA uploads get rejected

File conditions, not the picture: COVA (China Online Visa Application) checks pixel dimensions, JPEG format and file size. A photo that looks perfect can still bounce — export at 354 × 472 px and keep the JPEG small.
Head too small or off-centre: keep the crown near the top margin and the chin in the lower band, with both ears visible.
Shadows or grey cast: face a window or soft light and stand 0.5–1 m from a plain white wall (see the home photo guide).
Old photo: anything older than 6 months can be refused at submission.

How it works

Tap the button — the China visa (COVA) format is pre-selected.
Upload a photo taken against a plain wall (see the home photo guide).
Face detection frames the crop; download the 354 × 472 px JPEG for COVA and print copies at 33 × 48 mm for submission.

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