China passport photo — 33×48 mm , free.
33 × 48 mm with white, light grey, or light blue background. Same format as a Chinese visa photo. Most domestic photo studios (海马体, 中国照相) charge ¥30–80 for digital + 6 prints.
33 × 48 mm @ 300 DPI = 390 × 567 px
Drop a photo
PNG, JPG, WebP, BMP, HEIC · or paste with Ctrl+V
How it works
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Drop a photo — JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, or iPhone HEIC.
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China is pre-selected. Drag the crop box if you want to fine-tune.
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Download the JPG at 33 × 48 mm.
Official China passport photo spec
- Print size
- 33 × 48 mm
- Background
- white
- Head share
- 64% of frame
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Glasses
- Allowed if eyes are clearly visible and there's no glare. Wide frames or tinted lenses are banned.
Source: nia.gov.cn — always double-check the latest requirements before applying.
Where to print in China
Typical cost: ¥30–150 for 6 digital + print copies
- 海马体照相馆 (HaiMaTi Photo Studio) — most major cities, ~¥80–150
- 中国照相 (Zhongguo Zhaoxiang) — Beijing, Shanghai, ~¥50–100
- Local 照相馆 (zhao xiang guan, photo studios) — every neighbourhood, ~¥30–60
- 7-Eleven / FamilyMart photo print kiosks — print only, ~¥10
- Print at home on glossy paper (matte rejected) — A6 sheet holds two photos
Common reasons China passport photos get rejected
- Wrong size (33 × 48 mm — easy to confuse with EU 35 × 45 mm)
- Background not pure white, light grey, or light blue (only these three accepted)
- Matte paper (glossy required)
- Visible shadows on face or behind head
- Smiling or non-neutral expression
- Hair covering eyes or eyebrows
How to take your China passport photo at home
- White is safest (grey/light-blue also pass). China's NIA accepts white, light grey, or light blue, but white is the safest for both passport and visa. Keep it uniform with no shadow.
- Note the 33 × 48 mm size. China uses an unusual 33 × 48 mm format — taller and narrower than the 35 × 45 mm most countries use. The China preset handles the ratio.
- 3–5 mm clear space above the head. Chinese spec wants a small margin above the crown. The preset positions the head with this top margin automatically.
- Even daylight, no flash. Front-facing soft light. No facial shadow and no hotspots from on-camera flash.
- Glasses off, neutral face. Remove eyewear. Mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the lens.
New to this? Read the full guide to taking a passport photo at home that won't get rejected .
China visa photo
Chinese visas use the same 33 × 48 mm format. The COVA online visa application portal accepts the same digital photo as a passport application. Most visa centres prefer white background even though light blue is technically allowed.
Privacy: why no upload matters
Most online passport-photo tools (PhotoGov, PhotoAID, Snap2Pass, 123PassportPhoto) upload your photo to their servers, run cropping there, and send back the result. Even when they're trustworthy, your face is sitting on someone else's infrastructure for some period of time. This tool runs the crop entirely in your browser — your China passport photo never leaves your device.
Frequently asked
Why is the China passport photo size different from the EU standard?
China uses 33 × 48 mm — slightly narrower and taller than the EU/Schengen 35 × 45 mm. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) set this size in 2009 and hasn't aligned with ICAO 9303. Don't use an EU-formatted photo for a Chinese passport application; the dimensions are wrong.
Can the background be light blue instead of white?
Technically yes — NIA accepts white, light grey, or light blue. In practice, white is the safest option because it's universally accepted and the most common background colour at Chinese photo studios. Light blue is a holdover from older Chinese passport photo conventions.
Where can I get a Chinese passport photo taken?
海马体照相馆 (HaiMaTi) is the most popular national chain — most major Chinese cities have at least one branch, charging ¥80–150 for a session that includes 6 prints + the digital file. Local 照相馆 (neighbourhood photo studios) are cheaper at ¥30–60. 7-Eleven and FamilyMart have photo print kiosks if you already have the digital file.
Can I use this photo for a Chinese visa application?
Yes. Chinese visa applications use the same 33 × 48 mm format. The COVA (China Online Visa Application) portal accepts photos prepared to passport spec without modification.
Are glasses allowed in a Chinese passport photo?
Yes, conditionally. Glasses are allowed if the eyes are clearly visible with no glare and the frames don't cover the eyes. Wide frames, tinted lenses, and reflective coatings are banned. Most Chinese photo studios will ask you to remove glasses for safety.