Photo requirements
China Passport 33x48 mm
A guide to Chinese passport photographs: distinguish mainland service counters, eligible online applications and overseas missions. Confirm the receiving channel before choosing a file or print.
- Printed size
- 33 × 48 mm (printed)
- Background
- Check the receiving channel; white or light blue for mainland online photos
- Official reference
- 国家移民管理局
- Source verified
Glasses: Chinese passport and U.S. visa rules differ
The cited consulate permits glasses subject to visibility conditions; it does not impose a blanket ban. Teaching scenario: the frame crosses an eye or a window reflection hides a pupil. Adjust the capture or remove the glasses and retake, even if the lenses are clear.
Make this photo now
Use the selected format in the passport photo tool.
Photo requirements
Photo specification
Use these values as a preparation guide and confirm current official instructions.
| Printed size | 33 × 48 mm (printed) |
|---|---|
| Digital dimensions | Check the application channel below |
| Background | Check the receiving channel; white or light blue for mainland online photos |
| Head height | Check the application channel below |
| File and resolution | Check the application channel below |
Lighting setup: what to change
A ceiling light can darken the eyes. Move to face a broad window and check the original photograph for shadows.
Original teaching diagram, not an accepted/rejected applicant photograph. Even lighting still needs checking in your actual image.
More photo requirements for China
- China driving license 22x32 mm
- China 354x472 pixel with eyes on crosslines
- China Medicare card 26x32 mm
- China Resident ID card 26x32 mm
- China Social Security Card 32x26 mm
- China APEC Business Travel Card 300x400 pixels
- National Computer Rank Examination 144x192 pixels
- China one-cun photo 25x35 mm - blue background
- China one-cun photo 25x35 mm - white background
- Licensed Pharmacist 215x300 pixels
- Putonghua Proficiency Test 390x567 pixels blue background
- China two-cun photo 35x49 mm - blue background
- China two-cun photo 35x49 mm - white background
- China Passport 33x48 mm light grey background
- China Passport online 354x472 pixel old format
- China Passport online 354x472 pixel
- China Green Card 33x48 mm
- China Visa online 354x472 - 420x560 pixels
- China Visa 33x48 mm
Identify the receiving channel first
| Channel | What to check |
|---|---|
| Mainland service counter | Use the national exit-entry photography guidance. Confirm whether the receiving office captures a photo on site or requires a supplied photo and any receipt. |
| Eligible online application | Follow the National Immigration Administration’s dedicated online photo-submission guidance and the live form. Online availability depends on the applicant and service, not just the photo. |
| Chinese mission abroad | Read the receiving embassy or consulate’s passport instructions and its current application process. Do not assume mainland upload fields or receipt arrangements apply overseas. |
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified
Physical size and digital submission are separate checks
"The general exit-entry photograph is 33 mm wide × 48 mm high. Use the official photography diagram to check head position as well as the outer dimensions. A rectangle with the correct proportions can still have a face that is too large or too low."
"Do not convert those millimetres into a universal pixel count or file-size limit. Digital requirements belong to the receiving channel. A photo for a Chinese visa is also not automatically the correct file for a Chinese citizen’s passport."
"The general guidance calls for a recent colour photo taken within six months. Check any additional recency instructions from the receiving channel."
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified
Prepare a clear, unaltered portrait
Prepare the background
Use the background required by the receiving instructions. For mainland online photography, the NIA guide allows a white or light-blue background. Use even light and avoid strong backlight.
Face the camera
Keep your posture upright and your face unobstructed. Move hair away from the eyes and avoid accessories that interfere with identifying the features.
Check exposure and focus
As a practical check, inspect eyes and facial detail at full size. Adjust the light and retake if the face is blurred, strongly shadowed or overexposed.
Keep the original
Disable beauty mode and filters before shooting. Follow the online guidance for file preparation; do not reshape facial features or substitute an AI-generated portrait.
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified
Glasses: visibility is the deciding check
"The general NIA guide does not impose the U.S. passport rule of routinely removing all glasses. It prohibits tinted lenses except for medical reasons, discourages thick frames, and requires that the frames do not obscure the eyes and the lenses do not reflect light."
"As a practical check, look for window reflections over the pupils and frames crossing the eyes. Adjust the light or remove the glasses if appropriate and retake; do not erase glare or reconstruct hidden eyes digitally. Follow any additional instruction from your receiving office."
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
Online photo submission is a specific workflow
"Check that your application is eligible for the online service before preparing the upload. The National Immigration Administration publishes a dedicated photo-submission guide, including photography and preparation advice. Follow that guide together with the fields shown in your current application."
"The linked mainland online guide specifies a width of 400–1000 pixels and describes a 3:4 width-to-height crop, with the head width around two thirds of the cropped image. These are instructions for that workflow, not a universal electronic specification for every Chinese passport application. Check the live form before export."
"If the system requests a change, distinguish a technical file error from a photo-quality issue. Re-exporting may resolve a format problem; it will not restore lost facial detail. Keep the original and the notice so you can make a targeted correction or ask the receiving service for clarification."
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified
Children and special circumstances: check locally
"Do not transfer U.S. or UK infant exceptions to a Chinese passport application. Arrange a safe, supported position with the child’s face visible and keep the supervising adult outside the frame. If a compliant photograph cannot be obtained, ask the receiving office about available assistance."
"The general NIA diagram provides its own child exceptions: children under four need not maintain the usual natural expression and level forward gaze, and babies under one may have their eyes closed. Keep toys, hands and other obstructions out of the face. Confirm how your receiving channel applies these exceptions."
"Medical needs, coverings and difficulty maintaining a pose should be discussed with the actual receiving authority. This guide does not invent a universal exemption or a fixed supporting-document list when the source does not establish one."
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
Ask about receipts before paying for extra services
"A photo file, a printed photograph and an accepted photo receipt are different deliverables. Ask your receiving office what it requires; a receipt used in one locality or workflow should not be described as compulsory everywhere."
"For a print, check the finished dimensions and image clarity, not just the export settings. For a digital upload, keep the original filename and a copy of the submitted file for your own reference. IDPIC does not claim to issue an official receipt or to complete an identity-document application."
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified
A final review tied to your application
Correct document
Confirm that the requirement is for a Chinese passport, not a visa, residence document or another identity card.
Correct receiving channel
Recheck the mainland counter, eligible online service or overseas mission instructions. Do not mix their submission fields.
Real, clear photograph
Check full facial visibility, original detail and even lighting. Retake faults that would require altering the face to conceal.
Actual submission requirements
Confirm the current recency, file and receipt requirements directly with the receiving channel. A tool preview or successful upload does not establish official acceptance.
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about creating and submitting this document photo.
Is a light-blue background allowed for mainland online applications?
The linked NIA online-submission guide allows white or light blue. Check the receiving channel rather than applying this permission to every consulate or identity document.
Why does the mainland online guide use a 3:4 crop instead of 33 × 48 mm?
The 33 × 48 mm measurement describes the general paper photograph. The dedicated online guide specifies a digital workflow, with a 400–1000 pixel width and a 3:4 crop. These are different submission formats.
Does a successful tool check guarantee acceptance?
No. A tool check or successful upload is not an official acceptance decision. Keep the original portrait, avoid changing your appearance and retake unsuitable lighting or blur. The receiving authority decides whether the photograph is acceptable.
Official reference
- 国家移民管理局 · 出入境证件相片照相指引Mainland exit-entry document photographySource verified
- 国家移民管理局 · 全程网办照片提交指引Eligible mainland online applicationsSource verified