CVASC & COVA Online Digital Uploads vs. In-Person Consular Photo Submission
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Chinese Passport Application Service Centers (CVASC) enforce strict 33×48 mm biometric standards:
Physical Photo Prints for Passport Center Appointments
Paper photo: 33 × 48 mm. Bring the number and type of prints specified by your local Chinese Passport Application Service Center (CVASC); some centers provide additional instructions for paper-photo submission (e.g., 1 or 2 prints on glossy photo paper).
- •Exact 33 mm width × 48 mm height photographic paper prints
- •Head height from chin to crown must measure 28 mm to 33 mm (58%–69%)
- •Frontal view, complete facial features and ears clearly visible; white or close to white background with no border
China Online Passport Application (COVA) Digital Photo Requirements
When filling out your passport form online via the COVA portal (cova.mfa.gov.cn), your uploaded image must adhere to official CVASC digital parameters:
CHINA PASSPORT PHOTO REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Follow these key biometric rules to ensure your application photo is approved by CVASC and COVA.
DIMENSIONS
Photo size: 33 × 48 mm
Head size: 28 – 33 mm
FACE POSITION & SIZE
Face the camera directly with your head centered, both ears and facial features clearly visible, eyes open, and mouth closed with a relaxed neutral expression.
BACKGROUND
Important Note
Photos must be recent (taken within the last 6 months) and accurately represent your current appearance. A white or close to white background with no border, both ears clearly visible, and zero shadows are strictly required by Chinese passport authorities.
Official Compliance Guarantee
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China Official Photo Specifications
GA/T 704 Entry-Exit Document Photo Standards & MFA Biometric Requirements
Official government rule for application approvalNational Immigration Administration (NIA) of the People's Republic of China
Application context: China Passport Applications
Quick reference: China passport photo specifications
Review all official photo specifications required by China embassies, consulates, and visa application centres worldwide.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Photo size (Paper) | 33 × 48 mm (1.3 × 1.89 in) |
| Digital resolution | 354 × 472 px @ 300 DPI |
| Face height | 28 – 33 mm (58–69% of total height) |
| File format & size | JPEG, 40 KB – 120 KB |
| Background colour | White |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Glasses policy | Permitted with thin, non-reflective frames |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
China passport picture requirements: official 33×48mm dimensions
Official China passport picture requirements specify that images must measure exactly 33 mm wide by 48 mm high. Your face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (crown) must measure from 28 mm to 33 mm, which corresponds to 58% to 69% of the total frame height. Face the camera squarely with your head centered horizontally and vertically.
When comparing China passport photo size versus passport dimensions, both documents share the standard 33 × 48 mm biometric format with a head height of 28 mm to 33 mm. Using the official 33 × 48 mm size requirements guarantees compliance across all CVASC application centers.
China passport photo size and Chinese passport photos dimensions comparison
| Unit | Width | Height | Face height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 33 mm | 48 mm | 28 – 33 mm |
| Centimetres (cm) | 3.3 cm | 4.8 cm | 2.8–3.3 cm |
| Inches (in) | 1.3 in | 1.89 in | 1.10–1.30 in |
| Pixels (px @ 300 DPI) | 354 px | 472 px | 274–326 px |
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View official biometric specs, size rules, and digital upload requirements for China visa applications.
Print vs. digital: CVASC and COVA photo upload rules
When submitting an online application via the COVA portal (cova.mfa.gov.cn), digital photo specifications require a JPEG file measuring 354–420 px wide × 472–560 px high, 24-bit RGB, generally 40 KB to 120 KB. When attending an in-person appointment at a Chinese Passport Application Service Center (CVASC), bring the number and type of 33 × 48 mm prints specified by your local center (e.g. 1 or 2 prints on glossy photo paper).
| Aspect | Print (Paper form) | Digital (Online) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 33 × 48 mm | 354 × 472 px |
| Format | Colour print on photo paper | JPEG (40 KB – 120 KB) |
| Background | White | White |
| Resolution | Min 300 DPI | 354 × 472 px (300 DPI) |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open |
Background color and lighting standards
The backdrop must be white or close to white, completely uniform, shadow-free, and with no border. The background must provide clear contrast with your hair, face, and clothing, with no other persons or objects visible in the frame.
Do not use automated cutout tools that leave unnatural halos or digital artifacts. Always photograph in front of a genuine, well-illuminated white background or use our AI validator to ensure clean background isolation.
Face position, neutral expression, and ear visibility
Face the camera directly in a full frontal view with complete facial features clearly visible. Both ears must be visible without hair obstruction. Forehead and eyebrows must remain uncovered. Keep your eyes open, level, and looking forward, with your mouth closed in a relaxed, neutral expression.
Lighting must be even and diffused across your face. No shadows should appear under the chin, beside the nose, or behind the head. Balanced natural daylight or two soft artificial light sources produce the best results.
Eyewear and glasses regulations
Glasses are permitted only if frames are thin and unobtrusive, lenses are non-tinted, and there is zero glare or flash reflection covering the eyes. Wearing thick rimmed tinted glasses, dark frames, or heavy rims triggers biometric rejection. It is strongly recommended to remove glasses.
Tinted or cosmetic contact lenses that alter your natural facial features and eye appearance are strictly prohibited.
China passport picture requirements checklist: do's and don'ts
Anyone applying for Chinese passport clearance should review these essential size requirements and photo standards before uploading to COVA or visiting a Chinese Passport Application Service Center.
DO
- Use a white or close to white background with no border, evenly lit and free of shadows or patterns
- Ensure your face is centred, face the camera directly, and occupies 58–69% (28 mm to 33 mm) from chin to crown
- Pull hair back so both ears and complete facial features are fully visible without obstruction
- Keep your eyes open and looking directly at the camera lens
- Maintain a neutral, relaxed expression with your mouth completely closed
- Wear thin-framed, non-reflective glasses if required; avoid thick rimmed tinted lenses (or remove glasses)
- Submit a 354–420 px × 472–560 px JPEG file generally between 40 KB and 120 KB for online COVA submissions
- Include an official letter if submitting a photo with a religious head covering
- Have the photo taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- Follow the specific paper print quantity and finish required by your local CVASC center
DON'T
- Wear thick rimmed tinted glasses, dark frames, or lenses with flash reflections
- Allow hair to obscure your ears, eyebrows, forehead, or facial features
- Smile, show teeth, frown, or tilt/turn your head away from the camera
- Use a coloured, patterned, textured, or bordered background — only white or close to white is accepted
- Retouch, filter, smooth skin, adjust contrast, or digitally alter facial features
- Submit a scanned photo or a picture with foreign objects visible in the frame
- Upload a digital file outside the 354–420 px wide × 472–560 px high / 40–120 KB range to the COVA portal
- Wear non-religious headwear, caps, or fashion accessories
- Use a black-and-white, sepia, or heavily compressed image with distortion
How to take a compliant Chinese passport photo at home
Follow these six practical steps to capture and format a compliant 33×48 mm photo for CVASC appointments and COVA digital uploads.
Set up a white or close to white background
Stand or sit in front of a plain white or close to white wall. The background must be free of shadows, textures, borders, or objects. If needed, hang a smooth white sheet without wrinkles.
Set up balanced, diffused lighting
Use natural daylight from a large window or two balanced artificial lights on either side of your face. Soft lighting prevents shadows under the chin or behind the head and avoids glare.
Position your head and body in a frontal view
Face the camera directly in a full frontal view. Pull hair back so both ears and facial features remain completely clear and unobstructed.
Take the photo with a neutral expression
Keep your eyes open and look directly into the lens. Maintain a neutral expression with mouth closed and teeth hidden. If wearing glasses, avoid thick-rimmed frames and ensure zero glare, or remove glasses.
Crop and size the image
Crop to exactly 33 × 48 mm (or 354–420 px wide × 472–560 px high for digital), ensuring face height from chin to crown is from 28 mm to 33 mm. For COVA online submissions, export as a 40 KB – 120 KB JPEG.
Check before submitting
Verify the white or close to white background with no border, both ears visible, face height from 28 mm to 33 mm, and file size generally between 40 KB and 120 KB before submitting to CVASC or COVA.
Top causes of Chinese passport photo rejection in 2026
Consular officers and the COVA automated scanning system reject submissions that fail biometric checks. Here are the most frequent causes.
Incorrect background colour, border, or shadows
China requires a white or close to white background with no border. Any shadows, patterns, textures, or coloured backgrounds will lead to rejection.
Thick rimmed tinted glasses or lens glare
Glasses are permitted only if frames are thin and lenses are clear. Thick rimmed tinted glasses, dark rims, sunglasses, or reflections covering the eyes trigger biometric rejection.
Covered ears or hair blocking facial features
Both ears and full facial features must be visible without hair obstruction. Hair covering the ears, forehead, or eyebrows is a leading cause of rejection.
Non-neutral expression or head rotation
Smiling, visible teeth, open mouth, or significant head tilt/rotation disrupt facial identification. Face the camera directly with a neutral expression.
Incorrect face height proportions
The chin-to-crown measurement must be from 28 mm to 33 mm (58–69% of the frame). Crops with face height below 28 mm or above 33 mm are rejected.
File size or pixel resolution out of range for COVA upload
The online COVA submission portal requires JPEG files measuring 354–420 px wide × 472–560 px high, generally 40 KB to 120 KB. Files outside this range fail automated upload validation.
Digital retouching or filtering
Photos are inspected for digital retouching, skin smoothing, or altering natural facial features. Altered photos are flagged and rejected.
Photo older than 6 months
The passport photo or passport image must be recent (taken within the last 6 months) and reflect your current appearance.
Guidelines for babies and children
Minors of all ages, including newborns, must have their own separate photo. The child must appear alone in the frame with no hands, toys, pacifiers, or chair backs visible.
For infants who cannot sit unsupported, lay them on a smooth, wrinkle-free white background sheet and photograph from directly above. For children aged 3 and older, standard rules apply: mouth closed, eyes open, neutral expression, and white or close to white background.
Religious head coverings policy
Religious head coverings are permitted if worn daily for religious reasons and accompanied by an explanatory letter. The covering must be plain without patterns, must not cast shadows on the face, and full facial features from chin to forehead plus both ears visible must be maintained.
Fashion hats, caps, and decorative headwear are not allowed.
Official sources
Authoritative Chinese government portals and passport center resources.
Frequently asked questions: China passport photo requirements 2026
What are the official China passport photo requirements in 2026?
Official China passport photo requirements specify dimensions of 33 mm wide by 48 mm high (3.3 × 4.8 cm / 1.30 × 1.89 in). The face height from chin to crown must measure strictly 28 mm to 33 mm (58%–69% of total height). The background must be white or close to white with no border, both ears must be fully visible, and eyebrows must not be covered by hair.
What are the Chinese Passport Application Service Center (CVASC) digital upload rules?
For CVASC and COVA online portal digital uploads, the image must be a JPEG (.jpg / .jpeg) file measuring 354–420 pixels wide × 472–560 pixels high in 24-bit RGB true color, generally between 40 KB and 120 KB. The background must be white or close to white with no border.
What is the China passport photo size in mm, cm, and inches?
The photo dimensions are 33 mm × 48 mm (width × height). In centimetres, this equals 3.3 cm × 4.8 cm. In inches, it measures approximately 1.30 inches × 1.89 inches. These specifications are identical for both Chinese passport applications and Chinese passport renewals.
What background colour is required for a Chinese passport photo?
The background must be white or close to white, completely uniform, shadow-free, and with no border. Coloured, patterned, or heavily shadowed backgrounds are not accepted.
Why must both ears be visible in a China passport photo?
Chinese consular authorities mandate that both ears and the full contour of the face remain visible to ensure full biometric feature identification. Hair should be tucked behind the ears, and bangs must not obstruct the eyebrows or eyes.
Can I wear glasses in a China passport photo?
While thin, clear prescription glasses with non-reflective lenses may be acceptable, photos with reflections, thick frames, or tinted lenses are rejected. To avoid any risk of rejection, taking the photo without glasses is strongly recommended.
Does China accept 35 × 45 mm or 2 × 2 inch photos?
No. The official Chinese standard is 33 × 48 mm. Submitting US 2×2 inch or European Schengen 35×45 mm photos does not conform to the national standard and can lead to application issues.
Can I take a China passport photo with a smartphone at home?
Yes. You can capture a photo with your smartphone against a plain white wall in bright, indirect daylight. Use our online China Passport Photo Maker to crop to exact 33×48 mm dimensions, apply a white or close to white background with no border, check 28–33 mm head height, and generate a compliant 40–120 KB JPEG for COVA.
What should I wear for a Chinese passport application photo?
Wear dark or high-contrast everyday clothing so your shoulders stand out clearly against the white background. Avoid white or light-coloured shirts that blend into the background. Uniforms and flash jewelry are prohibited.
What are the China passport photo rules for children and babies?
Every child, including newborns, must have their own separate 33 × 48 mm photo. The child must appear alone in the frame with no parent hands, toys, or supporting chairs visible. Infants can be placed on a flat white sheet and photographed from above with a neutral expression.
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