China Visa Photo Requirements
China visa photo specs — 33×48 mm paper print and the COVA digital window (354–420×472–560 px, ~40–120 KB) — cited, with the ratio mismatch explained.
China runs two specs at once: the 33×48 mm paper photo the visa centre checks at the counter, and the pixel window the COVA online application enforces at upload. They’re different shapes — which is the detail most guides miss.
The specs side by side
| Field | Paper photo (counter) | COVA digital upload |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 33×48 mm | 354–420 × 472–560 px window |
| Aspect | ≈1:1.45 — tall | ≈3:4 — noticeably wider |
| Head size (crown→chin) | 28–33 mm (58–69%) | same framing, measured on upload |
| File limit | n/a | ~40–120 KB JPEG |
| Background | plain white | plain white |
| Photo age | ≤6 months | ≤6 months |
| Glasses | not allowed | not allowed |
| Expression | neutral | neutral |
The mismatch, stated plainly. The COVA pixel window (354:472 ≈ 3:4) is wider than the 33:48 paper ratio (≈1:1.45). For the online application the pixel window is what the portal enforces; the paper size is what the visa officer measures. Satisfying one does not automatically satisfy the other — crop each output for its own spec.
The details that get enforced
- White background, really white. Chinese visa centres are among the strictest on background tone — light grey or cream that passes elsewhere can bounce here.
- Full face visible. Hair off the eyebrows and ears where practical; ears should be visible per the checklist.
- No glasses at all. Not “no glare” — the checklist bans them outright, like the US rule.
- Jewellery and head coverings. No head covering except religious wear that leaves the face fully exposed; large earrings and facial jewellery are flagged.
- Print quality. The paper photo must be a proper photo print — matte or gloss, no inkjet-on-plain-paper.
Sources
Related: India’s two-channel specs · reading spec sheets · spec change log.
Frequently asked questions
Is the China visa photo 33×48 mm or square?
Neither square nor ICAO — the paper photo is 33×48 mm, a taller frame than the 35×45 mm ICAO portrait. For the online application (COVA), what the portal actually enforces is a pixel window of roughly 354–420 × 472–560 px, which is closer to a 3:4 shape than the paper ratio.
Why did COVA accept my upload but the visa centre rejected the print?
Because the digital and paper specs are different shapes. A crop fitted to the 3:4 COVA window doesn't fill a 33×48 mm print correctly — the head lands at a different height. Produce the two outputs separately from the same source photo.
What background does China require?
Plain white — stricter than the 'light' wording used in Europe. Off-white or grey backgrounds that would pass a Schengen counter have been rejected at Chinese visa centres. White, evenly lit, no shadow behind the head.
Are glasses allowed in a China visa photo?
No — the published checklist bans glasses entirely in the visa photo, along with head coverings except religious ones that leave the full face visible.