China Passport Photo Size: Exact Requirements (2026)

China issues passports in the unusual 33×48mm print format — taller and narrower than the US 2×2 inch standard and the European 35×45mm size — with an exact digital-upload spec of 354×472px on a plain pure-white background. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) of the Ministry of Public Security sets these specifications, enforced by an automated AI inspection system that issues a Digital Photo Receipt Code before your application is accepted. The single most rejection-prone rule is the 2025–2026 crackdown on "beauty filters" (美颜): any skin-smoothing, face-slimming, or AI background-removal that clips the hair or shoulders triggers instant rejection. Eyeglasses are effectively banned for the same reason. This guide covers every current China passport photo requirement and how to prepare a compliant image at home.

China Passport Photo Requirements at a Glance

The official issuing authority for the People's Republic of China (PRC) ordinary passport is the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of the Ministry of Public Security, whose official portal is at nia.gov.cn; overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) handles passport and visa photos through Chinese embassies and consulates. The binding values come from the NIA's "Guidelines for Exit-Entry Documents Photographs" (出入境证件相片照相指引) and the national technical standard for exit-entry document digital photos (《中华人民共和国出入境证件数字相片技术标准》). Every value below is the current NIA specification for 2026:

The NIA does not publish a single downloadable photo template the way some passport offices do; the binding values come from the national digital-photo standard and are enforced at the point of capture through the Digital Photo Receipt Code system. Domestically the photo is submitted to NIA platforms; overseas, most Chinese embassies now process applications 100% digitally through the "Chinese Consul" (中国领事) app and COVA online systems. Always cross-check the current numbers against nia.gov.cn or your local exit-entry administration office before submitting.

Exact Dimensions: Millimeters, Inches, and Pixels

The official print size for a China passport photo is 33 mm wide × 48 mm tall. In inches, that converts to approximately 1.3″ × 1.89″.

Pixel dimensions depend on the resolution (DPI) of your image:

For digital uploads to the NIA online portal, the base pixel spec is 354 × 472 px at minimum, up to 420 × 560 px. Note that 358 × 441 px is the spec for the Chinese Resident ID Card (身份证), not the passport — for passports and visas the system dictates the 354 × 472 px ratio, so do not confuse the two. The print-derived 390 × 567 px value at 300 DPI sits inside this range. Submit a JPEG image between 40 KB and 120 KB in RGB 24-bit true color — files outside this range, or files saved in another format, are rejected automatically. Older consular portals restrict uploads to a tighter 30–80 KB range, while the 2026 "Chinese Consul" (中国领事) app and COVA systems accept up to 120 KB, so check the stated range for the exact platform you are using.

If you are printing at a photo studio, 300 DPI is the standard. For self-printing at home on a high-resolution printer, 600 DPI produces sharper results. Either way, the physical print must measure exactly 33 × 48 mm.

The aspect ratio is 33:48, which is roughly 1:1.45. This is taller and narrower than the common 2:3 ratio used for most camera photos, so you will need to crop your image to match.

Head Position and Framing Rules

Chinese passport photo regulations are precise about how your face appears in the frame:

• Head height: The distance from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head (including hair) must be 28 mm to 33 mm in the printed photo. That translates to about 58% to 69% of the total photo height.
• Face centered: Your face should sit in the horizontal center of the frame with roughly equal space on both sides.
• Top margin: Leave a small gap between the top of your head and the top edge of the photo — roughly 3 mm to 5 mm (10–70 px in a digital file).
• Bottom margin: The distance from the bottom of your chin to the bottom edge of the photo must be at least 7 mm.
• Head width: Across the face, the head should measure 15–22 mm (191–251 px in a digital upload).
• Ears visible: Both ears should be completely visible — pull hair back if it covers them.
• Shoulders visible: Both shoulders should appear at the bottom of the frame, straight and level.
• Head straight: No tilting or turning. Face the camera directly, chin level.

A common rejection reason is the head being too large or too small in the frame. If your chin-to-crown measurement falls outside the 28–33 mm range on the printed photo, it will be rejected.

Background Requirements

The background must be plain white with no patterns, shadows, or gradients. Specifically:

• No off-white, cream, or light gray — pure white only
• No visible shadows cast by your head or body onto the background
• Uniform brightness across the entire background
• No objects, furniture, or other people visible

When taking the photo at home, stand at least one meter in front of a white wall. Use even lighting from both sides to eliminate shadows behind your head. A single overhead light creates harsh shadows below the chin and behind the ears — both grounds for rejection.

Clothing and Appearance Rules

Clothing:

• Do not wear white or very light-colored tops. White clothing blends into the white background, making it look like a floating head. Choose dark or medium-toned clothing instead.
• Avoid uniforms unless the photo is for an official or military passport.
• No hats, scarves covering the head, or headbands. Religious head coverings are permitted if they do not obscure the face.

Expression:

• Neutral expression with mouth closed. No smiling, frowning, or raised eyebrows.
• Both eyes open and looking directly at the camera.

Glasses:

• Glasses with lenses are effectively not permitted. The NIA's automated digital checker rejects any photo with a micro-reflection, lens glare, or shadow cast by the lenses — and the official guidance now states applicants cannot wear glasses except for documented medical reasons.
• If you look noticeably different without your glasses, you may wear thin lens-less frames to preserve your everyday appearance. The frames must be thin and must not cover any part of your eyes or eyebrows.
• Thick-framed glasses, tinted lenses, sunglasses, and colored contact lenses (美瞳) are all strictly banned.

Hair:

• Hair must not cover your face, eyes, or eyebrows.
• Ears do not need to be visible, but the full outline of your face must be clear.

Makeup and accessories:

• Minimal, natural makeup is fine. Heavy makeup that significantly alters your appearance is not.
• Remove earrings, piercings, or other accessories that could cast shadows or obscure facial features.

How to Prepare Your China Passport Photo

You do not need expensive software or a trip to a photo studio. With a decent smartphone camera and Pixotter's free browser-based tools, you can prepare a compliant passport photo in minutes.

Step 1: Take the Photo

Use a smartphone or digital camera. Stand in front of a white wall with even lighting. Have someone else take the photo from chest height at about 1.5 meters distance. Use the rear camera — it produces sharper images than the front-facing selfie camera.

Step 2: Crop to the 33:48 Ratio

Open your image in any basic photo editor and crop to a 33:48 aspect ratio (or approximately 390 × 567 pixels). Position your face so the chin-to-crown distance fills 58–69% of the frame height.

Step 3: Resize to the Correct Pixel Dimensions

Head to Pixotter's resize tool and set the dimensions to 390 × 567 pixels for standard 300 DPI output. The resize happens entirely in your browser — your photo never leaves your device.

If you need the higher-resolution version, resize to 780 × 1134 pixels instead.

Step 4: Compress to Meet File Size Limits

For online applications, your JPEG file must be between 40 KB and 120 KB. Use Pixotter's compression tool to bring the file size into range. Start with a quality setting around 80% and adjust from there. The compressor shows you the output file size in real time, so you can dial it in precisely.

Step 5: Verify Before Submitting

Before submitting or printing:

• Confirm dimensions are 390 × 567 px (or 780 × 1134 px)
• Confirm file size is between 40 KB and 120 KB
• Check that the background is pure white with no shadows
• Verify head height proportions (28–33 mm equivalent in the frame)
• Make sure the image is JPEG format

Common Mistakes That Get China Passport Photos Rejected

Wrong background color. Off-white walls, gray walls, or walls with visible texture all cause rejections. If your wall is not pure white, use a white sheet or posterboard.

Shadows behind the head. This happens when a single light source is positioned directly above or to one side. Use two light sources or position yourself further from the wall.

White clothing. It seems intuitive to wear white for a white-background photo, but the opposite is true. Your shoulders disappear into the background.

File size outside the 40–120 KB range. Raw smartphone photos are typically 3–8 MB. You must compress them significantly. Conversely, over-compressing below 40 KB makes the image too blurry to pass review.

Head too large or too small. The 28–33 mm chin-to-crown rule is enforced. If your face fills the entire frame or appears as a small dot in the center, resize and re-crop.

Outdated photo. The photo must be taken within the past 6 months. If your appearance has changed significantly (different hair color, gained or lost weight, new glasses), take a fresh photo even if the old one is recent.

China Passport Photo vs. Other Countries

Every country sets its own passport photo dimensions. If you travel frequently, you will notice the differences:

• China: 33 × 48 mm — taller and narrower than most
• India: 51 × 51 mm (2″ × 2″) — square format. See our Indian passport photo guide for details.
• Canada: 50 × 70 mm — the largest standard size. Our Canada passport photo guide covers the full specs.
• UK: 35 × 45 mm — close to China's size but slightly wider. Check the UK passport photo requirements.
• Australia: 35 × 45 mm — same as the UK. Details in our Australia passport photo guide.

The key takeaway: never reuse a passport photo from one country's application for another. The dimensions, head positioning rules, and background requirements vary enough that a photo valid for one country may be rejected by another.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official China passport photo size set by the National Immigration Administration?

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) requires a 33 × 48 mm print, which is a format unique to Chinese exit-entry documents — it matches neither the US 2 × 2 inch standard nor the European 35 × 45 mm size. At 300 DPI that is 390 × 567 pixels, and for digital portal uploads the NIA accepts pixel dimensions from 354 × 472 px up to 420 × 560 px.

Can I wear glasses in a China passport photo?

In practice, no. Glasses are strongly discouraged under NIA guidance, and the automated digital inspection system rejects photos with any lens glare, micro-reflection, or frame shadow. If glasses are worn for medical reasons, the frames must be thin, must not cover the eyes, and the lenses cannot have glare or tint. If you look very different without glasses, you may wear thin lens-less frames, but standard prescription glasses, thick frames, tinted lenses, and colored contacts (美瞳) are all banned.

What is the China Digital Photo Receipt Code (数字相片采集检测回执)?

For a Chinese passport application you must obtain a Digital Photo Receipt Code — a verification code issued after your photo passes the NIA's automated AI inspection. Photo studios and WeChat mini-programs generate it by submitting your image to the government system. If the photo fails the digital check (glasses, retouching, wrong background, bad head proportions), no receipt code is issued and you cannot complete the application.

Does China accept passport photos with a blue background?

No. The NIA requires a pure white background (#FFFFFF) for all ordinary passport photos. Light blue backgrounds appear on some other Chinese documents, but the international e-passport strictly requires white — a blue background is one of the most common automated rejections.

Can I use a beautified or retouched photo for a Chinese passport?

No. The NIA's digital checker is specifically built to detect skin smoothing, face slimming, and beauty filters (美颜 / PS). Any retouched image fails the receipt-code test. The photo must show your face as it actually appears, with even lighting and no digital alteration to facial features.

What file size does the Chinese online passport application accept?

The NIA online portal requires a JPEG file between 40 KB and 120 KB in RGB 24-bit true color, though some regional exit-entry offices apply a tighter 30–80 KB limit. Use Pixotter's compress tool to bring your file into the required range without dropping below the minimum, where the image becomes too blurry to pass.

How recent does a China passport photo need to be?

The NIA requires the photo to have been taken within the last 6 months. If your appearance has changed noticeably — different hair, weight, or you have started or stopped wearing lens-less frames — you need a new photo regardless of the date on the file.

Can I take a China passport photo with my phone?

Yes. Modern smartphones easily exceed the NIA's resolution requirements. Use the rear camera, stand about 1.5 m from a pure white wall with even side lighting, and have someone else take the photo at chest height. Then resize to the 33:48 ratio and compress to meet the 40–120 KB file size limit before generating your receipt code.

What happens if my China passport photo is rejected?

If the photo fails the NIA digital check, no receipt code is issued and you will be told the reason. The most frequent fixes are removing glasses, switching to a dark non-white top, retaking the photo to eliminate background shadows, or re-cropping so head height falls within the 28–33 mm chin-to-crown window. Correct the issue and resubmit to the digital system.

Is the China visa photo the same size as the passport photo?

China visa photos use the same 33 × 48 mm dimensions, pure white background, and head-position rules as the passport photo, so a compliant passport photo can usually serve for both. For broader visa photo guidance across countries, see our visa photo size guide.

Do I still need to mail physical China passport photos, or is everything digital now?

For domestic NIA applications the physical paper photo has been heavily phased out — submission is digital and verified through the Digital Photo Receipt Code system. Overseas, most Chinese embassies now process applications 100% digitally through the "Chinese Consul" (中国领事) app, though a few consulates still ask you to mail 2 physical prints that identically match your uploaded digital file. Check your specific embassy's instructions before printing, because mailing prints that differ from the digital upload is itself a rejection reason.

Will the NIA reject my China photo if I used a beauty filter or AI background removal?

Yes — instantly. The 2025–2026 updates to the "Chinese Consul" app and the domestic NIA platforms aggressively screen for beauty filters (美颜), digital skin-smoothing, and AI background removals that clip the shoulders or hair. Any digital alteration of your facial features fails the automated check and no receipt code is issued. Use even, natural lighting and a true pure-white wall instead of an app-generated background.

What is the NIA Digital Arrival Card and does it use the same photo spec?

In late 2025 the NIA rolled out a Digital Arrival Card portal for inbound foreign travelers seeking visas or transit. It requires uploading a digital photo that aligns with the same 354 × 472 px e-passport specifications, submitted through the NIA 12367 app or its WeChat mini-program before arrival. A photo prepared to the standard 33 × 48 mm passport spec on a pure white background will satisfy this portal as well.

Why does China require dark clothing instead of white for the photo?

Because the background is pure white (#FFFFFF), a white or pale top blends into it and makes your shoulders disappear, leaving what looks like a floating head — a guaranteed rejection. The NIA guidance explicitly requires dark clothing that sharply contrasts with the white background, with no white, pale, or uniform tops. Choose a dark, solid-colored shirt and keep your shoulders straight and level at the bottom of the frame.