China Passport Photo explains, in English, the photo rules for Chinese passports (护照), China visas (签证), HK/Macau and Taiwan permits, residence permits, the resident ID card, driving licences, exam registrations and the visas Chinese citizens need abroad, so you can get your photo right the first time.
It is written for foreigners applying for Chinese visas and permits, and for Chinese citizens at home or abroad who want the rules in English alongside the Chinese terms used by officials, such as 回执 (photo receipt) and 中国领事 (the China Consular app).
How we research and update these guides
- Official sources only. Every guide is based on the requirements published by the issuing agency, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Department of Consular Affairs, the National Immigration Administration (NIA), the Ministry of Public Security and local public security bureaus, Chinese embassies and consulates, exam authorities, and foreign governments and embassies.
- Rewritten in plain English. Most sources are in Chinese. We rewrite the rules in our own words and keep the numbers, such as sizes, file limits and fees, exactly as the agency publishes them.
- Sources on every page. Each guide ends with links to the official pages and forms it is based on.
- "Last checked" dates. Each guide shows when we last checked its sources. Requirements and fees change, so we recheck them regularly and update the date.
- Honest about gaps. Where official sources disagree, leave a detail out or could not be confirmed, we say so instead of guessing. Rules for ID cards, receipts and uploads are often set city by city, and we name the city a rule comes from. Practical tips are labelled as tips, so you can tell them apart from official rules.
- AI-generated samples. Our own sample photos are AI-generated images of people who do not exist, made for this site to show the rules. They are not real applicants or official samples.
- Official images, for reference. Some guides reproduce images published by the official agencies, such as photo specifications and specimens, so you can check the official version. They are shown unaltered, credited to the agency and linked to the original page and image.
- Your feedback. You can rate each guide from 1 to 5 stars at the end of the page. Ratings help us see which guides need more work.
Independence
This site is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Public Security, any public security bureau, Chinese embassy, consulate or visa application service centre, any exam authority, or any foreign government, embassy or visa centre. We do not process applications. To apply, use the official channels linked in each guide.
Photo tool
Our guides link to IDPhotoDIY, an online tool for cropping and resizing passport and ID photos. Using it is optional; any method that produces a compliant photo is fine.
Keeping information current
Requirements and fees change. Information on this site was last checked in October 2026. Always confirm the current rules on the official website before you apply.