Quick answer
What are the standard Chinese photo sizes?
Passports, exit-entry permits and China visas use 33 × 48 mm. The resident ID card uses 26 × 32 mm, or 358 × 441 pixels, and the driving licence 22 × 32 mm. Exam uploads vary: the Putonghua test wants 390 × 567 pixels and the NCRE at least 144 × 192 pixels.
Chinese passports, exit-entry permits and China visas all use 33 × 48 mm. The resident ID card uses 26 × 32 mm or 358 × 441 pixels, and the driving licence 22 × 32 mm. Exam registrations ask for pixel sizes instead, such as 390 × 567 px for the Putonghua test. Background colours differ too, so check the column below before you print.
Each row links to the full guide, which gives the head-size rules, file limits and official sources. Sizes are width × height unless marked otherwise.
Chinese passport, permit and visa photos
| Document | Digital file | Background | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese passport, abroad (中国领事 app) | 33 × 48 mm layout | JPEG, 30–80 KB | White |
| Chinese passport, in China | 33 × 48 mm | JPEG, 354–480 × 472–640 px, 20–80 KB | White, light grey or light blue |
| HK and Macau permit | 33 × 48 mm | JPEG, 20–80 KB | White, light grey or light blue |
| Taiwan travel permit | 33 × 48 mm | JPEG, 20–80 KB | White, light grey or light blue |
| China visa | 33 × 48 mm, glossy | JPEG, 354–420 × 472–560 px, 40–120 KB (COVA) | White or near-white |
| Residence permit | 33 × 48 mm, one photo | JPEG, 20–80 KB | White, light grey or light blue |
| Permanent resident card | Not set nationally; 33 × 48 mm is safest | Ask your office | White is safest |
ID card, licence and exam photos
| Document | Digital file | Background | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident ID card (身份证) | 26 × 32 mm | 358 × 441 px, 350 dpi | Pure white |
| Driving licence (驾驶证) | 22 × 32 mm | 520 × 756 px | White |
| Social security card (社保卡) | Set by each city | Often 358 × 441 px | Usually white; some cities accept red or blue |
| Putonghua test (普通话水平测试) | 3.5 × 5.3 cm | 390 × 567 px, JPG, JPEG or PNG, up to 1 MB | White |
| NCRE computer exam | Imaging area 33 × 48 mm | At least 144 × 192 px, .jpg, 20–200 KB | White or light |
| APEC Business Travel Card | Varies by office | 3:4 JPG, 50–600 × 50–800 px; 300 × 400 px recommended | White |
City rules differ
ID card, social security and exam photos are often captured or checked locally, and cities publish different file limits. Beijing's social security system, for example, takes 20 KB–8.75 MB, while Nanjing takes 15–100 KB. Many cities also expect a photo receipt (回执) from an approved studio rather than your own file. See the photo receipt guide.
Visa photos for Chinese citizens
The visas PRC ordinary passport holders apply for most, with the photo each one asks for.
| Destination | Digital | Background | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not needed (online) | 1200 × 1600 px preferred | Neutral or light grey |
| Canada | 35 × 45 mm (minimum) | Biometrics at a visa centre | White or light |
| Japan | 45 × 35 mm (H × W) | eVISA: the agency applies | White |
| Malaysia | 35 × 50 mm | MyVISA eVISA upload | White |
| Schengen area | 35 × 45 mm | Printed photo glued to the form | White |
| Singapore | 35 × 45 mm | 400 × 514 px (ICA e-services) | White |
| South Korea | 35 × 45 mm | Paper form at the visa centre | White or off-white |
| Thailand | Not needed | e-Visa scan | White |
| United Kingdom | Not needed | At least 600 × 750 px if uploaded | Plain, light-coloured |
| United States | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) | Square DS-160 upload | White or off-white |
| Vietnam | 4 × 6 cm | e-Visa upload | White |
Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia let PRC ordinary passport holders visit visa-free for up to 30 days, so short trips there need no visa photo. See visa photos for Chinese citizens.
Ask for sizes in millimetres
Chinese studios often describe photos as "1-inch" (一寸) or "2-inch" (二寸), but these names cover several sizes. Ask for the exact size in millimetres, such as 33 × 48 mm, and the background colour your document needs.
How to pick the right Chinese photo size
- Find your document. Look up your document in the tables above and note the print size, digital file and background colour.
- Check where you apply. Abroad, passport and visa photos need white; in China, NIA also accepts light grey or light blue for exit-entry documents.
- Check local rules. For ID cards, social security cards and exams, check your city or test centre, which may want a studio receipt (回执) or its own file limits.
- Make the photo. Crop your photo to the exact size in millimetres or pixels, without retouching, and save it in the format the system asks for.
Resize a photo for free
To resize a photo to a size in the chart, use the free 123PhotoTool photo resizer: choose By Size, set the unit to Pixels, or millimetres for a print, and enter the width and height, for example 354 × 472. Crop the photo to the right shape first so your face is not stretched.
Chinese photo size FAQ
33 mm wide and 48 mm high. The same size is used for China visas, HK/Macau and Taiwan permits and residence permits. The head-size rules differ slightly between the MFA (28–33 mm) and NIA (30–34 mm).
Not always. Studios and city notices use "1-inch" (一寸) and "2-inch" (二寸) loosely, and the sizes they mean vary. Official passport, visa and exit-entry rules give 33 × 48 mm, so ask for that size by number.
26 × 32 mm, or a 358 × 441 pixel digital file at 350 dpi, on a pure white background, under the GA/T 461-2019 standard.
32 mm high and 22 mm wide, on white, with the head 14–16 mm wide and 19–22 mm long, according to Beijing traffic police.
NIA's exit-entry standard allows light blue, as well as white and light grey, for documents issued in China. Some city social security systems also accept red or blue. China visa, consular passport, ID card and licence photos need white.
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Consular Services: 电子护照人像照片规格要求 (e-passport photo specification)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China Online Visa Application (COVA), photo requirements
- National Immigration Administration: 出入境证件相片照相指引 (exit-entry photo guide)
- National Immigration Administration: 外国人居留证件签发、延期、换发、补发服务指南 (residence permit service guide)
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.