Chinese Passport, Visa and ID Photo FAQ

Also 33 × 48 mm, on a white or near-white background, with the head 15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high. The online form (COVA) takes a JPEG of 354–420 × 472–560 pixels and 40–120 KB. See the China visa photo guide.

Not according to any current official source we found. COVA, the visa centres and Chinese embassies all give 33 × 48 mm. 2 × 2 inches is the US visa size.

The MFA, COVA and NIA rules allow clear lenses with no glare and frames that do not cover the eyes, and NIA advises avoiding thick frames. Some embassies tell 中国领事 app users not to wear glasses at all, so taking them off is the safest choice.

No. Keep a natural expression with your eyes open and your mouth closed. NIA lists teeth showing as a fault.

A dark top, ideally with a collar. COVA and NIA reject clothing the same colour as the background, and NIA does not allow uniforms. Remove hats, headbands and jewellery; religious, medical or cultural head coverings are allowed if your face is fully visible.

Yes. COVA asks for both ears to be visible, and the MFA, NIA and embassies list hair over the ears or eyebrows as a fault.

In the 中国领事 (China Consular) app, where you upload a white-background digital photo that is printed in the new passport. Passports do not need paper photos. See passport renewal abroad.

In China, approved studios, police photo points and some city apps capture your ID photo, upload it to the public security system and give you a receipt or receipt number. The office then uses that file. See the photo receipt guide.

26 × 32 mm, or a 358 × 441 pixel digital file, on a pure white background. It is usually captured at a police station, licensed studio or city app. See the ID card photo guide.

Maybe not. Ordinary passport holders from 50 countries can visit for up to 30 days visa-free, mostly until 31 December 2026, and 55 nationalities can use 240-hour visa-free transit. See visa-free entry.

For the US, Schengen area, UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada and Vietnam, PRC ordinary passport holders need a visa. Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia allow 30-day visa-free visits. See visa photos for Chinese citizens.

For COVA and the 中国领事 app, yes, if you meet the rules: a plain white wall, even light, a dark top and someone else holding the camera. Embassies still recommend a studio. See taking a photo at home.

No. This is an independent guide. Each article links to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Immigration Administration, embassy or other official page it is based on. Always check the official source before you apply.