Quick answer
Do Chinese citizens need a visa photo for Thailand?
Not for visits of up to 30 days. Under the China–Thailand mutual visa exemption, in force since 1 March 2024, PRC ordinary passport holders can stay 30 days per entry and 90 days in any 180. Work, study or longer stays need an e-Visa, with a recent white-background colour photo.
Under the China–Thailand mutual visa exemption, in force since 1 March 2024, PRC ordinary passport holders can visit Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days per entry and 90 days in any 180, so short trips need no visa photo. Thailand's change to its visa-exemption rules on 15 September 2026 does not affect this agreement. You still complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). Work, study, journalism, settling or stays of more than 30 days need a visa, applied for online with a recent white-background colour photo (泰国签证照片) taken within the last 6 months.
Thailand visa photo (if you need a visa)
| Photo | Colour, bareheaded ID photo (免冠证件照) |
|---|---|
| Background | White |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Likeness | Must match how you look now, or the visa may be refused |
| Upload | Each document scanned separately as PDF or JPG, 3 MB or less |
| Print size | Not stated for applicants in China |
These rules come from VFS Global's document checklist for a Thai volunteer (Non-O) visa applied for in China; check the list for your own visa type. Thai posts in China do not publish a photo size, and other Thai embassies use different ones (the consulate in Los Angeles asks for 2 × 2 inch photos), so do not follow a foreign post's rules. The photo maker's Thailand "Visa" preset makes a 35 × 45 mm photo on white; check the size the online form asks for before you upload. Its "e-Visa (132x170 pixels)" preset is not based on any official rule we could find.
What the 15 September 2026 change means
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand says Thailand cancelled its unilateral 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries and regions, including China, from 15 September 2026, but the bilateral agreement stays in force. Holders of PRC ordinary and 公务普通 passports can still enter visa-free for tourism, family visits and the other purposes in the agreement, staying up to 30 days per entry and 90 days in any 180.
Visa-free entry: what to check
The Chinese Embassy reminds travellers that visa-free does not mean entry without conditions:
- Your passport must meet Thailand's validity requirements.
- Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) as required. The official TDAC website says no fees are required.
- Keep to the stay you are granted, and do only what your entry allows.
- Work, study, news reporting, settling or a stay of more than 30 days need the right visa before you enter Thailand.
If you need a visa
Thai visas are applied for online; the official e-Visa website is thaievisa.go.th. VFS Global's checklist for a Thai volunteer visa in China asks you to scan each document separately as a PDF or JPG of up to 3 MB. It includes your passport's first page, a scan of every page of your passport including blank pages (and of your old passport if it was renewed), a white-background colour photo taken within 6 months, a declaration signed by you, and documents for your purpose of travel.
How to get your Thailand visa photo right
- Check whether you need a visa. Tourist and family visits of up to 30 days are visa-free on a PRC ordinary passport. Work, study or longer stays need a visa.
- Take a recent colour photo on white. Bareheaded, taken within the last 6 months, and looking like you do now.
- Save it as a JPG under 3 MB. Scan or save each document separately as a PDF or JPG of 3 MB or less, and check the size the online form asks for. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
- Apply online and complete the TDAC. Upload the photo and documents with your visa application, and fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before you travel.
Sample photos
Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the Thailand visa size.
Thailand visa photo FAQ
Not for visits of up to 30 days per entry and 90 days in any 180, on a PRC ordinary passport, under the mutual visa exemption in force since 1 March 2024.
No. Thailand cancelled its unilateral 60-day exemption, but the China–Thailand agreement continues, so the 30-day visa-free stay still applies.
A recent colour photo on a white background, bareheaded, taken within 6 months, scanned as a PDF or JPG of 3 MB or less.
Thai posts in China do not publish one. Check the size the online form asks for; the linked photo maker preset makes 35 × 45 mm on white.
Yes. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand reminds travellers to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, and the official website says it is free.
Official sources
- Chinese Embassy in Thailand: 关于泰国调整免签政策的领事提醒 (2 September 2026)
- China Consular Service: Mutual visa exemption list
- VFS Global for Thailand in China: volunteer visa checklist
- Thailand e-Visa official website
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
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.