Chinese Passport Photo (普通护照, 33 x 48 mm): size and requirements
The Chinese Passport Photo size is 33 x 48 mm (1.3 x 1.89 inches). 相片背景色为均匀白色，浅灰色或淡蓝色 (uniform white, light grey or light blue); head 63 to 71 percent of the photo height. Photo taken within the last 6 months. Last verified 2026-10-07 against National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) / Ministry of Public Security Exit-Entry Administration.
For the printed photo handed in with a PRC ordinary passport application at an exit-entry administration office in mainland China. Not for a Chinese visa (different head measurements) and not for the 全程网办 online renewal upload, which has its own pixel rules.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 33 x 48 mm (1.3 x 1.89 inches)
- Head height
- Head 63 to 71 percent of the photo height (头部高度 30-34 (mm), 脸部宽度 16-24 (mm); 相片尺寸 33X48, 相片有效区域 30X40)
- Background
- 相片背景色为均匀白色，浅灰色或淡蓝色 (uniform white, light grey or light blue)
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Photo age
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Prints needed
- 1
- We deliver
- 390 x 567 px (300 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckThe Chinese format is 33 x 48 mm, not the 35 x 45 mm used across Europe. A 35 x 45 crop is the wrong shape and will be refused or re-cut.
- CheckThe guide wants dark clothing with a collar and bans uniforms (申请人宜着深色有领服装，不得穿着制式服装). White or very light tops disappear into the white background.
- CheckTinted glasses are only allowed for medical reasons and thick frames are discouraged; frames must not cover the eyes and lenses must not reflect.
- CheckHead coverings are banned except for religious, medical or cultural reasons, and even then must not cover the face or cast a shadow.
- CheckNo retouching of facial features (scars, moles, hairstyle): 不得对人像特征进行技术处理. Beauty filters are the number one reason the NIA's online portal rejects photos.
- CheckThe print must be a photo-lab print on photo paper with no stains, folds, scratches or border (相片为相纸冲印，无污渍、褶皱、划痕、边框).
Source and verification
Read from the official page and translated by us. Last checked 2026-10-07 at National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) / Ministry of Public Security Exit-Entry Administration.
本指引依据国际民航组织DOC 9303文件制定，适用于公安机关出入境管理部门受理各类出入境证件（含签证、居留许可等）申请时对申请人相片的要求。
相片尺寸:33X48
相片有效区域:30X40
头部高度30-34
近期（六个月以内）彩色相片
相片背景色为均匀白色，浅灰色或淡蓝色
申请人不得戴有色眼镜（疾病原因除外），不宜戴粗框眼镜，眼镜框不得遮挡眼睛，镜片无反光
申请人不得使用头部覆盖物（宗教、医疗和文化需要时，覆盖物不得遮挡脸部或造成阴影），非永久性饰物不得遮挡脸部
4岁以下不要求表情自然，水平正视
1岁以下眼睛可不睁开
（一）符合《出入境证件相片照相指引》标准的照片；
Quotes are in Chinese and translated on the page. The NIA page at source.url only links a zip whose single file is the 2011 infographic 《出入境证件相片照相指引》; it was downloaded and transcribed by hand (sources/cn/nia-photo-guide-transcription.txt). Head height 30-34 mm is read from the adult paper-photo diagram, where the 30 x 40 mm effective area sits inside the 33 x 48 mm print. The last quote (one photo meeting the guide) is from the NIA passport service guide https://s.nia.gov.cn/mps/bszy/gmcrg/slpthz/201903/t20190313_1011.html; the eligibility wording is from the NIA online photo guide https://s.nia.gov.cn/mps/bszy/qcwbzpzy/zpzy/202405/t20240528_1001.html (2024-05-28), which tells applicants to use the rear camera, a tripod or a dedicated ID-photo app. Eye-line fractions are not set for the print; the digital rule (eyes 0.3 to 0.5 of the height from the top) is applied on the passport-digital spec instead. Head coverings: the guide allows religious, medical and cultural reasons (our type has no cultural value). Counter photography is not stated on the NIA pages we read, so it is not asserted here.
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
