visaphoto
中文
China · Passport

China Passport Photo Requirements

Photo rules for a PRC ordinary passport (普通护照) and the other exit-entry documents that share the same standard, as set out in the National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) photo guideline.

CN Issuing authority National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) Applies to Ordinary passportExit-entry permit (HK / Macau)Travel permit (Taiwan)
Report an error
On this page
SpecificationsRulesNotes and common mistakesCountries with the same photo sizeQuestionsSources

Specifications

Every measurable requirement, in the same order on every country page. Bracketed numbers point to the official source below.

Printed photo
Photo size 33 × 48 mm [1]
Head height (chin to crown) 30–34 mm (adult) [1]
Eye position 14–22 mm from the top edge (adult) [1]
Background Uniform white, light grey or light blue (reference values in the guideline) [1]
Print resolution Scanned prints: 300 dpi minimum [1]
Paper Photo-paper print; no stains, creases, scratches or borders [1]
Copies required Not specified by the authority
Digital upload
Pixel size 354–480 × 472–640 px, 3:4 [1]
File format JPEG [1]
File size 20–80 KB [1]
Colour 24-bit RGB colour [1]
Validity
Taken within 6 months [1]
Also specified
Head width Face width 16–24 mm [1]
Top margin (crown to top edge) 1–3 mm [1]
Background reference values (guideline) Light grey: hue 0, saturation 0, brightness ≥ 198; light blue: hue 135, saturation 240, brightness ≥ 167 (0–240 scale); white: uniform [1]
Effective photo area 30 × 40 mm [1]
Online self-service upload (全程网办) Width 400–1000 px, 3:4; white or light-blue background; no front-camera selfies [2]
head height 30–34 mm eyes 14–22 mm from top crown 1–3 mm from top 33 mm 48 mm
Red — rules about you: head height 30–34 mm (chin to crown); eyes 14–22 mm below the top edge; crown 1–3 mm below the top edge. Black — photo size 33 × 48 mm. Face width 16–24 mm and a 30 × 40 mm effective area are also specified (not drawn).

Rules

What is allowed and what is refused. Same ten rows on every page; “Conditional” means allowed only as described.

Expression Required Natural expression, eyes naturally open, lips closed; no heavy make-up [1]
Eyes Required Open and unobstructed by hair; in digital photos the eyes sit 0.3–0.5 of the image height below the top edge [1]
Glasses Conditional No tinted lenses (medical reasons excepted); thick frames discouraged; frames must not cover the eyes; no reflections [1]
Head covering Conditional Not allowed; where needed for religious, medical or cultural reasons it must not cover the face or cast a shadow; temporary ornaments must not cover the face [1]
Hair Conditional Must not cover the eyes [1]
Ears Conditional Not addressed for studio photos; the online self-service guide asks for eyebrows, eyes and ears to be visible [2]
Clothing Conditional Dark clothing with a collar recommended; no uniforms [1]
Retouching / filters Not allowed No technical alteration of facial features (scars, moles, hairstyle); the online guide also bans beauty filters [1]
Shadows and objects Not allowed Even lighting with no shadows or bright spots on the face; background uniform, with no gradient, shadow, other people or objects [1]
Infants and children Conditional Under 4: a natural expression and level gaze are not required; under 1: eyes may be closed; a supporting hand, toy or other object must not obscure the child [1]
Plain background, even light, head upright
Shadow on the background
Glasses over the eyes
Hat or non-religious head covering
Head tilted or turned
Head too small in the frame

Notes and common mistakes

One guideline for every exit-entry document

The 2011 guideline [1] is written for all documents handled by exit-entry administration — passports, the Hong Kong / Macau and Taiwan permits, visas and residence permits — and it follows ICAO Doc 9303. Studios that know it will ask whether you need 出入境证件照; that is the photo this page describes.

Head height and width are both checked

The head must fit the ranges for both height and width, so a tilted head that reads as too narrow fails even when the height is right. Keep the head upright and look straight at the camera.

The digital file has a lower limit too

Unusually, the digital file has a minimum size as well as a maximum [1] — an over-compressed upload is refused just like an oversized one. Photos taken on a phone for the online self-service route follow a separate, simpler guide [2].

Countries with the same photo size

33 × 48 mm China

Questions

Can I use my Chinese passport photo for a Chinese visa?

The guideline explicitly covers visas and residence permits as well as passports, so the same 33 × 48 mm photo applies — but visa application centres abroad run their own checks; confirm on the China visa page.

Is a light-blue background really allowed?

Yes. The guideline accepts a uniform white, light-grey or light-blue background and gives reference colour values for each; what it refuses is gradients, shadows, or anything else in the background.

Where do I get a compliant photo?

Any exit-entry photo counter at an NIA service hall takes it on the spot; commercial studios must follow the exit-entry standard — ask for 出入境证件照.

Is a digital photo receipt (回执) required?

For applications inside mainland China, some service halls require the photo receipt from an accredited studio; consulates abroad generally do not. Check the source for your route.

Sources

Every value above is taken from the following official documents. If a source disagrees with this page, the source is right — tell us. Report an error.

  1. [1] 出入境证件相片照相指引 (Guidelines for Travel Documents Photographs, 2011) — drawn up by the Exit-Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security; published by the National Immigration Administration, 16 Apr 2019
    https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741445/n741619/n894511/c896346/content.html
  2. [2] 出入境证件“全程网办”照片提交指引 — NIA government-service platform, 28 May 2024
    https://s.nia.gov.cn/mps/bszy/qcwbzpzy/zpzy/202405/t20240528_1001.html