Condensed guide. Read the full China visa photo (COVA) requirements or the rejection diagnostic.
Specification
| Photo size | 33 × 48 mm (1.30 × 1.89 in) |
|---|---|
| Pixels at 300 / 600 dpi | 390 × 567 px / 780 × 1134 px |
| Head height (chin to crown) | 28–33 mm |
| Eye line from bottom | not specified |
| Head width | 15–22 mm |
| Space above the crown | 3–5 mm |
| Background | pure white |
| Background editing | allowed; pure white required |
| Glasses | not allowed |
| Expression | neutral, mouth closed |
| Recency | taken in the last 6 months |
| Print requirements | photo paper, glossy or matte, no border — One printed photo is attached to the printed COVA form at the application centre. |
| Digital upload | 420×560 px JPEG, 40–120 KB (COVA online visa application); 780×1134 px JPEG (Printing the 33×48 mm photo for the paper form) |
| Self-taken photos | accepted |
| Prints needed | 1 |
| Infant rules | eyes open, mouth may be open (under 1) |
| Official source | Chinese Visa Application Service Center – Photo requirements |
Check the official source. Some values on this page could not be confirmed from the official page when it was last checked (2026-10-28).
- The CVASC photo FAQ URL returned a not-found page. The values here (33×48 mm, head 28–33 mm high and 15–22 mm wide, crown 3–5 mm from the top, 354×472 to 420×560 px, 40–120 KB JPEG, pure white background, no glasses, no white clothing) are the published CVASC/COVA standard; confirm on the centre's current page.
- The head-width and top-margin rules are checked and reported; most other documents do not define them.
Can I take it myself? Yes
Yes. The visa application centres accept any photo that passes the COVA checker, and most rejections are about the white background and the file limits rather than who took the photo. Because COVA demands pure white and Chinese guidance is explicit that the background must be white rather than light, this tool offers an opt-in white background replacement for this document using the segmentation model, with soft edges. It is labelled as permitted and is never applied without your tick.
Why China visa COVA photos get rejected
- Background not pure white. Retake against white, or tick the permitted white background replacement for this document.
- File outside 40–120 KB or the pixel range. Use the COVA export here; manual resizing usually lands outside the window.
- Glasses. Remove them; no exceptions in the COVA guidance.
- White or light clothing. Change into a darker top.
- Head size or position outside the bands. Head 28–33 mm high, 15–22 mm wide, crown 3–5 mm from the top. The checker reports all three.
China visa COVA photo FAQ
What are the COVA photo file limits?
JPEG between 354×472 and 420×560 pixels and between 40 and 120 KB, pure white background.
What size is the printed China visa photo?
33×48 mm with the head 28–33 mm high and 15–22 mm wide, crown 3–5 mm from the top.
Can the background be edited to white?
The requirement is a pure white background and the application centres accept digitally whitened backgrounds, so the tool offers it as an opt-in for this document.
Can I wear glasses?
No. Glasses are not allowed in Chinese visa photos.
Can I wear a white shirt?
No. White and light-coloured tops are refused because they merge with the background.
Why was my upload rejected for size?
Most phone photos are far above 120 KB. Use the COVA export here; it searches JPEG quality to land inside the window.
Related documents
Last verified 2026-10-28 against Chinese Visa Application Service Center – Photo requirements. Spotted a mistake? Report an error.