How to Make a China Visa Photo 33x48mm (Requirements and Upload)

A China visa photo must be 33 by 48 millimetres, and the online application form checks the digital file as well as the printed size. Conflicting pixel numbers online make this confusing, so this guide gives you the rules that matter, how to take a photo that passes, and how to prepare the file for the COVA upload.

The China visa photo size, plainly stated

The printed photo size is 33 millimetres wide by 48 millimetres tall. Your head, from chin to crown, should take up most of the height, with your full face visible and centred. The background must be plain white, with no pattern, shadow, or other people in the frame. The photo must be recent, in colour, and show you looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression.

Why do pixel numbers differ online? Because pixels depend on resolution. A 33 by 48 millimetre photo at 300 dots per inch is about 390 by 567 pixels, while at a lower resolution the same physical size gives fewer pixels. What matters for the upload is the file the application system accepts: a clear, recent photo in the right shape, usually as a JPG file within the size limit shown on the form. Always check the current COVA form for its exact file size and format limits before you upload, because the form is the final authority.

Take a photo that will pass

Stand in front of a plain white wall. Step slightly away from the wall so no shadow falls behind you.
Use soft daylight. Face a window. Avoid harsh sun that makes you squint, and avoid yellow indoor light.
Keep the camera at eye level. Get someone to take it, or use a tripod and timer. Hold the camera steady.
Show head and shoulders. Leave a little space above your hair so the crop can be set correctly.
Keep a neutral face. Mouth closed, eyes open, no smiling with teeth.
Remove hats and dark glasses. Head coverings are allowed only for religious reasons, with the full face visible.

Prepare the file for the COVA upload

First, crop the photo to the 33 by 48 shape. Then check the file: it should be a clear JPG, not blurry, and not so large that the form rejects it. If the form gives a maximum file size, shrink the file by saving at a slightly lower quality rather than by cropping the face smaller. Never stretch the photo to force a size, because stretching distorts the face and the head proportions. The free tool below handles the crop for you and gives you a file ready to check against the form.

Common rejection reasons

Wrong shape. A square photo or a 35 by 45 millimetre photo does not match the 33 by 48 requirement.
Background problems. Coloured walls, patterns, and shadows are common rejection causes.
Head too small or too large. If the head fills only a small part of the frame, or is cut off, the photo fails.
Blurry or dark photo. A phone photo taken in dim light often looks fine on screen but fails when checked closely.
Edited face. Do not use filters, skin smoothing, or colour changes.

Try the free maker tool

The tool below crops your photo to 33 by 48 millimetres and helps you position your head correctly. Upload a clear, well-lit photo, adjust the crop, and download the result. Then open the file, zoom in, and check the face, the background, and the sharpness yourself before you upload it to the visa form. A two-minute check now saves a rejected application later.

One last tip: take five or six photos in a row and pick the best. Small differences in lighting and head angle matter more than the camera you use, and a fresh set of shots costs nothing.