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China Visa Photo Maker

Upload any photo — the tool removes your existing background, drops in the plain white background required for China visa, and produces a spec-exact 33×48mm image ready to submit.

Drop your photo here
or click anywhere in this box to choose a photo

JPG, PNG, or HEIC · Max 10 MB on Free · Face forward, eyes on the camera.

100% private — deleted after processing No sign-up to preview Spec-exact 33×48mm output

How to make a China visa photo in 3 steps

Upload any photo of yourself, and the tool handles the entire China visa spec pipeline — background removal, colour swap, spec-exact crop, file-size compression — in one pass.

1

Upload any photo of yourself

Phone or webcam against a plain wall. Both ears should be visible and glasses are not permitted at all. The photo must have been taken within the last six months, so do not reuse an old one.

2

Get the 33x48mm Chinese visa size

The background is replaced with plain white and the image cropped to 33x48mm at 300 DPI with the head at 28-33mm. This size is neither the European 35x45mm nor the US 2x2 inch, and a photo cropped to either is rejected.

3

Use the same file twice

Upload the image to the COVA online application, then print the same file and attach it to the paper form you take to the visa centre. Both copies must match.

Understanding the China visa spec

Chinese visa applications require a 33x48mm colour photograph — a size used almost nowhere else — with the head measuring 28-33mm on a plain white background. The photo must have been taken within the last six months, and it is needed twice: uploaded to the COVA online system and printed and attached to the paper form. Glasses are not permitted, and the ears should be visible.

Dimensions
33×48 mm
1.3 × 1.89 in
Resolution
300 DPI
Print-ready
Background
plain white
AI-swapped
Head height
28–33 mm
Chin to crown

Requirements at a glance

  • 33x48mm (also called 1.3x1.89 inches)
  • Plain white background — no exceptions
  • Head 28-33mm chin to crown
  • Both ears visible
  • No glasses (from 2016 update)
  • File 40-120 KB for online CVASC upload
  • Sharp focus, no visible pixelation

Common mistakes that get photos rejected

  • Uploading US 2x2 photo — rejected at CVASC
  • File over 120 KB — CVASC upload fails
  • Ears not visible (hair covering)
  • Off-white background

Where China visa photos are actually used

The 33x48mm size is the specific trap: it is neither the 35x45mm European standard nor the 2x2 inch US one, so a photo cropped to either is rejected at the visa centre. Budget for needing the same image in both digital and printed form.

Applications that accept this photo spec

  • Chinese tourist (L), business (M) and work (Z) visa applications
  • Chinese Visa Application Service Centre submissions
  • Q-series family visit visa applications
  • Residence permit conversion after arrival in China
  • APEC Business Travel Card applications

China visa photo FAQ

Why is the Chinese visa photo 33x48mm?
It is a Chinese-specific standard, matching neither the 35x45mm used across Europe nor the 2x2 inch used by the United States. A photo cropped to either of those is rejected at the visa centre, which catches out applicants reusing a photo from another application.

Do I need the photo digitally as well as printed?
Yes, both. The image is uploaded to the COVA online application and the same photo is printed and attached to the paper form you take to the visa centre. They should match.

What size is a China visa photo?
33×48mm (1.3×1.89 inches) at 300 DPI, on a plain white background. The head must measure 28-33mm from chin to the top of the head.

What background color does China require for visa photos?
Plain white. Photos on the wrong background — cream, beige, colored, or textured — are the most common reason for rejection. This tool automatically replaces your background with the correct one.

Can I take a China visa photo with my phone?
Yes. Modern phone cameras produce more than enough resolution for the 33×48mm output. What matters is even lighting (no harsh shadows on your face), a straight-on angle, and a neutral expression. This tool handles the background and sizing.

What file size does this tool produce?
The output JPEG is kept under 240 KB while preserving the 300 DPI resolution the spec requires. Upload limits vary between government portals and consulates, so check the one you are filing through — if it caps lower, use our Image Compressor to reduce further.

Is my uploaded photo saved on your servers?
No. Your photo is processed in memory and never stored on disk. The AI background removal runs server-side (the model is too large for a browser), but the input image is discarded immediately after processing. Nothing is logged, saved, or shared.

Can I print the China visa photo at home?
Yes. The output is a 300 DPI JPEG at exactly 33×48mm, so any inkjet or laser printer produces the correct physical size when you print at 100% scale (not "fit to page"). Use the 4×6 print sheet option to get multiple copies on one sheet of photo paper.

Do I need to sign up or pay?
No sign-up required for basic use. Guests get 2 photos per day; free accounts get 3 per day. For higher volume, Pro plans unlock unlimited photos.

What if the background removal is not perfect?
The AI handles hair, clothing edges, and skin tones well for the vast majority of photos. If you see an edge artifact, try re-uploading with better lighting — indirect natural light from a window works best. You can also skip the background swap and crop only.
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