China Visa Photo: Built to the Exact COVA Standard
Get a China visa photo that meets the strict 33x48 mm paper and 354x472 px COVA digital standards exactly, so your application is accepted on the first submission.
- Meets ICAO 9309
- SSL-secured payment
Where to take the photo from?
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This is a watermarked preview. After payment we send the clean file, ready to submit.
Check against document requirements
| Delivery | File by email right after payment |
|---|---|
| Included | Photo + self-print sheet — free |
| Guarantee | Rejected? Refund or free redo |
| Standard | Meets ICAO 9309 |
| Payment | Secure (SSL) · Visa · Mastercard |
| Privacy | GDPR · photos deleted automatically |
A better photo is needed
- Good even lighting, no shadows
- Face straight, neutral expression, mouth closed
- Plain light background
- Camera at eye level, not too close
A document photo is a headache of its own
A China Visa photo has strict requirements, and a mistake costs time and money. We’ll show you how to pass on the first try.
It gets rejected
Wrong size, background or cropping — and the system returns the application.
Expensive and slow
A trip to a photo studio means a queue, time and €7–12 for a reshoot.
Confusing requirements
Exact size, head height, light background, facial expression — easy to get wrong.
Redo it all over
Rejected — take another photo, pay and submit again. Round and round.
«PhotoID24 does it all for you: upload an ordinary photo — get a ready file exactly matching the official requirements.»
A ready photo in three steps
A compliant China Visa photo in a couple of minutes: upload a selfie and we professionally fit the 33 × 48 mm size, background and margins to the official requirements.
Upload a photo
Camera or gallery.
We prepare it
White background, the exact size and resolution for your document.
Download and submit
Pay and get the ready file by email — for 5,99 €. Free re-edits until your document is accepted.
Ordinary photo → ready for submission
We remove the background and clutter, set the framing and lighting — keeping your face without «beautifying».
Your face stays yours — we do not change features, only the background, lighting and framing.
Your Visa photo: what matters
A China visa photo must satisfy the requirements set by the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and the National Immigration Administration, submitted both as a printed 33x48 mm print and as a digital file through the COVA online application system. The outcome you need is a single photo that passes both checks without a rejection, and that means matching every dimension precisely rather than approximately.
The peculiarity that catches most applicants out is the COVA digital upload itself. Unlike many countries, China demands a photo of exactly 354x472 pixels in JPEG RGB 24-bit format, with a file size between 40 KB and 120 KB. COVA strictly rejects any deviation from these pixel dimensions, even by a few pixels, and it also expects the head to measure 28-33 mm tall and 15-22 mm wide within the frame. A photo that looks fine to the human eye is routinely refused by the system simply because it was scaled to the wrong size.
- Print size: 33x48 mm (351x510 px); digital upload exactly 354x472 px
- Background: pure white (#FFFFFF), no shadows or texture
- Face height: fills roughly 58-69% of the frame; head 28-33 mm tall
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and visible
- Glasses: discouraged and frequently rejected, remove them
- Headwear: forbidden, including hats and decorative items
- Recency: taken within the last 6 months
- Common reasons photos are rejected for a China visa:
- Digital file is not exactly 354x472 px, or falls outside the 40-120 KB size range in COVA
- Glasses cause glare or frame edges that obscure the eyes
- Off-white, grey, or shadowed background instead of pure white
- Head too small or too large, breaking the 28-33 mm height rule
You do not need a studio or measuring tools. Upload a normal photo taken against a light wall and it is automatically cropped and resized to the exact official standard, including the precise 354x472 px COVA format and the correct file weight. You see a free watermarked preview before paying anything. Every order is covered by an acceptance guarantee: if your photo is rejected, we redo it free or refund you. You pay only for the final file, and only once it fits.
How we make your Visa photo meet the official standard — China, 33 × 48 mm
Every photo is prepared against the official requirements for your document — not a generic template. Here is what that means in practice:
- 1We crop and size your photo to the exact millimetre and pixel dimensions the authority requires.
- 2We check the background, head position, gaze and lighting, and flag glasses or head coverings that are not allowed.
- 3We match the rules to the specific document and country, citing the official source of those requirements.
- 4If anything does not meet the standard, you get a free re-do or your money back.
What an accepted Visa photo looks like
China · 33 × 48 mm. Tap any requirement to see what it means on a real photo.
- Size
- 33 × 48 mm · 351 × 510 px
- Background
- White plain
- Head in frame
- 58–69%
- Glasses
- Not allowed
- Facial expression
- Neutral, mouth closed
- Headwear
- Not allowed
- File
- JPG · ≤ 120 KB
Print size is 33 × 48 mm and the digital file is 351 × 510 px.
Official requirements source: chinadiscovery.com, snap2pass.com
Requirements verified: 08.2026
A digital photo is normal, and it gets accepted — China, 33 × 48 mm
You do not need a trip to a studio. Authorities accept any Visa photo that meets the official requirements — what matters is the standard, not where the photo was made. We match that standard exactly.
The standard is what counts
Officials check your photo against the rules — size, background, head position and lighting — not where you took it.
Part of official processes
Many passport, visa and ID services let you upload a digital photo or submit a print — both are fine when they meet the spec.
Same result as a studio
We prepare your file to the exact official measurements, so it is accepted just like a professional studio photo.
And you are covered
If a photo is ever rejected for not meeting the requirements, we redo it for free or refund you.
How to take a good photo
The most common reasons a China Visa photo gets rejected — and how to avoid them. Compare good and bad shots.
1Format and freshness
A color photo taken no more than 6 months ago.
2Lighting and background
Even light with no shadows on the face; a plain light background, without glare.
3Head position
Face head-on, head centered, no tilt or turn.
4Facial expression
Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at the camera.
5Glasses and accessories
No glasses (especially sunglasses); eyes fully visible, without glare.
6Headwear
Only for religious reasons and not covering the face — the face fully visible.
7Clothing
Ordinary everyday clothes; no uniforms or face-covering clothing.
What those who already got their photo say
Real stories from people who submitted documents with a photo from our service.
Took a selfie on my phone and a minute later had a proper passport photo. Accepted with no problems.
I was worried about the size and background, but it came out exactly right. Saved me a trip to the studio.
Simple and fast. The free preview let me check everything before paying.
Did it at home in the evening. Looked professional, no issues at the office.
Honestly easier than I expected. Uploaded a photo, downloaded the correct one. Done.
Great for the kids — no need to drag them to a studio. The background came out clean and even.
Three ways to get a Visa photo
A professional online service, a local photo studio, or editing it yourself — here is how they compare.
| What matters | PhotoID24 | Photo studio | Editing it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meets the official standard | Yes | Yes | No |
| Tuned to this exact document | Yes | Depends | No |
| Free re-do if something is off | Yes | No | Depends |
| Done from home, no trip | Yes | No | Yes |
| Ready in minutes | Yes | Depends | Depends |
| Clear, affordable price | Yes | No | Yes |
China Visa photo price
No extra plans. Pay only if the result works for you — preview is free.
- Exact size and background for your document standard
- High resolution — for online submission and printing
- Free re-edits until your document is accepted
- Link by email, securely stored for 7 days
Money back if the photo is rejected
A print-ready sheet is included — print it yourself at any photo kiosk or online service (Walmart, CVS, CEWE, Boots, Rossmann, etc.). Listed services are not affiliated with us. Want ready prints delivered? Add them at checkout. Where to print a document photo →
- Meets ICAO 9309
- SSL-secured payment
- GDPR · photo auto-deleted
- Refund if photo rejected
- Visa · Mastercard
Guarantee for your China Visa photo
We are confident in the result. If the photo is still rejected — send us a screenshot and we will refund your payment within 48 hours. No arguments.
- Refund within 48 hours
- Only a screenshot of the rejection is needed
- Money back to your card
Common questions about China Visa photos
What size must a China visa photo be?
Why does COVA keep rejecting my photo?
Can I wear glasses in my China visa photo?
Is headwear or a hat allowed?
How recent does the photo have to be?
When do I actually pay?
Your photo is protected
A photo is personal data, so we handle it carefully and in line with GDPR. We process it only to prepare the document and delete it within clear deadlines.
- Only with consentWe process the photo only after your explicit consent before upload.
- Auto-deletionWe delete the source photo within a day, the ready file after 7 days.
- No sharing with third partiesYour photos are not sold or used to train any third-party systems.
- Deletion on requestYou can ask to delete your data at any time — with a single request.
Your China Visa photo — ready in a couple of minutes
Upload an ordinary photo — in a minute get a file ready for submission. Preview is free.
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