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China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo requirements

The 33 × 48 mm photo rules set by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China for the China visa (COVA online application digital photo), with the official wording and sources.

Based on 4 official sources · last checked Official sources Page history

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Quick answer

What size is the China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo?

COVA, China's online visa application, needs a recent front-facing colour photo with a white background, as a 24-bit RGB JPEG of 40 to 120 KB, 354 to 420 pixels wide and 472 to 560 pixels high, taken within the last 6 months. Its crop tool needs an original of at least 354 x 472 pixels, and on a 354 x 472 photo the face should be about 205 +/- 14 pixels wide.

COVA is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' China Online Visa Application system (consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA). The photo requirements are shown in a diagram on the application form, and the photo upload step has a built-in crop tool with its own limits.

A paper photo is usually also required at visa application centres; many ask for a 33 x 48 mm photo printed on glossy photo paper, and the number of copies varies.

China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo size and specifications

The requirements as published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China:[1]

Print sizeDigital upload only on COVA; the same diagram gives 33 x 48 mm for a paper photo
Digital size354 to 420 pixels wide x 472 to 560 pixels high
Head heightOn a 354 x 472 px photo: face width 205 +/- 14 px (191 to 219 px), horizontally centred. On a 33 x 48 mm paper photo: head width 15 to 22 mm and chin to crown 28 to 33 mm
Eye lineLine between the eyes more than 256 px from the bottom edge (on a 354 x 472 px photo)
BackgroundWhite or near-white, no border
ColourRGB, 24-bit colour
Photo ageTaken within the last 6 months
File size40 to 120 KB
File formatJPEG
Pixels when printed390 × 567 px at 300 dpi · 780 × 1134 px at 600 dpi (calculated)
33 mm48 mm15–22 mm
33 × 48 mm photo drawn to scale, with the 15–22 mm head height from chin to crown. Background: white or near-white.

Key requirements

  • Head position (354 x 472 px)

    Face width 205 +/- 14 px, horizontally centred; top of the head 10 to 70 px from the top edge; line between the eyes more than 256 px from the bottom edge; distance between the eyes more than 60 px. If the hair is very high, part of it can be cropped to keep the face at the right size. For larger photos, scale proportionally.

  • Paper photo layout (33 x 48 mm)

    On the same diagram: head 15 to 22 mm wide, 28 to 33 mm from chin to crown, 3 to 5 mm above the head, and at least 7 mm below the chin.

  • Expression and pose

    Natural expression, eyes open, mouth closed, ears visible. Head turn or tilt left-right not more than 20 degrees, up-down not more than 25 degrees.

  • Crop tool

    The original must be large enough to crop an area larger than 354 x 472 px around the head; smaller images are rejected. The crop tool accepts JPEG only (COVA's ordinary file upload accepts jpg, jpeg and png). Rotate the photo if needed to keep the head upright, drag the reference frame to the head outline and use the zoom slider so the chin-to-crown area sits between the small and large ellipses. Preview, then click crop: the tool closes and uploads the cropped photo automatically. It will not crop if the image does not fill the reference frame.

  • Unacceptable photos

    COVA's second diagram lists about 30 faults in five groups. Exposure and quality: low contrast or blur, under- or over-exposure, uneven brightness, unnatural skin tone, red eye, distortion, damage or stains. Framing: too close, too far (eye distance under 60 px), off-centre, or part of the face cropped. Pose and expression: closed eyes, wide-open mouth, crying or unnatural expression, head tilted or raised or lowered, eyes not looking at the camera, or a posed artistic style. Glasses and accessories: heavy frames, frames covering the eyes, lens glare, tinted lenses, jewellery or ornaments. Background and obstruction: coloured background, shadows behind, clothing the same colour as the background, hands, toys or other people in the frame, hair covering eyebrows, eyes or ears, or anything covering the face.

  • Upload fails

    Check that the file is a JPEG (not PNG, HEIC or a screenshot), at least 354 x 472 px, and if self-cropped, between 40 and 120 KB. Re-save from the original rather than compressing the same file repeatedly.

  • Accepted is not approved

    A successful upload does not mean the photo has been approved; consular officers still check it.

Do's and don'ts

Do

  • Use a recent colour photo taken within the last 6 months
  • Use a white or near-white background with even light
  • Keep a natural expression, eyes open, mouth closed, ears visible
  • Centre the face and fill the crop tool's reference frame
  • Save as a JPEG of 40 to 120 KB

Don't

  • Do not use a PNG, HEIC or screenshot for the crop tool
  • Do not use an original smaller than 354 x 472 pixels
  • Do not wear tinted lenses, heavy frames or glasses with glare
  • Do not let hair cover the eyebrows, eyes or ears
  • Do not wear clothing the same colour as the background

Sample photos

How a China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo should look, and the mistakes that most often get photos rejected. Each example is drawn to this document's 33 × 48 mm, head height and background colour.

Correct
Open-mouth smile
Head tilted
Too close: head too big
Too far: head too small
Busy background
Shadows on face or background
Glare on glasses

Illustrations, not real photos. The official rules above always take priority; some documents do not allow glasses at all.

Glasses

Heavy frames, frames covering the eyes, lens glare and tinted lenses are listed as unacceptable.

COVA takes a digital JPEG (354 to 420 x 472 to 560 px, 40 to 120 KB). Many visa application centres also require a paper photo, commonly 33 x 48 mm on glossy photo paper, and the number of copies required varies.

Where to submit the photo

Upload in the photo step of the China Online Visa Application (COVA) at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA, using the built-in crop tool if needed.

How to get your China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo

  1. Check the official requirements. Read the official specification for the China visa (COVA online application digital photo): 33 × 48 mm print, white or near-white background. Check the rules on pose, expression, glasses and headwear below.
  2. Take the photo. Follow the key requirements: head position (354 x 472 px); paper photo layout (33 x 48 mm); expression and pose; crop tool.
  3. Prepare a print or digital file. COVA takes a digital JPEG (354 to 420 x 472 to 560 px, 40 to 120 KB). Many visa application centres also require a paper photo, commonly 33 x 48 mm on glossy photo paper, and the number of copies required varies.
  4. Submit the photo with your application. Upload in the photo step of the China Online Visa Application (COVA) at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA, using the built-in crop tool if needed.

China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo FAQ

Between 354 x 472 and 420 x 560 pixels (width x height), 24-bit RGB colour, saved as a JPEG of 40 to 120 KB.

Yes, but use COVA's crop tool: the original must be large enough to crop an area larger than 354 x 472 pixels around the head, and smaller images are rejected.

COVA's ordinary file upload accepts jpg, jpeg and png, but the photo crop tool instructions say it accepts JPEG images only, and the specified photo format is JPEG. Save the photo as a JPEG.

Horizontally centred, with face width about 205 +/- 14 pixels, the top of the head 10 to 70 pixels from the top edge, the line between the eyes more than 256 pixels from the bottom edge, and the distance between the eyes more than 60 pixels.

Usually yes. Many visa centres also require a 33 x 48 mm photo printed on glossy photo paper, and the number of copies required varies.

A successful upload does not mean the photo has been approved; consular officers still check it.

Related photo specifications

Other China documents

Visas and travel authorisations nearby

Also 33 × 48 mm

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Official sources

  1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. China Online Visa Application (COVA): photo requirements and crop tool consular.mfa.gov.cn. Checked 29 October 2026.
  2. Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. China Online Visa Application (English) cs.mfa.gov.cn. Checked 29 October 2026.
  3. Chinese Visa Application Service Center, Sydney. Photo requirements FAQ (English) visaforchina.cn. Checked 29 October 2026.
  4. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States. Notes on applying for a visa to China (updated September 2025) us.china-embassy.gov.cn. Checked 29 October 2026.

Requirements can change, so always confirm with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China before you apply. WorldPhotoSpecs is independent and not affiliated with any government.

Cite this page

"China visa (COVA online application digital photo) photo". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/china/cova-visa-photo-upload

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