China Passport Photo Requirements

A China passport photo is 33 x 48mm - 390 x 567 pixels at 300 DPI - on a white background, with both ears visible and a neutral expression. That size is the whole problem: it is neither the 35 x 45mm international standard nor the US 2 x 2 inch square, so a walk-in counter at Walgreens, CVS, or Boots often cannot produce it, and the electronic-passport upload adds a file-size cap of 80KB on top.

The good news is that China uses the same 33 x 48mm size for passports and visas, so unlike most countries there is no passport-versus-visa size trap. If you are applying for a visa specifically, the China visa photo guide covers that route; this one is the passport.

Why photo labs cannot make it

The single most common snag: 33 x 48mm is not a standard preset at most Western photo labs. Their machines are set up for 35 x 45mm or the US 2 x 2 inch square, and two millimetres narrower and three taller is enough that the preset simply is not there. That is why people get turned away at the counter, and why making the photo yourself to exact dimensions is often the only reliable route. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China publishes the requirement.

The 80KB file cap - not 40-120KB

For the electronic passport, the digital photo has a size ceiling, and it is worth being precise because a widely-copied figure is wrong. Both Chinese authorities cap the file at 80KB: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular service specifies 30 to 80 kilobytes for an electronic passport portrait, and the National Immigration Administration specifies 20 to 80 kilobytes for exit-entry documents. They differ at the bottom and agree at the top. The "40 to 120KB" band that circulates on third-party sites appears on neither, and a 120KB file would be over the limit both of them set - so do not aim for it.

Both ears, no smile

Two appearance rules catch out people used to other countries. Both ears must be visible, so tuck or pin hair back before you take the photo - many countries do not require this. The expression must be neutral with no smile, the head should measure about 28 to 33mm tall and 15 to 22mm across, with roughly 3 to 5mm of space above it. The background is white; some authorities also accept light blue, but white is the safe default.

How to make one

The China passport photo maker crops your photo to the 33:48 ratio, resizes it to exactly 390 x 567 pixels, and steps the JPEG quality down until the file lands under 80KB, holding the dimensions fixed. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded. It sets the size and the file weight, but it does not fill a white background for you or check that both ears show and the head sits at the right height - so start from a photo taken against a plain white wall, and check the framing against the embassy's list. Confirm the current requirements before you submit, and for the reasons a photo gets bounced beyond size, see why passport photos get rejected.

FAQ

Why won't Walgreens or CVS make a China passport photo?
China uses 33 x 48mm, which is not a standard preset at most Western photo labs - they are set for 35 x 45mm or the US 2 x 2 inch square. Making it to exact dimensions is the reliable route.

Do both ears need to be visible?
Yes. China specifically requires both ears visible, so tuck hair back before the photo. The expression must also be neutral, with no smile.

Is the China passport photo the same as the visa photo?
On size, yes - both are 33 x 48mm, so one correctly-made photo works for both. See the China visa guide for the visa route's other rules.

What file size does the online passport system need?
Under 80KB. The MFA consular service specifies 30-80KB and the National Immigration Administration 20-80KB. The widely-quoted 40-120KB appears on neither official page, and 120KB is over both limits.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The crop, resize and compression run in your browser using the Canvas API, so your photo never leaves your device.