China Passport Photo Requirements 2026: 33x48 mm Size, White Background, Head Size, and Print Rules
China passport and travel-document photo requirements explained from consular guidance: 33x48 mm print, white background, head-size ranges, no synthetic edits, and common rejection reasons.
China passport photo quick answer
Chinese consular passport and travel-document photo guidance uses a 33 x 48 mm color photo on a white background. The listed head width range is 15-22 mm, and the head height from chin to crown is 28-33 mm. This is not the same shape as a U.S. 2x2 inch passport photo.
| Requirement | China passport / travel-document photo |
|---|---|
| Printed size | 33 x 48 mm |
| Background | White, without shadows or extra objects |
| Head width | 15-22 mm |
| Head height | 28-33 mm from chin to crown |
| Top margin | 3-5 mm from head top to photo edge |
| Lower chin margin | At least 7 mm below the chin |
Do not use a U.S. 2x2 photo for this route
The most common mistake is using a square U.S. passport or visa photo because it is easy to get at a pharmacy. China passport-style photos are taller and narrower. If the print has already been cropped to 2x2 inches, it is usually easier to go back to the original portrait and crop again than to rescue the square file.
Use the China visa photo guide only when the visa route is the actual route. Use this page when the job is a Chinese passport or travel-document photo and the consular passport/travel-document wording controls the output.
Common rejection reasons
- The photo is the wrong size or the head is outside the listed range.
- Hair covers eyebrows, eyes, or ears in a way the consular guidance flags.
- Glasses cause reflection, tinted lenses, or unclear eye outlines.
- The face or background has shadows, blur, red eye, stains, or other objects.
- The image was modified, synthesized, or printed on unsuitable paper.
Keep the source photo clean
Start with a fresh portrait, plain light, and enough space around the head. A tight selfie is hard to turn into a 33x48 mm print with the right margins.
Passlens workflow
- Start from the original portrait, not a pre-cropped 2x2 photo.
- Choose the closest China passport or 33x48 mm workflow in Passlens.
- Check the head height, white background, and margins before export.
- Export the exact single photo or a print sheet, then print at actual size.
Keep the 35x45 size guide, pixels guide, passport photo checker, and clean export guide nearby if you are comparing multiple document sizes.
