China Visa Photo Checker (COVA)
China's visa photo is an unusual size — 33×48 mm — with unusually strict composition rules, and the COVA online application form checks uploaded photos automatically. A photo that is the wrong size, on a slightly grey background, or with the head too large or small is rejected by the form before a human ever sees it.
This checker crops your photo to exactly 33×48 mm, sets a pure white background, and gives you a head-size guide matched to the published 28–33 mm head-height rule, so you can fix the framing before the form does it for you.
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Everything runs in your browser — your photo is never uploaded to a server. Face the camera, use even lighting, and (for passports and visas) shoot against a plain, light wall.
Choose document, size & background
China visa photo: 33×48 mm, pure white background, no border, head width 15–22 mm, head height 28–33 mm, both ears visible, taken within the last 6 months.
Official specification
| Dimensions | 33 mm wide × 48 mm high |
| Background | Pure white, no border |
| Head width | 15–22 mm |
| Head height | 28–33 mm (chin to crown) |
| Other composition | Both ears visible; head tilt no more than 20° sideways / 25° up-down |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Source | China Visa Application Service Center + Consulate General of China photo requirements, checked 2026-10-18 |
We publish only values we verified on the official source named above. Final acceptance is always decided by the issuing authority — check your application instructions before submitting.
The China visa rules people fail most
Three things trip up most applicants. First, the size: 33×48 mm is not the common 35×45 mm visa size, and photos cropped to the wrong ratio fail. Second, the head measurements: head width must be 15–22 mm and head height 28–33 mm — noticeably smaller in frame than a Schengen photo, so a photo that "looks right" for Europe is often too big-headed for China. Third, the background must be pure white with both ears visible and no jewellery or glasses obscuring the face.
A note on numbers you may see elsewhere: some sites publish pixel ranges and file-size limits for the online form that do not appear in the consulate's published requirements. This checker validates only the published requirements above. If your form reports a file-size problem, use our exact-KB compressor with the limit shown on your screen.
Paper or digital?
The same 33×48 mm specification covers both the photo uploaded to the online form and the printed photo submitted with a paper application. Download the JPG for the upload, or use the 4×6 print sheet to print copies at the exact millimetre size.
Sizes & backgrounds on this site
| Output | Millimetres | Pixels |
|---|---|---|
| 630 × 810 px (India ICAO digital) | 35×45 mm | 630×810px |
| 600 × 600 px (digital) | 51×51 mm | 600×600px |
| 2×2 in · 51×51 mm (print, 300 DPI) | 51×51 mm | 1500×1500px |
| 35×45 mm (300 DPI) | 35×45 mm | 1050×1350px |
| 33×48 mm (300 DPI) | 33×48 mm | 990×1440px |
| ≈37.5×47.5 mm (AU range midpoint) | 37.5×47.5 mm | 443×561px |
| 50×70 mm (300 DPI) | 50×70 mm | 591×827px |
Backgrounds: White #FFFFFF • Off-white / cream #F6F1E7 • Light grey #E8E8E8 • Blue #0090FF • Red #DB1514. Background replacement is offered only for documents whose rules allow it — for U.S., UK passport, Australian and Canadian documents the tools on this site are format-only, by design.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a China visa photo?
33 mm wide × 48 mm high, on a pure white background. The head must be 15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high (chin to crown), with both ears visible.
Why did the COVA form reject my photo?
The most common causes are the wrong dimensions (anything other than 33×48 mm), a background that is not pure white, a head that is too large or too small for the 15–22 mm / 28–33 mm rules, or visible glasses and jewellery. Re-crop with the checker above and compare against each rule.
Can I wear glasses in a China visa photo?
The published requirements call for a clear, unobstructed view of the face with both ears visible; glasses that shadow or cover the eyes are a common rejection cause. Removing glasses for the photo is the safer choice.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. Cropping, resizing, compression and (where offered) background replacement all run locally in your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.
All documents & tools
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600×600 px · ≤240 KB
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U.S. Visa (DS-160)
600×600 px · ≤240 KB
Fix CEAC photo errors: size, squareness, head height, file weight.
U.S. Passport
2×2 in · 51×51 mm
Format-only checker — no AI edits, exactly as the State Department requires.
Schengen Visa
35×45 mm
One photo for all 29 Schengen destinations, face 70–80%.
India Passport
35×45 mm ICAO · 630×810 px
GPSP 2.0 / mission route is ICAO since Sep 2025; the 51×51 print route still exists. Both, separated.
India Visa (online)
350–1000 px · 10–300 KB
Square JPEG for the online Indian visa application form.
OCI Card
51×51 mm
OCI photograph: 2×2 in, face about 80% of the frame.
UK Passport
35×45 mm · ≥600×750 px
GOV.UK rules: plain light background, taken within the last month.
UK Visa
35×45 mm
The white vs light-grey question, answered from the GOV.UK standard.
Australia Passport
35–40 × 45–50 mm
A size RANGE, not a preset — framing checker and official checklist.
Canada Passport
50×70 mm
Size & framing guide — final photos must come from a commercial photographer.
2×2 / 51×51 Maker
600×600 px
The universal square format, metric-first, with a 4×6 print sheet.
Exact-KB Compressor
240 / 200 / 120 KB presets
Compress a passport photo to the exact KB a portal demands.