If you’re preparing a photo for a Chinese passport application, brace yourself for some seriously nitpicky requirements! We’re talking specific millimeter ranges for the width and height of your head, people. Not just the overall photo dimensions, but the literal size of your face. Talk about zeroing in on the details!
And that’s just the start of the rigid rules. There are also precise measurements for how much space needs to be above your hairline and below your chin. One errant strand of hair too close to the edge could be an automatic redo! While these Chinese passport photo requirements may seem a bit excessive, they’re all about achieving optimum face-framing for recognition technology. Get ready to channel your inner model and strike that perfectly centered pose!
Chinese passport photo size and measurements
| Requirement | Specifications | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Size | 33mm x 48mm (1.29 in x 1.88 in) | – |
| Head Size (Width) | 15mm – 22mm (0.59 in – 0.87 in) | Must be centered in the photo |
| Head Size (Height) | 28mm – 33mm (1.10 in – 1.30 in) | From chin to crown of head |
| Distance: Head to Top of Photo | 3mm – 5mm (0.12 in – 0.20 in) | Space between hairline and top edge |
| Distance: Chin to Bottom of Photo | Minimum 7mm (0.28 in) | Must show full lower face |
| Background | Plain white or light blue | No patterns, objects, or shadows |
| Facial Expression | Neutral (closed mouth, no smiling or frowning) | Eyes open and looking directly at the camera |
| Eyes | Clearly visible, no red-eye | Glasses allowed if necessary (see notes) |
| Glasses | Thin frames, no glare, non-tinted lenses | Medical certificate might be required |
| Headwear | Not allowed (except for religious purposes) | Full face must be visible |
| Lighting | Uniform, no shadows or glare | Natural skin tone |
| Recency | Photo must be taken within the last 6 months | Reflect your current appearance |
| Color | Must be in color | True skin tones |
| Quality | High quality, clear, no scratches or creases | Professional photo recommended |
| Digital Photo (pixels) | 354 pixels (width) x 472 pixels (height) minimum, Up to 420 x 560 pixels allowed | – |
| Digital Photo (Color Space) | RGB 24 bit true color | – |
| Digital Photo (File Size) | 40 KB – 120 KB | – |
Also read:
German passport photo requirements
Canadian Passport Photo Requirement
Chinese passport photo size
A Chinese passport photo size that is qualified has a width of 33mm and a length of 48mm according to the Chinese passport photo requirements. In which, the width of your head in the photo measures between 15mm and 22mm, the length of the head measures between 28mm and 33mm. The top of the head and the top of the photo need to be 3mm to 5mm apart.
Photo quality
The passport photo is kept intact, without damage, wrinkles or other defects. Photos with ink on them, strange patterns or unusual details will not be accepted. So you need to preserve photos carefully.
The photo must be sharp and clear to clearly show facial features. Blurred photos will be rejected. Absolutely do not remove or edit facial details such as moles, wrinkles, scars,… especially identifying details on your face.
Background, lighting
Passport photos need to meet the background and lighting requirements according to the following guidelines:
- Background: The background must be white and plain without any patterns. This helps to reflect the face clearly. Shadows in the background are not accepted in the Chinese passport photo.
- Lighting: Uniform lighting is required in the Chinese passport photo. You need to avoid having shadows of your face, ears or hair in the photo. Besides, the skin tone color needs to be accurately reflected so you should not use any tool to edit the photo color.
Posture and facial requirements
Passport photos must meet the posture and facial expression requirements according to the following instructions of Chinese passport photo requirements.
- Posture: The head position must be upright, no tilted head, no turn left or right. You need to face the camera when taking the passport photo and show the head with a full face. Do not let your hair obscure the face or part of the face.
- Facial expression: Remember to keep a neutral facial expression with closed mouth and open eyes. Smiling or laughing is not permitted in the Chinese passport photo. You can have a relaxed face when taking the photo.
Clothes and accessories
To meet the Chinese passport photo requirements, you need to know the following about clothes and accessories.
- Clothes: You can wear the clothes that you wear daily, but remember to choose a basic-color shirt except for white color, avoid clothes with many patterns. You should not wear a shirt that its color is identical to the background.
- Head coverings: Any kind of head coverings is not permitted except for religious head covering. However, you must show the full face with all the facial features when wearing this.
- Glasses: You must not wear tinted glasses or sunglasses in the passport photo. The frame of the eyeglasses that is too thick or covers the eyes will not be accepted.
Additional tips to avoid passport photo being rejected
To avoid making mistakes when taking passport photos, here are some tips you can keep in mind.
Make sure the photo is high-quality: good camera, set up enough lighting
To take a beautiful photo, you need to prepare a good camera. Currently, there are many phones with camera functions that produce high quality and sharp photos. So you can easily find a good camera. If you have a personal digital camera, it is definitely the best choice.
You should choose a venue that has enough lighting. You can take photos in a room with windows that let in natural light, or with full lighting setup. If the place you take the photo is too dark, the photo will be very dark and difficult to see, and will not show your face accurately.
You should stand about 1 meter away from the camera to avoid creating shadows on the background. Furthermore, the light should shine straight and evenly from all sides so as not to create shadows. Avoid lighting from one side as it will create shadows when taking photos.
Pay attention to hair neatness and facial expression
You should pay attention to keeping your hair neat so it doesn’t cover your face. This is an extremely small detail that many people do not pay attention to, so the passport photo does not meet the Chinese passport photo requirements.
Besides, you should pay attention to facial expressions. Let your face be in a relaxed state, don’t be too tense. Avoid expressions that change facial muscles such as smiling or frowning. When taking photos, your eyes need to look straight at the camera, not looking away.
Use verification tools or passportmaker tools
If you take your own passport photo at home. What interests you most is how to choose the correct size of Chinese passport photo, right? Don’t worry because you can adjust Chinese passport photo size online with the PassportMaker tool.
Once you have a photo that meets the standards, you just need to upload the photo to the tool, PassportMaker will help you adjust Chinese passport photo size online for free. Besides, the tool also helps you remove the background and replace it with a basic background color, in accordance with passport photo requirements. So you don’t need to worry too much about choosing a background when taking selfies at home.
Conclusion
Above is detailed information about Chinese passport photo requirements that you need to know. Hopefully what is shared through this article will help you prepare your passport application more conveniently.
