Creating a Chinese passport photo at home is possible, but you must account for China's unique requirements. The biggest difference is the 33×48mm sizing — not the standard 35×45mm used elsewhere.
This guide walks through each step to produce a compliant photo.
Key Chinese Passport Photo Requirements for DIY
Before starting, know these critical specifications:
- Dimensions: 33×48mm (not standard 35×45mm)
- Background: Pure white (#FFFFFF)
- Face ratio: 60-70% of frame height
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
- No glasses: All eyewear prohibited
- Eyes: Open and visible
The size is your primary challenge. Everything else follows international standards.
Get a compliant passport photo online
Equipment Needed for a DIY Chinese Passport Photo
You can shoot with:
- Smartphone (12+ megapixels)
- Digital camera
- Tablet with good camera
You'll also need:
- White background (continuous paper, white foam board, or white wall)
- Even lighting (natural window light or softboxes)
- Mirror for positioning
- Photo editing software with cropping
Step 1: Set Up a White Background for Chinese Photos
China requires pure white (#FFFFFF), not off-white, not cream, not light grey.
Your best options at home:
- White foam board — available at stationery stores for a few yuan. The most reliable option.
- White bedsheet — iron it completely flat and pin it taut at the top. Even minor wrinkles create micro-shadows that automated systems detect.
- Clean white wall — inspect carefully for yellowing, scuff marks, or nail holes. Older paint can drift towards cream or grey.
The background must fill the entire frame behind you with generous margin for cropping. Stand 12–18 inches away from the background to prevent your body casting a shadow onto it.
Step 2: Lighting for Your Chinese Passport Photo
Even, shadow-free lighting is essential. China's white background requirement means any shadow on the wall is immediately visible.
Natural light: Face a large window with indirect light. Overcast days are ideal — clouds act as a natural diffuser. Avoid direct sunlight, which causes harsh shadows and squinting. If your window gets direct sun, hang a sheer white curtain to soften it.
Artificial light: Position two identical lamps at 45° angles on either side of your face. This eliminates one-sided shadows. Use daylight-temperature bulbs (5000K–6500K) — warm-toned bulbs cast a yellow tint onto the white background.
Test your lighting before shooting. Take a photo of just the background — it should look pure white on screen with no visible shadows, gradients, or colour casts.
Step 3: Position Your Face at 60–70% of the Frame
China requires face height at 60-70% of the frame. This is more flexible than Japan's strict 71-80%.
Move closer to the camera than typical. Have a mirror beside your camera to preview framing.
Adjust until your face fills approximately 65% of the frame vertically.
Step 4: Remove All Glasses Before Shooting
Remember: China bans all glasses. Remove them before the photo.
If you wear contacts, wear them. If not, you'll appear without glasses. This is how your passport will show you.
Step 5: Achieve a Neutral Expression for Chinese Photos
China requires a neutral expression — mouth closed, no smile, no frown. Both eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera.
Practice in a mirror before the session. The goal is your natural resting face. Don't clench your jaw or press your lips together — just relax. Take several shots with slightly different expressions; you'll find the one that looks most natural during review.
Step 6: Capture Multiple Shots and Review Each One
Take at least 15-20 photos. Review each immediately. Delete obvious failures.
Check for:
- Correct dimensions (33×48mm)
- Pure white background
- 60-70% face coverage
- No glasses
- Neutral expression
- Eyes open
Select your best 3-4 options.
Step 7: Crop to China's 33×48mm and Finalize
Crop to 33×48mm aspect ratio (approximately 11:16).
This is the critical step. Your photo must be exactly 33mm wide by 48mm tall.
Set your cropping tool to 390×567 pixels at 300 DPI. Do not use standard 35×45mm templates — the dimensions are different.
Step 8: Verify Your Chinese Passport Photo Compliance
Before submitting, check everything:
- Dimensions: 33×48mm (not 35×45mm)
- Background: pure white (#FFFFFF)
- Face ratio: 60-70% of frame
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed
- Eyes: open, visible
- No glasses
- Format: JPEG, proper file size
Common DIY Mistakes for Chinese Passport Photos
Wrong dimensions. The single most common error. Standard 35×45mm crops are too wide for China's 33×48mm format. If you use a generic "passport photo" template, it will produce the wrong size.
Off-white background. Walls that appear white to your eye often register as cream or pale yellow in photos. Take a test photo of the wall alone. If it looks warm on screen, use foam board instead.
Shadows on background or face. Stand at least 12 inches from the wall. Use two light sources at 45° angles. Even faint shadows can trigger rejection.
Wearing glasses. China bans all glasses — prescription, sunglasses, and reading glasses. If you normally wear glasses, it's easy to forget to remove them. Check before every shot.
Smile or expression. Even a slight upturn at the corners of your mouth can be flagged. Practice a relaxed neutral face.
Equipment Tips for DIY Chinese Passport Photos
Phone vs. camera. A smartphone from the last 5 years is sufficient. Use the rear camera (not selfie) for better quality and less distortion. Position the phone 4–6 feet away on a tripod or stable surface.
Lighting setup. If you don't have softboxes, two identical desk lamps with daylight bulbs (5000K–6500K) work well. Position them at 45° angles on either side. Match the bulbs — different colour temperatures create uneven tones.
Burst mode. Take 15–20 shots rapidly. Select the best 2–3 for cropping. Minor expression and eye differences between frames mean some shots will be compliant and others won't.
How to Print Your Chinese Passport Photo at Home
After cropping to 390×567 pixels:
- Print at 300 DPI on photo paper. You can fit multiple 33×48mm photos on a single 4×6 sheet.
- Use matte or glossy paper. Both are accepted.
- Verify the printed size with a ruler. The photo must measure exactly 33mm × 48mm.
- If printing at home, do a test print on plain paper first to check colour accuracy.
In China, prints at a 照相馆 (photo studio) or 打印店 (print shop) cost ¥5–15. Many are located near 出入境管理局 offices.
Submitting Your Photo to the 出入境管理局 (PSB)
Chinese passport applications are processed through the 出入境管理局 (Exit-Entry Administration). You can schedule appointments online in most cities. Bring printed photos and a digital copy on a USB drive or have it available on your phone.
Photos taken at home are accepted if they meet all technical specifications. The 出入境管理局 staff may retake your photo on-site if they identify issues — this is free but adds time.
Chinese Passport Photo Rules for Citizens Abroad
If you're renewing a Chinese passport abroad, the same 33×48mm requirements apply at Chinese embassies and consulates. Studios in other countries may default to 35×45mm — specify "Chinese passport photo, 33×48mm, white background, no glasses" to avoid mistakes.
Digital Upload Requirements for Chinese Passport Photos
For online submissions, China typically requires:
- JPEG format
- File size under 1MB (some portals specify 50KB–500KB)
- White background
- 390×567 pixels at 300 DPI
Check the specific portal's requirements before uploading — different city-level systems sometimes have slightly different file size limits.
Verify your photo meets all Chinese requirements with the passportsize-photo.online checker. For complete size details, see the China passport photo size guide. For full Chinese passport photo rules, visit the China hub.
