33 x 48 mm Photo Maker (3.3 x 4.8 cm)

  • Size33 x 48 mm
  • BackgroundWhite or close to white, no border or frame
  • Head height58–69% of the photo
  • GlassesAllowed, no glare
  1. Add your photo
  2. We check it
  3. Download & print

Add a photo for your 33x48 mm Photo

For the best result

  • Plain wallCleaner edges around hair
  • Face the lightA window or lamp, no side shadow
  • Neutral faceEyes open, look at the lens
  • No glassesHats and headphones off too
  • Arm's lengthHead and shoulders in frame

Your photo stays on your device. It is processed here in your browser — we don't upload it, and we can't see it.

About this photo

33 x 48 mm (3.3 x 4.8 cm) is the photo size China uses for visa and passport applications - narrower and taller than the European 35 x 45 mm, so the two are not interchangeable. Your head has to measure 28 to 33 mm from chin to crown on a plain white background. This page crops to that exact geometry, and also covers the much smaller file the COVA online form accepts.

33 x 48 mm (3.3 x 4.8 cm) Chinese Visa Photo photo requirements

33 x 48 mm (3.3 x 4.8 cm) Chinese Visa Photo photo specification
Print size33 mm wide x 48 mm high (3.3 x 4.8 cm)
Head height28-33 mm from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head - 58%-69% of the photo height
Head width15-22 mm across
Eye height (derived)About 59%-68% of the photo height above the bottom edge. China publishes head size rather than an eye line, so this is calculated from the official head-height figures
COVA online uploadJPEG only, 354 x 472 pixels, file size between 40 KB and 120 KB
BackgroundWhite or close to white, with no edge frame
ExpressionNeutral, eyes open, lips closed, ears visible
Head angleNo more than 20 degrees of left or right tilt and no more than 25 degrees up or down
GlassesPermitted, but not thick-rimmed, tinted or glare-producing lenses
Head coveringOnly for religious reasons, and it must not obscure any facial feature
PaperGlossy finish photo paper, no creases, scratches or stains
Age of photoTaken within the last 6 months

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

  • COVA, the China Online Visa Application system, checks your photo automatically at upload with no human review. After three failed attempts the system stops trying and tells you to bring a printed paper photo to the visa centre when you hand in your passport.
  • The COVA file window is small: JPEG only, 354 x 472 pixels, between 40 KB and 120 KB. A normal phone photo is dozens of times larger and will simply not go through.
  • 354 x 472 pixels is a 3:4 shape, but the printed photo is 33 x 48 mm, which is not 3:4. The file you upload and the photo you print are two different crops - do not assume one export covers both jobs.
  • The official specification asks for glossy photo paper. US drugstore machines usually default to glossy, but if you are offered a choice, do not pick matte here.
  • The tilt limits are real and are checked: no more than 20 degrees of left-right rotation and no more than 25 degrees up or down. A slightly turned head that would pass as a US photo can fail.
  • 33 x 48 mm is close enough to 35 x 45 mm to look identical by eye but is 2 mm narrower and 3 mm taller. Photos cut for a Schengen or UK application will not fit the Chinese form's photo box.

Printing it for about 40¢

The 4×6 sheet this tool gives you holds several copies of your photo at exactly 33 x 48 mm (3.3 x 4.8 cm). Order it as an ordinary 4×6 photo print — about 19¢ at Walmart, 39¢ at Walgreens or 42¢ at CVS — then cut them out. That is the same print the store charges $7.64 to $16.99 for at the counter.

The one thing that goes wrong: letting the store’s website or kiosk crop, zoom or “fit” your image. That changes the photo’s physical size and is the most common reason a printed photo is rejected. Always choose the option that prints the whole sheet at actual size.

Common questions

What is a 33 x 48 mm photo used for?

Chinese visa applications - tourist, business, student and work - and Chinese passport applications. It is not used by any other country's main travel documents, which is why most photo booths and drugstore counters do not offer it.

Why does my photo keep failing the COVA upload?

Almost always file size or pixel dimensions. COVA takes JPEG only at 354 x 472 pixels and between 40 KB and 120 KB. If the picture looks correct but the upload is refused, re-export at those exact numbers before you touch the crop. There is no human reviewer at that stage to interpret a near miss.

Can I print 33 x 48 mm photos at CVS or Walgreens?

Yes. The counter will not cut this size, but you can lay six 33 x 48 mm photos onto a standard 4 x 6 inch sheet with cutting margins, upload it as an ordinary photo print, and pick it up the same day for about 29 to 39 cents. Ask for glossy, then trim them with a ruler and knife.

How much does a Chinese visa photo cost?

The passport photo counter at a US drugstore charges roughly $16.99 to $17.99, and many will only produce a 2 x 2 inch print, which is the wrong size. Printing your own 4 x 6 sheet at the same store costs about 39 cents for six correctly sized photos.

Can I wear glasses for a Chinese visa photo?

The official guidance permits glasses but excludes thick-rimmed, tinted and glare-producing lenses. Since reflection is the single easiest thing to get wrong, taking them off is the lower-risk choice unless you genuinely cannot see without them.

Does the background have to be pure white?

White or close to white, with no frame or border around the edge. A very light grey wall photographed in even light is usually accepted; a coloured wall, a visible shadow behind your head, or a printed border is not.

How many photos do I need?

The paper application form has one photo box, so one is the minimum - but bring at least one spare. If your COVA upload failed the automatic check, the visa centre will expect a compliant paper photo from you at the counter, and a spare saves a second trip.

Is 33 x 48 mm the same as 3.3 x 4.8 cm?

Yes, identical. You will also see it written as 48 x 33 mm with the height first. Watch out for 35 x 45 mm, which looks similar but is a different size and is not accepted.

Other photos you can make free

Checked August 2026 Specifications and prices on this page come from the sources below. Rules and prices change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.