Quick answer
What size is the China visa photo in India?
The Chinese Embassy in India asks for two recent colour photos, 48 mm high and 33 mm wide, on a white background with no head covering, taken within six months. For the online form, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies a JPEG of 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels and 40–120 KB.
Indians need a visa for China. You fill in the form online and upload your documents, then hand in your passport at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai within 30 days of approval. Bring two recent colour photos, 48 mm high and 33 mm wide, on a white background with no head covering, taken within the last six months. For a digital photo, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets a JPEG of 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels and 40–120 KB.
China visa photo size and requirements
| Print size | 33 mm wide × 48 mm high |
|---|---|
| Number of prints | 2 (Chinese Embassy in India) |
| Head size (print) | 28–33 mm high and 15–22 mm wide |
| Margins (print) | 3–5 mm from the top of the head to the top edge; at least 7 mm below the chin |
| Digital size | 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels (width × height) |
| File | JPEG, 40–120 KB, 24-bit RGB colour |
| Background | White or close to white, with no border |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses | Allowed if the lenses are not tinted, with no glare or shadows and the frames clear of the eyes |
| Head covering | None (Embassy in India); see the note below |
The print size, the number of photos and the "no head covering" rule come from the Chinese Embassy in India's visa notice of 22 October 2026. The head size, margins, glasses rule and digital specs come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' photo requirements for Chinese visa applications. That MFA standard allows head coverings worn for religious reasons if the face is fully visible, but the Embassy's notice says no head covering, so ask the Embassy or Consulate General before you apply if you wear one. We could not check whether the online form enforces exactly the MFA pixel and KB limits.
Do not trim an Indian passport-size print
Indian passport-size photos are 35 × 45 mm with the face filling about 80–85% of the frame. China's 33 × 48 mm print is narrower and taller, and the head should be only 28–33 mm high, so a trimmed Indian print will have the head too large. Crop a new copy from the original photo instead.
How to apply for a Chinese visa in India
From 26 October 2026, the Chinese Embassy in India and the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai accept and process visa applications directly. The Embassy's notice sets out these steps:
- Fill in the visa application form online at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ and upload the required documents for online review.
- Wait for the approval email.
- Within 30 days, take your passport, the form, your documents and your photos to the Embassy in New Delhi or, if you live in Maharashtra or Karnataka, to the Consulate General in Mumbai.
Applications from the Kolkata consular district are handled by the Embassy for now. Regular processing takes 7 working days and express processing 4 working days, counted from the day after you hand in your passport.
Fingerprints
Until 31 December 2026, the Embassy's notice exempts applicants for short-term visas with a stay of no more than 180 days from fingerprinting. Applicants for multiple-entry visas, longer stays and some residence-type visas should, in principle, give fingerprints at the Embassy or Consulate General. Anyone under 14 or over 70 is exempt.
How to prepare your China visa photos in India
- Take a photo on white with no head covering. Face the camera with your eyes open and a neutral expression. Clear glasses are allowed if there is no glare.
- Crop it to 33 × 48 mm. Keep the head 28–33 mm high, 3–5 mm below the top edge, with at least 7 mm below the chin.
- Save a digital copy. If the online form asks for a photo, use a JPEG of 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels and 40–120 KB. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
- Print two copies. Print two colour photos on photo paper and take them, with your passport and documents, to the Embassy or Consulate General within 30 days of approval.
Sample photos
Samples show pose, lighting and background. Crop your own photo to the China visa size.
China visa photo FAQ
33 mm wide and 48 mm high, in colour, on a white background, taken within the last six months. The head should be 28–33 mm high.
Two recent colour photos, according to the Chinese Embassy in India's notice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' standard is a JPEG of 354 × 472 to 420 × 560 pixels, 40–120 KB, in 24-bit colour, on a white or near-white background with no border.
The Embassy in India's notice says no head covering. The MFA's photo standard allows religious head coverings if the face is fully visible. If you wear one for religious reasons, ask the Embassy or Consulate General before you apply.
Since 26 October 2026, at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, or at the Consulate General in Mumbai if you live in Maharashtra or Karnataka. Applications from the Kolkata consular district are handled by the Embassy for now. You fill in the form online first.
Not for most short-term visas until 31 December 2026: the Embassy exempts stays of up to 180 days, although multiple-entry applicants should in principle give fingerprints. Applicants under 14 or over 70 are exempt.
Official sources
- Chinese Embassy in India: Notice on Chinese visa application
- Chinese Embassy in India: Direct acceptance of visa applications from 26 October 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: Photo requirements for Chinese visa applications (via the Chinese Visa Application Service Center)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: Online visa application
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.