What Is a China Visa for?
The past decades have witnessed the rapid development of China, which can be one of the contributors to the prosperous tourism industry in China. Are you planning a trip to China and expecting to enjoy the majestic view in China? If you do, you must make full preparation before you go for your trip. Apart from a travel itinerary and travel guides, you shouldn’t forget the very important Chinese Visa issue.
As there are two essential rules about China Visa: China Visa Free policy and China Visa is Must Required. It is a priority to find out if you need a visa for your visit to China. You should know that only specific groups can enter China without a Chinese Visa. Currently, there are some situations that enable you to enter China without applying for a visa:
- Visa Waiver for Singapore, Brunei, and Japanese Citizens
- Hong Kong SAR Visa Free
- Macau SAR Visa Free
- Visa Free Transit in China
- Hainan Visa Free for 59 Countries for 30 Days
- Visa-Free Group Tour to Pearl River Delta From HK/Macau for 6 days
- Visa-Free for APEC Business Travel Card Holders for 60 Days
- Visa-Free Group Tour of ASEAN Nationals to Guilin for 6 Days
- Visa-Free Cruise Group Tour Entering from Shanghai for 15 Days
- Mutual Visa Exemption between China and Foreign Countries
- Visa Free for China Residence Permit Holders
- Special Visa Free in China Border Areas
The above listed are the visa-free policy of China. Hence, it is clear that you are required to hold a China Visa to enter China if you don’t meet any one situation. You need to apply for a relevant visa based on your purpose, destination, and duration of your visit to China. You will be entitled to apply for:
- Visa for Mainland China
- Visa for Hong Kong SAR
- Visa for Macau SAR
- Visa and Travel Permits for Tibet
China has strict specification for China Visa applications. You must notice that you will need a proper China visa photo. Don’t worry! We are here to help you out! The next part will unravel some details about the China visa photos.
What Are the Requirements for Chinese Visa Photos?
A Chinese visa is a document issued by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China that enables foreign citizens to cross the Chinese border by any mode of transportation. You have to leave the country if your visa expires. To apply for a Chinese visa, your application photographs must meet certain requirements.
- The size of a China Visa photo must be 33mm wide x 48mm high. (In the U.S., that is about 1.3 x 1.9 inches) A photo in color (RGB 24bit true color), and any black and white photo is not accepted.
- Only JPEG image is allowed, and the size should be 40 KB-120 KB.
- The photo should be printed in high resolution on glossy paper, without any damage, creases, streaks, blobs, or blurs.
- The distance between the head and the upper edge of the picture needs to be between 3 to 5 mm. The required dimensions of the head are 15 to 22mm wide by 28 to 33mm high (from the point of the chin to the top of the head). If the head is too big or too small, or incorrectly positioned, the photo will be rejected.
- The photo must be properly focused and exposed. The over-and underexposure will result in rejection.
- Selfies and photos with filters are not allowed.
- Frames and special corners are not permitted.
Note: As most photo booth services in the U.S. might just provide a 2 x 2 inches passport picture, which is unacceptable for a Chinese Visa, you are supposed to resort to a passport photo size cropper like AiPassportPhotos which can help you crop the photo size automatically.
Can You Wear Eyeglasses in the China Visa Photo?
If you wear eyeglasses every day, it is acceptable to put on your glasses in your Chinese Visa photos. You should also make sure that the frame won’t cover your eyes. Also, your glasses shouldn’t cause any reflection or shadows on your face. Therefore, avoid thick, dark, heavy, or horn-rimmed frames.
The eyeglasses should be translucent, so you should say goodbye to the sunglasses. At the same time, lenses that are tinted are prohibited, either.
If you have to wear the glasses for medical reasons, you can just keep them in your photograph.
Hearing aids are permitted, but things like headphones and earbuds will cause rejection in a China Visa photo.
What About the Accessories?
Jewelry or accessories like earrings and facial piercings are strictly prohibited in China Visa photos. Therefore, just temporarily pick off your accessories and jewelry.
Can You Wear Hair Fringe or Head Coverings in the Photos?
Listen, you are allowed to have a hair fringe that is above the eyebrow line. The basic requirements for your hair are that your hair can’t cover your face, eyes, eyebrows, or ears. You can take a China Visa photo with slicked-back hair. Or you can use little clips or bobby pins to constrict your hair. Also, if you are afraid of being refused for small clips, you can try gel or hairspray. Undoubtedly, big hair accessories like ribbons and bows are also avoided. Undoubtedly, big hair accessories like ribbons and bows should also be avoided.
What Should You Wear for Your Chinese Visa Photo?
Just wear normal clothes while taking your China Visa photo. Wear some clothes that can’t make you blend into the white background. Therefore, clothes in dark colors might be highly recommended. You will be allowed to wear religious clothes for your religious custom.
Can You Have Makeup While Taking China Visa Photo?
It is understandable that everyone wants to present the best look on a visa. Therefore, you can wear makeup in your Chinese Visa photo. However, you shouldn’t cover the basic facial features on your face like a scar, a birthmark, and so on.
Where to Take China Visa Photo in the U.S.?
As we mentioned above, the vast majority of photo booth services in America just provide you with improper passport photo size. You might need to search for other ways for help. If you have time and energy, one of the safest ways for you is to go to China Visa Application Service Centers where you can purchase the photo-taking service.
The best alternative to this way can be getting your Chinese Visa photo at home. To realize the goal, you need to have an online passport photos generator. You can just take a photo at home, and then upload the photo to the website. With a few clicks, you can enjoy fancy features including size resizing, background removal, and changing. What’s more, the tool can help you get a 100% ensured Chinese Visa photo with the support of AI-Technology. As you might need to take photos at home on your own if you have a busy time schedule. Here we have covered the easily made mistakes for you, helping you avoid the possible rejection caused by a visa photo! (You can check the do’s and don’ts in the upper part)
Can You Get Your Passport Photos by Yourself?
Of course, you can! Taking China Visa Photo at home can be a faster and cheaper way for you to choose from, for the professional photo services in the U.S. can’t provide you with proper photo size. Supported by an online passport photo cropper, you are bound to have a passport photo in the correct size. Therefore, there is no need for you to go to the photo studio. Just take photos by yourself with a tripod or ask someone to help you take photos at home. Choose the most perfect one, and let AiPassportPhotos do the rest job for you!
What Should You Avoid When Taking a Chinese Visa Photo?
Pay attention to some details when you are planning to take a Chinese Visa photo:
Take your photo against plain white background rather than a messy one. Make sure that you are the only one in the photo. There mustn’t be any other objects in the photo. If you find it hard to find a suitable background, a passport photo background editor can free you from worries.
- The head is too big or too small, or improperly positioned. The accepted dimensions of the head should between 15 to 22 mm wide by 28 to 33 mm high. (From the point of the chin to the top of the head).
- Have your mouth open, with frowning or smiling facial expression.
- The photo is older than 6 months, which can’t present your current appearance.
- Facial features are covered or obstructed.
- The photos are printed in white and black with low-quality paper.
- Wear accessories. (You are prohibited from wearing any accessories in the photo)
- Wear clothes in light color, which might blend into the white background.
- Wear a hat, head covering, and mask. You are only allowed to wear religious clothes for some religious or medical custom. However, your facial features should be completely exposed in the photo.
Pay more attention to the requirements, or your Chinese Visa might get a rejection, which cost more time and energy. Even worse, you might need to postpone your schedule!
What Are the Benefits of AiPassportPhotos?
In general, AiPassportPhotos can be an optimal choice for saving your time and money. Its ease of use and powerful functions will never turn down your requirements on your visa photos.
- Photo cropper. You are required to submit the photo in the proper size when you need to apply for a Chinese Visa. However, the general photo service in the U.S. might fail to meet your demands. With the handy features provided by the China Visa photo cropper, you can cope with the thicky task effortlessly.
- Photo background remover and changer. Sometimes, it is hard for you to find a plain white background. Take it easy, for the versatile photo background remover and changer enables you to have a proper background within a few clicks on your screen.
- Photo compliance checker. The tool will check and adjust the head position, making sure that your photo will be accepted by the authorities.
- Online photo generator. You can better your visa photo and get the digital version of your photo. You can just download the final version through email.
You can then get the photo printed at the stores that provide photo services. If you have the confidence that you have a good printer and high-quality photo papers, you can also print the photo by yourself at home. Anyway, it can be much easier for you to purchase photo booth services in China Visa Application Service Centers. It can also a cheaper option for you. The photo services in China Visa Application Service Center cost $140, while it just costs you about $5.99 on the AiPassportPhotos.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Chinese Visa?
In general, it takes you no more than a week to get your Chinese Visa. However, the time that you need to wait might depend on the lines to get visas.
What Other Things Should You Prepare for the Application for a China Visa?
Here are things you need to prepare:
- A valid passport.
- 2 paper visa photos with a size of 33x48 mm.
- Fill out the visa application.
The embassy or consulate might glean your fingerprints if you haven’t registered them yet.
Can You Have an Online Application for a China Visa?
If you have a tight time schedule, you can also choose to apply for a China Visa online. However, you should know that the online process has different size requirements for the China Visa photo! If you have submitted the wrong photo online, you will get refused as well. Here are some details for you:
Digital Photo (It means you have an online application for a Chinese Visa): the electronic photo should meet the requirements of horizontal pixels: 354 - 420 pixels and vertical pixels: 472 - 560 pixels.
Paper Photo (It means you have an offline application for a China Visa): the printed photo should be 33mm×48mm (width × height)/about 1.3×1.9 inches, head width is 15mm-22mm, height (chin to the top of head) is 28mm-33mm, head to the upper edge is between 3mm-5mm.
Therefore, you should notice the difference between online application and offline application. Otherwise, you might get an unfavorable refusal!