Free browser-based COVA photo tool

Free China Visa Photo Maker for COVA Applications

Upload a clear front-facing JPG or PNG to create a COVA-ready China visa photo. Cropping, person segmentation, background replacement, validation, and download all happen locally in your browser.

Output: 385 × 560 px JPG using the 33 × 48 mm photo ratio. The encoder aims for the 40–120 KB COVA file-size range. Your selected image is processed locally in this browser and is not uploaded to our server.

Upload a clear front-facing photo
JPG or PNG, plain background, maximum 10MB

COVA photo specifications

China Visa Photo Requirements for COVA

China visa application photos have both physical composition rules and digital upload limits. This photo maker produces one fixed output inside the published digital range, so you do not need to choose dimensions manually.

Requirement	Published guidance	This tool
Digital dimensions	354–420 px wide and 472–560 px high	385 × 560 px
Physical size	33 × 48 mm	33 × 48 mm aspect ratio
File format	JPEG/JPG for online submission	Downloads as JPG
File size	40–120 KB	Compression targets about 80 KB
Background	Uniform white, without borders	Automatic person segmentation and white replacement
Head dimensions	15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high	Automatic sizing and validation
Top margin	3–5 mm above the crown	Automatic positioning and validation

Reference: Chinese Visa Application Service Center photo guidance. Requirements can vary by application location and can change. Confirm the latest instructions from the visa center handling your application.

Accurate expectations

What the China Visa Photo Maker Fixes Automatically

Handled by the tool

Output size: creates a 385 × 560 px JPG with the 33:48 photo ratio.
White background: MediaPipe person segmentation keeps the portrait and replaces the rest with white.
Head placement: detects the face, estimates the full head including hair, and adjusts width, height, centering, and top margin.
File size: compresses the JPG toward 80 KB and reports the final download size.
Basic geometry: checks head tilt, face direction, and position where detection data is available.

Check these yourself

The photo was taken recently and still matches your current appearance.
Both eyes are open and visible, with no red-eye or strong glasses reflection.
Your face is front-facing, your mouth is closed, and your expression is neutral.
Hair, clothing, glasses, or accessories do not cover important facial features.
Lighting is even, without a hard shadow across the face or overexposed skin.

Automatic measurements are estimates, not a guarantee of acceptance. The visa application center and consular officer make the final decision.

Prepare a better source image

How to Take a China Visa Photo at Home

Use soft, even light.Face a window or use two lights from the front. Avoid direct overhead light, strong side light, and visible shadows across the face.
Stand in front of a simple background.The tool replaces the background, but a plain wall gives cleaner edges around fine hair, ears, and shoulders.
Hold the camera at eye level.Keep the phone parallel to your face, look directly at the lens, and leave enough room around the full head and upper shoulders.
Keep a neutral appearance.Close your mouth, open both eyes naturally, remove tinted glasses, and avoid hats or head coverings except where permitted for religious reasons.
Upload and review the result.Let Auto fit position the head, inspect the white-background edges, read every validation result, and then download the JPG.

Avoid preventable upload problems

Common Reasons a COVA Photo Is Rejected

Wrong dimensions

A generic passport-photo crop may have the wrong pixel size or aspect ratio. This tool always exports 385 × 560 px.

File outside the size limit

A visually correct image can still fail at upload. The download process targets 40–120 KB and reports the resulting size.

Non-white background

Gray walls, colored areas, shadows, and visible room details can make the background unacceptable. Person segmentation replaces non-portrait areas with white.

Head too large or too small

Head dimensions must fit the required range while leaving the correct space above the hair. Auto fit constrains both width and height.

Poor lighting or glare

Strong shadows, reflections on glasses, and blown highlights require a better source photo. Software cannot reliably reconstruct missing facial detail.

Pose or appearance issue

A turned face, closed eyes, open mouth, obstruction, or old photo can still be refused even when all digital measurements pass.

Frequently asked questions

China Visa Photo Maker FAQ

What pixel size is required for a COVA visa photo?

Published guidance allows a digital image from 354–420 pixels wide and 472–560 pixels high. This tool uses a fixed 385 × 560 px output, which sits inside that range and matches the 33:48 photo ratio.

What file size does the COVA system require?

The usual published range is 40–120 KB. The tool encodes the final JPG toward approximately 80 KB and shows the actual size after download. Always check that the downloaded file remains inside the range.

Does chinavisa.world upload or save my photo?

No. The selected photo is decoded and processed inside your browser. Face detection, person segmentation, cropping, validation, and JPG creation run locally; the original image is not sent to the chinavisa.world server.

Can I take the source photo with a phone?

Yes. A modern phone is normally sufficient when the camera is at eye level, the face is sharp, lighting is even, and the full head and upper shoulders are visible. Avoid portrait-mode blur around the hair because it can reduce edge quality.

Can I wear glasses in a China visa photo?

Clear glasses may be accepted in some circumstances, but the frames must not cover the eyes and the lenses must not show glare. Removing glasses is the safer option when possible. Tinted lenses are not suitable.

Why might a technically correct photo still fail?

Digital dimensions are only part of the review. A photo can still fail because of an outdated appearance, poor focus, facial obstruction, an unsuitable expression, uneven light, glasses reflection, or local application-center requirements.

Does a passing result guarantee that COVA will accept the photo?

No. The checks help prepare the dimensions, background, head placement, and file size, but they cannot verify every visual or administrative requirement. Final acceptance belongs to the application center and consular authority.

Continue your application

Next Steps After Making Your COVA Photo

Check the rest of your application before submission, then prepare supporting flight and hotel itinerary documents if your visa type requires them.

Check Your COVA Application Get a Visa Itinerary Package

Free to use. No registration. Photo processing stays in your browser. Last updated: July 16, 2026.