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Whether you want to take a trip to China for educational purposes or want to go on a quick vacation, a Chinese visa is a must-have requirement. This is because traveling overseas is not as easy as it looks.
You will need a proper reason for your land, air, or sea visit. Moreover, you will be required to leave the country well before the expiration of your stay arrives.
If you can fulfill all these requirements, you can start packing your bags and get ready to snap a photo for your Chinese Visa. But where do you start applying for it? What are the requirements?
Here’s your ticket to everything there is to know about taking your Chinese visa photo in the US!
Where Can You Take a Chinese Visa Photograph in the US?
#1 Professional Photo Studios
The first and best place to get your picture taken for your Chinese visa is at a well-reputed photography agency.
These photographs might cost a lot. However, you will get the perfect results when you work with professional photographers. Not only will they be aware of the measurements and sizes of the picture, but they will also be well-versed with the requirements.
If you decide to take your picture online, you can consult with a professional online photography agency to help you out.
Once they have taken your picture, they will send you a digital copy of your photo via email. After this, all you ought to do is download the image and print it out at your nearest CVS or FedEx office!
Either way, working with professional photographers will help you get your photo approved immediately!
Note: Keep in mind that the Chinese Embassy and other consulates do not offer photography services. This makes it your responsibility to get a good-quality color photo on your own.
#2 Chain Stores
Several chain stores in the USA like Walgreens, Costco, and CVS can also take your Chinese visa photo. And yes, they take the pictures based on the requirements. And the best part is that you can get them done for highly affordable prices!
#3 The DIY Style
Yet another great way to get your photograph for your Chinese visa is to do it yourself. All you need to have is a good camera and a white background to snap your picture. And if the image does not match the size requirements, you can always cut it and resize it accordingly.
What Are the Requirements for a Chinese Visa Picture?
The following instructions are in accordance with the Chinese Embassy, and they are mandatory requirements for your photo. So, make sure to follow all the needs to get your image approved:
- You must have recently taken the photo in the last six months.
- The photo must be taken with a transparent white background.
- The photo size should be 48 mm × 33 mm, the height of the head should be between 28 mm and 33 mm, and the width of the head should be between 15 mm to 22 mm.
- While standing to take the photo, ensure that you face directly into the camera and make your face entirely visible. Do not smile or show any other facial expressions. Instead, have a neutral look with the eyes wide open, ears visible, and mouth closed.
- Ensure that your head position is less than or equal to 20 degrees to the right or left. You must also not lift your head too high or tilt it in any direction. Instead, try to stick at an angle less than or equal to 25 degrees.
- The photo should not have any other extra accessories or unwanted movements.
- As mentioned earlier, there should be no facial features in the pictures, and the head should be front and center in the picture. If you must wear eyeglasses, do so, but avoid wearing tinted glasses, thick-rimmed glasses, or flashy glasses.
- Accessories like hats, etc., should also be refrained from the image. However, if you must wear any for religious reasons, ensure they do not cover up your face.
- The final photo needs to be free of any damage, shadows, permeation, or other such impurities.
- The picture should also strike the right balance of brightness without being underexposed or overexposed. It should also be free from red-eyes or other photographic distortions.
- The photo should not have edges or frames either.
Other than these, you will still have to ensure that your photo adheres to the following:
- It is properly exposed and focused without any blurs as these would not be acceptable. The photo should not be too dim or too bright, as these undesirable features could get your photography disqualified.
- Stay away from editing as much as possible and stick to your natural tones.
- If you are opting for paper photography, make sure to get your photo printed on a glossy sheet. Please make sure there are no printing errors like blurs, ink streaks, stamps, etc., as they will not be accepted.
- Do not bend your photo or fold them in any way as this could create wrinkles on the sheet as doing so may affect the quality.
- You can use makeup as long as it does not obviously cover any facial features.
- Selfies and other front camera images are strictly not allowed. Additionally, stay away from any special effects and fancy filters that could strip away the natural results from the picture.
Digital Photos vs. Paper Photos: Which Is Better for a Chinese Visa?
The good news is that Chinese authorities are open to both digital photographs as well as paper photographs. However, it is not possible to submit your picture online to the Chinese Embassy.
Wrapping Up
If you click your picture on an average day, you might not give it any second thoughts. However, if you want to apply for a Chinese visa, you will need to be extremely careful about meeting the requirements.
Without this, your application process will take longer to get approved. The best way to reduce these complications is by getting your photo clicked at a professional agency. This way, you can get the desired results without any issues and hassles!
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