Do the ears have to show even with a religious covering?

CVASC's rule requires ears visible and says a covering must not obscure facial features. Wear it back off the ears.

Glossy, on photo paper — CVASC says matte or plain paper is not accepted for the print.

Can I wear glasses or a head covering in a Chinese visa photo?

TL;DR Glasses, yes — unless thick-rimmed, tinted or glare-producing. A head covering, for religious reasons only, and it must not obscure any facial feature. Both come from the Consular Department's rule as published by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre; the widely repeated "no glasses" is wrong.

The rule, as CVASC publishes it

Photo 48 × 33 mm, colour, taken within 6 months, white or near-white background with no frame. Head 15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high — 58 to 69% of the photo's height. Eyes open, lips closed, ears visible, head centred, tilt within 20° left-right and 25° up-down. "Eyeglasses are allowed except thick-rimmed, tinted or glare glasses, and hat or other head wears are only permitted due to religious reasons but should not obscure facial features." Printed on glossy paper.

Where "no glasses" came from

It was our own rule until 6 September 2026, and it appears on many guides. The Consular Department's text allows them. What it refuses is the frame hiding the eye, a tint, or a reflection — so thin clear frames pass, and removing glasses is always safe.

The number that matters more

The head-height band. 69% is a hard ceiling; a photo composed to the ICAO 70–80% band that works for Schengen is over it. CVASC's automated check measures this. This site's Chinese visa output uses 58–69%.

The figures, from the catalogue

Document	Size	Head in frame (as we compose it)	Background	Max age	Source
China visa	33 × 48 mm	58–69%	white or close to white, no edge frame	6 months	bio.visaforchina.cn
China passport	33 × 48 mm	60–75%	plain white	6 months	sg.china-embassy.gov.cn

A real case

A frequent traveller had removed his glasses for every Chinese visa photo for years, on advice. The rule never required it. His most recent photo, in thin clear frames, was accepted at the Singapore centre without comment.

Common questions

Do the ears have to show even with a religious covering?: CVASC's rule requires ears visible and says a covering must not obscure facial features. Wear it back off the ears.
Matte or glossy?: Glossy, on photo paper — CVASC says matte or plain paper is not accepted for the print.

Sources

Read on the issuing authority's own pages on the dates shown on each document page:

China visa: bio.visaforchina.cn (read 2026-09-06)

SGfoto is independent — not affiliated with or endorsed by any government or issuing authority — and does not guarantee acceptance. Requirements change; the authority's page is the one that counts. Rebuilt 2026-09-06.