Macao visa photos issued under CPSP rules
The Macao Special Administrative Region runs its own visa regime, separate from mainland China and Hong Kong, under the Public Security Police Force (CPSP) Migration Service. The CPSP Visa Application Form calls for a recent colour photograph, 1.5 inches in size, on a plain white background, taken within the last six months. The same specification covers tourism, business, family visit, study, and non-resident worker (Blue Card) applications.
Macao does not operate a general e-visa portal for foreign tourists. Applications filed abroad go through PRC embassies, consulates-general, or Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASC), where the printed photograph is glued to the paper form. Applications filed inside Macao are lodged in person with CPSP at Pac On in Taipa. Visa-on-arrival travellers submit no photograph at all, since CPSP captures the image biometrically at the border.
Counter staff at CVASC and PRC consular posts inspect each photograph against the published rules, and the CVASC office in Macao applies a stricter line on earrings and collars than generic PRC guidance. A photograph that does not meet CPSP specification will see the application returned at the counter or rejected on review, so the print must match the rules before it is fixed to the form.
What CPSP and PRC consular posts require in your Macao visa photo
The Macao Public Security Police Force (CPSP) and the PRC missions that process Macao visas abroad apply the same subject-side rules. These are the points your appearance in the photo must satisfy.
Expression & pose
- Full-face frontal poseThe applicant must face the camera directly with the head centred and level, not tilted or rotated. Both ears should be visible in the frame.
- Neutral expressionAdopt a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling with teeth visible is not accepted by CPSP or by PRC consular staff processing Macao visas.
- Eyes open and visibleEyes must be fully open and looking straight at the camera, with pupils and irises clearly visible. Closed or partially closed eyes are grounds for rejection.
Hair & forehead
- Eyes and eyebrows unobstructedHair must not fall across the eyes or cover the eyebrows. Bangs that obscure the forehead are not permitted on Macao visa photos.
- Ears visibleHair should be arranged so that both ears remain visible. This supports the facial-mapping checks performed against the live biometric capture at the Macao border.
Eyewear & lenses
- Tinted lensesSunglasses and tinted or coloured lenses are not accepted. The eyes must be clearly visible without colour cast.
- Clear prescription glassesWhere clear prescription glasses are worn, frames must be thin and must not obscure the eyes, and there must be no glare on the lenses. Many PRC posts now prefer that glasses be removed entirely.
Headwear
- No hats or capsThe CPSP Visa Application Form requires a bareheaded photo. Hats, caps, and other non-religious head coverings are not permitted.
- Religious and medical coveringsHead coverings worn for religious or documented medical reasons are accepted, provided the full face from chin to forehead is visible and the covering casts no shadow across the face.
Jewelry & accessories
- EarringsCVASC practice in Macao prohibits earrings on visa photos. Remove all earrings, including small studs, before the photo is taken.
- Collars and obstructive jewelryHigh collars, necklaces, and other jewelry that obstruct the jawline, neck, or facial features are not accepted. This rule is applied more strictly in Macao than at generic PRC consular counters.
Clothing
- Avoid white topsClothing that is white or near-white blends into the required white background and is discouraged by the PRC consular posts that handle Macao visas. Choose a darker, solid colour.
- No uniformsUniforms, including military and airline uniforms, are not accepted. Everyday civilian clothing should be worn.
Photo recency
- Taken within 6 monthsThe photo must have been taken within the last six months, per gov.mo PS-1066 and the CVASC Macao guidelines. A new photo is required if the applicant’s appearance has changed significantly since the last one.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 30 mm and 33 mm (roughly 62–69% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 23 mm and 28 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Other things to know.
A few features of the Macao visa channel are worth knowing before you print.
No e-visa portal
Macao does not operate a general e-visa portal for foreign tourists, and PRC China Online Visa Application (COVA) explicitly excludes Hong Kong and Macao visas. Macao visa applications are processed on paper with a printed photo affixed to the CPSP Visa Application Form.
Visa-on-arrival supplies no photo
Most travellers eligible for visa-on-arrival at the Macao border do not submit a photo at all. CPSP captures the face biometrically at the counter. A printed photo is only required for applicants who must obtain a visa in advance, including nationals of Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
UK posts use 33 x 48 mm
The PRC Embassy in London and the Consulate-General in Edinburgh require a 33 x 48 mm photo for Macao visa applications filed through them. Applicants using UK posts should select the 33 x 48 mm variant rather than the 35 x 45 mm primary.
Number of prints varies by post
CVASC Kathmandu and the UK posts require two identical photos affixed to the form. PRC Consulates-General in Sydney and Calgary, and CPSP submissions inside Macao, accept one. Photos are glued into the photo box on the form and must never be stapled through the face.
Take your Macao visa photo at home in three steps.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.