Job Discussion Forums

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

OK, This is going to sound really stupid and I'm a bit embarrassed to be asking, but does the photo you use for applying for the Z visa in your country have to be identical to the ones you use for applying for the residence permit when you arrive in China? Obviously, I know they all have to be recent and look like you! But do they have to be from the same set?

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

Listerine · Joined: 15 Jun 2014 Posts: 340

These days many PSBs will actually make you take a new set of pics on the day you apply for the RP. 20rmb a pop. Wear a decent-ish shirt or face the risk of being required to wear their own scabies-riddled Goodwill-esque jacket.

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

And don't wear a blue shirt.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

My shirt is blue in mine and FEC/RP were renewed in June.

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

if you had a blue background they should have had you change the shirt.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

I get mine done at the uni and always specify white background. Simple common sense for official photos.

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

They don't use white where we are.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

They have a grey curtain which I can ask to be pulled aside to reveal a plain white painted wall. I thought all Chinese universities were painted white. At least when they are new!

fpshangzhou · Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Posts: 280

I accidentally had my headphones flung around my neck and was caught in the photo shoot and I never had any problems with the photos being accepted.

Azile · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:55 am Post subject:

No the photos you used to apply for the Z visa are not the same as the ones you will then use when you are here to get the Z visa cancelled and issued a Residence permit. They are a special version, one of which will have a barcode on it. As well a piece of paper like a receipt of sorts with information on it will also be given to you. You will need those pictures and the receipt when you apply for the RP here. Most Exit/Entry buildings have a place inside or nearby who will do this service for you for 30 - 50 rmb.

And the pictures you need to get your health check in China are different as well. Come to think of it, the pictures for the PSB temp permit is different. And since they all only use a couple of them and the photo places always sell you 8 copies, you end up with a lot of inch by inch photos of your face with various background colours.

Piper2 · Joined: 13 Jun 2014 Posts: 146

I will add that...
- photos for a Chinese marriage booklet need a red background
- in Shanghai, in my experience, professional photograhers (you know, those you pay) use a white background for photos for official purposes, and typically those photos will be 2 inches
- I always thought that barcode was used by the photographer/studio. I think they might use it to locate your photo on their HD if you ever come back wanting another copy. I heard some photographers ask for your ID number for the same reason

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

now, I always have to get a new photo for my RP. In the past, photos used for my medical check sufficed, sometimes I had then shot at the school, or down the street at somebody's friend's photo studio, but more recently, I had to shell out rmb for new ones at the PSB.