Applying for China’s 2026 national civil service exam (guokao)? The photo upload during the registration confirmation stage is where most applications stall — a non-compliant photo blocks your confirmation, and missing the payment window means forfeiting the exam. This guide summarizes the official photo requirements so you can pass the check on the first try.
Official Photo Requirements
The requirements below come from the official 2026 exam registration platform (official FAQ):
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Type | Recent, hat-free, front-facing electronic ID photo |
| Background | Blue or white (either is accepted) |
| Format | JPG / JPEG |
| Pixel size | At least 295 px wide, 413 px tall |
| Retouching | Not allowed |
| Size after processing | Around 10K (after the official photo tool) |
Note: 295×413 is a minimum, not a target — upscaling a smaller photo to reach it is explicitly forbidden and will fail the sharpness check.
The Catch: The Official “Photo Processing Tool”
Unlike most exam registrations, the civil service application requires every photo to pass through the official “Photo Processing Tool” before upload — a raw photo cannot be uploaded directly.
Workflow:
- Log in to the registration site → open the “Candidate Portal” (confirmation and admission-ticket page)
- Click “Download” on the login page to get the tool
- Open the tool → click “Open Photo File” and pick your source photo
- If the photo qualifies it appears in the preview area; click “Save Photo File” (default name: 报名照片.JPG)
- Upload the saved file to complete confirmation
In other words: prepare one high-quality source photo (295×413 px or larger, blue or white background, clear and hat-free) and let the official tool handle the rest.
Common Rejection Reasons
- Insufficient pixels: enlarging a casual phone photo to 295×413 produces a blurry image
- Non-standard background: light blue, grayish white or gradient backgrounds fail — it must be a standard blue or white
- Over-editing: beauty filters, skin smoothing or face slimming count as “retouching” and get rejected
- Re-photographed prints: photos of old paper photos or screens are not allowed
- Obstructions: hats, tinted glasses, or hair covering facial features
Create a Compliant Source Photo for Free
The recommended approach: generate a standard 295×413 blue/white-background ID photo with the free InkStu ID photo tool as your source photo — it runs entirely in your browser, uploads nothing, and is completely free. Then run it through the official photo tool before uploading.
For detailed specs, shooting tips and FAQs, see the civil service exam photo spec page.
2026 Exam Timeline
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Online registration | Oct 15 – 26, 2025 |
| Confirmation (payment) + photo upload | Nov 1 – 6, 2025 |
| Admission ticket printing | Nov 24 – 30, 2025 |
| Written exam | Nov 30, 2025 |
Provincial civil service exams follow essentially the same photo standard (blue/white background, 295×413 px minimum), so preparing one photo covers both.
Disclaimer
Requirements are set by each year’s registration system and official notices. This article reflects official public information (updated October 2026); where it differs from the latest notice, the official announcement prevails.
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