How to Apply for A China Visa - Application Guide & Tips

Find the right website to fill in visa application form

Locating the appropriate website for submitting your visa application is a crucial step in the process. Begin by visiting the official COVA website, known as "China Online Visa Application" at https://cova.mfa.gov.cn. Once there, select your preferred language and locate your country in the Continents Category. This action will redirect you to new pages where you can efficiently complete the visa application form.

For citizens of countries like the USA and Moxica, the application form can be filled out directly on the COVA platform. On the other hand, applicants from countries such as Canada, France, the UK, and Australia will need to complete the visa application form on the Chinese Visa Application Service Center's website at www.visaforchina.cn.

After completing the application, check whether an appointment is required for on-site submission at the Visa Office of Chinese embassies or consulates. While many embassies and consulates currently allow no-appointment submissions, it is crucial to stay updated on the latest information by visiting the respective embassy or consulate websites where you intend to submit your documents.

Important Notice: Visa applicants should fill in the application form truthfully, accurately and completely, concerning personal information (about name, date & place of birth, gender, marital status, nationality and passport), type of visa, work, education, family, email, past China travel, etc. Once the visa form is submitted online, no information in the form can be changed. If any adjustment needs to be made, the whole forms must be filled out again.

After completing the application forms as required, please make sure to print the full set of COVA forms and sign on the Confirmation Page and other required pages. If the COVA forms are not prepared as guided, the application will not be accepted.

Tips: Handwritten application form is not acceptable. If the application form is completed by another person on the applicant's behalf, please fill out his or her information.

China Visa Application Form (COVA Version)

① Passport: A valid original passport with validity of at least 6 months and 2 blank visa pages, plus a photocopy of the passport’s data page.

② Visa Application Form: One completed China Visa Application Form (should be filled in correctly, downloaded, printed and signed for submission).

③ Photo: 2 recent photos are required to be glued on the application form. The photos should be frontal bareheaded photos taken within past 6 months, in light color background, in size of 48mm x 33m (2x2 square inch). China Visa Application Photo Requirements >>

④ Certification of Legal Stay and Residence: If you do not apply for Chinese Visa in your own country, you are required to submit the original and copy of your valid visa, related proof of work, study, residence and legal stay.

⑤ Previous Chinese Passport and Chinese Visa: If you once was Chinese Nationality and acquired a foreign nationality, you must submit the former original Chinese Passport and copy of date page; If you once got a Chinese Visa on an old passport, you should submit copy of the date page and the previous Chinese Visa.

Supporting Documents

● For China Tourist (L) Visa: Travel itinerary materials including round-trip air ticket and hotel booking record, or invitation letter from an individual/company in China.

The Invitation Letter should cover personal information of the invitee’s name, gender, date of birth, travel schedule of arrival & departure date, visiting places and inviter’s name, contact number, address and signature or related information about the company.

● For China Business (M) Visa: Commercial activity documents and invitation letter for a trade fair by a Chinese trade partner.

● For China Student (X) Visa: Original and photocopy of the Admission Letter from a school or recruiting institutes in China, and original and copy of Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201/JW202).

● For Family Reunion (Q1/Q2) Visa: Invitation letter from the Chinese Citizen or foreigners holding China Permanent Residence; photocopy of the inviter’s ID or foreign nations’ passport/Permanent Residence Permit; original and copy of the certification of the family relationships and etc.

Check more details about Chinese Visa Required Documents

Passport is the First & Foremost Requirement

Complete A China Visa Application Form

Air Ticket for China Tourist Visa Application

Canadian Granted 10 Year China Visa in Toronto

Go to China Visa Application Service Center, or Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulates that serves your application, and then submit your Visa Application Form and all the documents you prepared. Select whether you need a urgent visa service and postal service or not. Please keep the pick-up slip which tells you the date for collecting your passport & visa.

If you can not make the submission in person, you may entrust others to submit the signed application form and required materials. You may have to show yourself in the embassy office if you are required to input biometric information when Chinese Embassy or Consulate think it’s necessary.

Pay the visa application fee & pick up your passport & visa

1.) For submission at Chinese embassies and consulates, you can return to the visa office to pick up your passport and visa after being informed that your application is processed. Upon collection, you have to pay the visa fees. You can pick up your visa and make the payment in person or let aN agent help you. The embassies and consulates do not offer mail-back service. 2.) For submission at China Visa Application Service Center, you have to pay visa fees and service charges when submitting documents. Keep the pick-up slip and collect all the documents after be informed your application is processed.

How long does it takes to issue your Chinese visa? Usually, if you submit application on Monday, you can pick up your visa on Thursday (for regular service), on the 4th working day. Longer time may be needed if visa officer requires, even though you choose express or rush service. Express Service (2 working days) and Rush Service (1 working day) are also provided with extra fees.

Useful Link: Chinese Embassies and Consulates List and Website

China Visa Application Center in Canada

Visa Office of Chinese Consulat General in Los Angeles US

Currently, completing all processes of Chinese Visa Application is not available. Applicants or applicant's agent can finish visa form and make appoitment online, but have to go to Chinese embassies, consulates or Visa Centers in persion to submit visa application documents and provide fingerprints when it's necessary.

▶ Apply for China Visa on Arrival - Port Visa

For some applicants, it takes less time and simple procedures to get Chinese Visa at entry of ports upon arrival. There are four kinds of situations eligible for the VOA Application: authorized emergency entry, group tour (unavailable currently), visiting Special Economic Zones (unavailable currently) ( Shenzhen, Zhuhai & Xiamen,) and Hainan Province though certain ports (unavailable currently). You need to complete a simple form, entry card, pay visa fee and accept frontier inspection at the port of entry.

Visitors obtaining Special Economic Tourism Visa must enter and exit at specific ports, stay within the cities, can not travel further to other cities unless apply for a new Chinese Visa. (Duration of Stay is 5 days for Shenzhen, 3 days for Xiamen & Zhuhai, 30 days for Hainan.)

Note: Except cases of 24 Hour/72 Hour/144 Hour Visa-free Transit and other visa exemptions, US and French Citizens must obtain a Chinese Visa before entry, and not apply to China Visa on arrival or landing visa.

Website to Submit China Visa Application Form Online

Apply China Port Visa on Arrival in Luohu Port Shenzhen