Chinese Visa (China)

People’s Republic of China (PRC) – Passport and Visa required

NOTE: If you apply for the Chinese visa, the applicant MUST be currently in the USA.

Effective March 15, 2023: Valid multi-year multi-entry visas issued before March 28, 2020 by the Chinese visa authorities resume function.

Visa Requirements:

Before your start completing the online COVA visa application form, it is very IMPORTANT that you read the instruction and follow it accordingly, please click here for the detailed instruction.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE (Visa application Form PRE-CHECK: $50.00 fee) – this is a separate fee for the for the actual visa application.
When you complete the COVA Visa Form online, please “SAVE” the online visa application, DO NOT CLICK SUBMIT. PRINT completed draft visa application. Email us in advance the VISA APPLICATION NUMBER and PASSPORT BIO-PAGE. email address is: info@world-visa.com

 

Visa Visa Description Required Documents
Type (include“A.Basic Documents”and“B.General Documents”)
A. B.
Basic Documents General Documents
M Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities
  1. Documents on the commercial activity issued by a trade partner in China
  2. Business Letter from U.S. Companyinformation must be very detailed, please review the sample business letter
1.Passport (The remaining validity must be more than 6 months with at least 1 blank visa page)
(Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter) 2.Photocopy of the bio-page of the passport
F Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities 1. An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China

2. Business Letter from U.S. Companyinformation must be very detailed, please review the sample business letter

3.COVA Visa Form. Please log on to https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to fill out the form online
(Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter) (Please follow Annex 1 “Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling”)
Z Issued to those who intend to work in China Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners 4.Photocopy of the latest Chinese visa or the Chinese residence permit
5.Proof of Residence (eg, driver’s license, utility bill, bank bill)
S1 Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. 1.An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies) 6.Where You Stay Form
(Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter) (Please see Annex 4, handwritten signature required)
2.Photocopies of the inviting individual’s passport bio-page and and residence permit 7.If the applicant is a foreigner in the US, they need to provide a photocopy of green card, visa, I20, or I94 to prove their legal residence in the US.
3. Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing  the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting  individual. 8.If the applicant was of Chinese nationality, this application is the first Chinese visa application after naturalization in a foreign country, please provide the following: copy of the naturalization certificate and 2 photocopies of the bio-page of the Chinese passport. In addition, the last physical Chinese passport is needed for the visa application.
*In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon request 9.If the applicant’s name has been changed, and it is the first time to apply for a Chinese visa after the name change, a photocopy of the name change document is required.
S2 Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. (“family members” refers to spouses,  parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters,  grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. 1.An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies). Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation. 10. For the visa application by a minor of Chinese origin born in the US, please follow the guidance.
2.Photocopies of the inviting individual’s passport bio-page, residence permit or visa.  11. One passport type photograph with clear or white background – visit this link for photo specification
3.Photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual.  12. Travel the World Visas Service Order Form
*In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon request.  13. Applicant’s Travel Records Form
Q1 Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. “Family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. 1.An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China.  14) Original plus 1 photocopy of the Marriage or Children’s Birth Certificate must be submitted as proof of relationship between applicant and the sponsor in China
(Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter)
2.Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual;
Or photocopies of the bio-page of the foreigner’s passport and the permanent residence permit (front and back).
3.Original and photocopy of certification showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual. (eg, marriage certificate, birth certificate)
Q2 Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. 1.An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China;
(Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter)
2.Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual; Or photocopies of the bio-page of the foreigner’s passport and the permanent residence permit (front and back).
R Issued to High-level  talents Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents
C Issued to Crew member Guarantee Letter from transport company
X1 Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. 1.Original and photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in China.
2. Original and photocopy of ”Visa Application for Study in China” (Form JW201 or Form JW202).
X2 Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. Original and photocopy of Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China.
D Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. The original and photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Status
G Issued to those who intend to transit through China. An onward air (train or ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region.

L

 Issued to those who intend to go to China for tourism Starting from January 1, 2024, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the United States simplify application documents required for tourist visa (L-visa). Tourist visa applicants within the United States will no longer be required to submit round-trip air ticket booking record, proof of hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter.

Annex 1 Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling

(1) Please carefully read the prompts and requirements of the COVA form system, and complete the entries of the visa application COVA online form step by step, making sure that the information is true, accurate and complete. Please note: Once the application form has been submitted, it cannot be modified in any way.

(2) Thelocationoption for submitting the visa application should be in line with the consular jurisdiction.

(3) Basic personal information. Surname, given names, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport type, etc. must be exactly the same as those on the passport information page, otherwise your visa application will be returned.

(4) If you were born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), please note:

1. Application form 1.1D The Chinese name (if applicable) must be entered in Chinese with the Chinese character input method, please do not fill in “Chinese”, “Chinese”, etc.

2. In the application form 1.6G, select “Yes” for “former nationality”, and then select the nationality information.

3. Item 1.6H of the application form is required. If the applicant is applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, this entry will be automatically generated during the form filling process; but if the applicant has previously applied for a Chinese visa, this entry will not be displayed when filling in the online form, and the form must be printed out and supplemented by hand-written Chinese name and other information. This Item cannot be empty.

(5) Fill in the work experience and educational background

1. Please fill in the work experience in the past 5 years.

2. The “position” and “duty” of the application form 3.2D and 3.2E must be filled in completely.

3. Please fill in the highest diploma/degree in 4.1, and the diploma/degree and major in 4.1B and 4.1C must be completed.

(6) Completely fill in each address

The address of the spouse in 5.5A of the application form must fill in the address of the current location, not the address of the place of birth. The address must be filled in completely, including street, city, state, and country.

(7) If you choose “not applicable” for any entry in the form, you need to state the reason for “not applicable”.

(8) Printing and signing. After completing the COVA online form filling, you must print out a full set of application forms, including the “Confirmation of Online Visa application” and “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” (depending on the individual filling situation, a total of 8 to 9 pages will be generated). All the pages of the forms must be printed to turn in, the signature and date on the Confirmation Page and the 8th page of Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China must be handwritten by the applicant him/herself. Visa applicant under the age of 18 is signed by their guardian, and meanwhile add a handwritten signature in the “For person filling in the application on the applicant’s behalf”.

Annex 2 Contents of S1, S2, Q1, Q2 Visa Invitation Letter

Inviter’s name XX, gender X, date of birth: XX, Chinese ID number XXX (or foreign passport number XX, Chinese permanent residence card number XX), current address in China is XX, contact phone number XX, email XX.

I hereby invite the following relatives to visit China for a short-term visit/long-term residence. He/She plans to go to China on XX, and stay in China for XX days.

Invitee information: name XX, gender X, date of birth XX, nationality XX, passport number XX, and the relative relationship with the inviter is XX.

Inviter’s signature:      Date:

Annex 3 Contents of M,F and L Visa Invitation Letter

(1) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.

(2) Information about the invitee’s visit to China: reason for coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting unit or inviter, who will pay for the travel, etc.

(3) Inviting party information: inviting party name, address, telephone number, official seal, legal representative or inviter’s signature, date, etc. (the information must be included in the text of the invitation letter)

Annex 4  Where You Stay Form (Download)

Please note: According to the visa application requirements, if the applicant is not in the United States, he cannot apply for a visa to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in the United States.)

 

 

 

 

Fee Information

Service Fee:

Visa Application Form PRE-CHECK:
$50.00/person/visa

Visa Application:
$195.00.00/person/visa – Regular Processing (within Washington DC jurisdiction) – 7 to 10 business days
$455.00/person/visa – Regular Processing (outside Washington DC jurisdiction) – between 10 to 14 business days

Consular Fee:

$145.00/person/visa – Regular Processing (Tourist, Business, and Other Types of Visa, except J1/J2)

$176.00/person/visa – Regular Processing (Visa Type: J1/J2)

All consular fees above include a $5 money order fee (consulate/embassy accepts money order only).

Return Mail Fee (1-3 passports):
For Alaska and Hawaii, please add $25.00

2-Day Delivery: $40.00
Overnight Delivery: $48.00
Saturday Delivery: $85.00

Travel the World Visas Service Order Form


For the safety of your passport, we recommend delivery by courier.  If there were a delay, we would be able to track or trace it.

Please send all required documents and payment (Money Order, Company Check, Cashier’s Check, American Express, Visa or MasterCard) by courier to:

TRAVEL THE WORLD VISAS, INC.
1930 18TH STREET NW, UNIT #1
WASHINGTON DC  20009

Travel Smart. Travel Safe.  Register your trip on-line with STEP, the U.S. Embassy Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  It’s free.  So why not make it part of your travel planning and personal security?

U.S. embassies and consulates assist nearly 200,000 Americans each year who are victims of crime, accident, or illness, or whose loved ones need to contact them in an emergency. Although it is unlikely, should natural disaster, terrorism, or civil unrest strike during your foreign travel, the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate would be your source of assistance and information. By registering your trip, you help the embassy or consulate locate you when you might need them the most.

NOTICE

Travel the World Visas acts only as an agent, and accepts no responsibility for the services of any Travel Agent, Consulate, Passport Agency or Embassy in connection with the granting of visas. We are not responsible for delays, loss of passports or damage caused by such service providers or the U.S. Mail.
Requirements and fees are for U.S. Citizens only. Contact Travel the World Visas for information on other nationalities.
Requirements and fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Sorry but all fees are non-refundable.