How to Apply for A China Visa

Step 1 – Complete the China Visa Application Form & Make Appointment for Submission Online

Finding the correct website to submit your visa application is a vital part of the process. Start by visiting the official COVA website, also known as China Online Visa Application, at https://cova.mfa.gov.cn. Once on the site, choose your preferred language and find your country in the Continents Category. This will then direct you to new pages where you can easily fill out the visa application form.

Citizens of countries like the USA and Moxica can conveniently fill out the application form directly on the COVA platform. However, applicants from countries such as Canada, France, the UK, and Australia must complete the visa application form on the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers website at www.visaforchina.cn.

After filling out the application, it is important to verify if an appointment is necessary for submitting your documents in person at the Visa Office of Chinese embassies or consulates. Although some embassies and consulates may currently accept walk-in submissions, it is essential to stay informed about any changes by regularly checking the official websites of the embassy or consulate where you plan to submit your paperwork.

Attention Visa Applicants: It is crucial that all applicants complete the visa application form with honesty, accuracy, and thoroughness. This includes providing personal information such as name, date and place of birth, gender, marital status, nationality, and passport details. Additionally, applicants must accurately detail their intended type of visa, work history, educational background, family information, email address, and any previous travel to China.

Please be aware that once the visa form has been submitted online, no changes can be made to the information provided. In the event that adjustments are necessary, the entire form must be completed again in its entirety. Thank you for your attention to these important details.

Once you have completed the necessary application forms, please ensure that you print the entire set of COVA forms and sign the Confirmation Page along with any other required pages. Failure to properly prepare the COVA forms as instructed will result in the application being rejected.

Please note that handwritten application forms will not be accepted. If the application form is completed by someone other than the applicant, please ensure that their information is filled out accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation.

Step 2 – Prepared Required Documents for Your Chinese Visa Application

In order to successfully obtain a Chinese Visa, applicants must prepare certain materials to verify their legal identity and purpose of visit. The most crucial requirements include basic documents, such as a valid passport and a fully filled out visa application form. Additionally, supporting documents pertaining to your trip to China, such as an invitation letter, flight itinerary, hotel reservation confirmation, and detailed itinerary, can greatly enhance your visa application.

Basic Documents

① Passport:In order to apply for this visa, you must have a valid original passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and at least 2 blank visa pages. Additionally, please provide a photocopy of the passport’s data page.

② Visa Application Form: Please ensure that the China Visa Application Form is completed accurately, downloaded, printed, and signed before submission.

③ Photo:Recent photos are required to be affixed to the application form. The photos should be frontal, bareheaded images taken within the past six months, against a light-colored background, and in the size of 48mm x 33mm (2×2 square inches).

④ Certification of Legal Stay and Residence: If you are not applying for a Chinese visa in your home country, you must provide the original and a copy of your valid visa, along with supporting documentation related to your wo

rk, study, residence, and legal stay.

 

⑤ Previous Chinese Passport and Chinese Visa: If you were previously a Chinese national and have since acquired a foreign nationality, you must submit your original Chinese passport along with a copy of the date page. Additionally, if you have obtained a Chinese visa on a previous passport, you should provide a copy of the date page and the previous Chinese visa.

Supporting Documents

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

The Invitation Letter should include the personal information of the invitee, such as their name, gender, and date of birth. It should also detail the travel schedule, including the arrival and departure dates, as well as the places they will be visiting. Additionally, the letter should provide the inviter’s name, contact number, address, and signature. If the invitation is being extended on behalf of a company, relevant information about the company should also be included.

● For China Business (M) Visa:

“Documentation of commercial activities and an invitation letter for a trade fair from a Chinese business partner.”

Enhancing the professionalism and clarity of the writing is crucial when communicating with business partners. This revised sentence conveys the same message in a more polished and engaging manner.

● For China Student (X) Visa:To apply for a study visa in China, you will need to provide the original and a photocopy of your admission letter from a school or recruiting institute in China, as well as the original and a copy of the Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201/JW202). These documents are essential for your visa application process and must be submitted in order to study in China.

● For Family Reunion (Q1/Q2) Visa: Invitation letter from a Chinese citizen or foreigner holding permanent residence in China; photocopy of the inviter’s ID or foreign national’s passport/permanent residence permit; original and copy of the certification of family relationships, and other relevant documents.

Step 3 – Submit the Application Form and Required documents

To apply for a visa to China, you can visit the China Visa Application Service Center, Chinese Embassy, or Chinese Consulate that processes applications in your area. Submit your completed Visa Application Form along with all necessary documents. You will have the option to choose whether you require expedited visa processing or postal service.

Be sure to retain the pick-up slip provided to you, as it will indicate the date on which you can collect your passport and visa.

If you are unable to submit your application in person, you can authorize someone else to do so on your behalf. However, you may be required to appear in person at the embassy or consulate if biometric information is needed for your application.

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

1.)

When your visa application is processed at Chinese embassies and consulates, you will be notified to return to the visa office to retrieve your passport and visa. At that time, you will be required to pay the visa fees. You have the option to pick up your visa and make the payment in person, or you can enlist the help of an agent. Please note that embassies and consulates do not provide a mail-back service.

If you are submitting your documents at the China Visa Application Service Center, you must pay both the visa fees and service charges upfront. It is important to keep the pick-up slip provided to you and collect all your documents once you have been informed that your application has been  processed.

“How long does it take to process your Chinese visa? Typically, if you submit your application on a Monday, you can pick up your visa on Thursday using the regular service, which takes 4 working days. However, additional time may be required if the visa officer deems it necessary, even if you opt for express or rush service. Express Service (2 working days) and Rush Service (1 working day) are also available for an additional fee.”

Useful Link: Chinese Embassies and Consulates List and Website

China Visa Application Fee – How Much Does a Visa to China Cost

The China visa fee varies depending on the type of visa, number of entries, duration of stay, and nationality of the applicant. When applying for a Chinese visa, applicants are required to pay the visa fee to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate, as well as a service charge to the visa office. Additional charges apply for express and rush services to expedite the visa process. For more information on China visa fees and costs, please visit our website.

Number of Entry	US Passport Holders	UK Passport Holders	Canadian Passport Holders	Citizens from Other countries
Single Entry	USD 140	GBP 85	CAD 100	CAD 50
Double Entries	USD 140	GBP 85	CAD 100	CAD 75
Multiple Entries for 6 Months	USD 140	GBP 85	CAD 100	CAD 100
Multiple Entries for 12 Months+	USD 140	GBP 85	CAD 100	CAD 150

Tips:

1.)The Chinese Group Visa fee is CAD 40 for Canadian citizens and $140 for US citizens when applying as a group.

2.)By selecting Express or Rush service, an additional fee will apply.

3.)When applying for a visa to China through the Visa Application Service Centers, applicants are required to pay additional service fees.

4.)Accepted forms of payment for visas include money orders, cashier’s checks, and credit cards (Visa or Mastercard only). Please note that cash and personal/company checks are not accepted.

5.) The regular visa fee for third countries may vary, so it is important to check the updated fees on the official website. Applicants are required to pay the visa application fee upon collection.

China Visa Application Online/On Arrival

▶ Apply for China Visa Online

 

At present, the full process for submitting a Chinese Visa Application is not accessible online. Applicants or their agents can fill out the visa form and schedule an appointment on the internet, but they must physically visit Chinese embassies, consulates, or Visa Centers to submit the required application documents and provide fingerprints when necessary.

▶ Apply for China Visa on Arrival – Port Visa

For some applicants, obtaining a Chinese Visa upon arrival at entry ports can be a quicker and simpler process. There are four situations in which individuals are eligible to apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA): authorized emergency entry, group tours (currently unavailable), visiting Special Economic Zones (currently unavailable) such as Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, and Hainan Province through certain ports (currently unavailable). To apply, you will need to fill out a simple form, entry card, pay the visa fee, and undergo frontier inspection at the port of entry.

Visitors who obtain a Special Economic Tourism Visa must enter and exit through specific ports, remain within designated cities, and are not permitted to travel to other cities without applying for a new Chinese Visa. The duration of stay is 5 days for Shenzhen, 3 days for Xiamen and Zhuhai, and 30 days for Hainan.

Note:With the exception of the 24-hour/240-hour visa-free transit and other visa exemptions, both US and French citizens are required to obtain a Chinese visa prior to entry. It is important to note that applying for a visa upon arrival or a landing visa is not permitted in China.