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The online application function for Chinese visas (the new version of the COVA system, click the link to jump) will be officially launched at the Embassy in the United States on September 30, 2025, and the following instructions are applicable to the use of the new version of the COVA system for visa application. Please click the link for the usage guide.
1. Visa processing process and requirements
Visa applications must be processed in accordance with the consular division of the Chinese embassy and consulates in the United States. Our consular areas include: Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Puerto Rico.
(1) Applicants should log in to the "China Visa Online Application Function (New COVA System)" to fill in the form online, upload materials and submit them for the embassy's preliminary review.
(2) The application order shows the status of "Passport to be Submitted"After that, the applicant or agent must be present at the external office hours of the document hall to submit the original passport, screenshot of the order information page and other application materials that need to be submitted in the original document 。
(3) Precautions for the online application function of Chinese visas
请访问https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/点选【签证办理指南】查看
2. Scope of acceptance and required materials
Visa type | Applicable personnel | Documents required for various types of visas (Contains two parts: "A Core Materials" and "B Other General Materials".) Please note that the black font is the material that needs to be uploaded online The red font is marked as the material that needs to be submitted when the original is submitted at the library). | |
A core material | B. Other general materials | ||
L visa | Tourists to China | None Starting from January 1, 2024, Chinese embassies and consulates in the United States will be exempted from providing application materials for L-shaped (tourist) visas: Personnel in the United States who travel to China can apply for visas to China without providing application materials such as round-trip air tickets, hotel orders, itineraries or invitation letters. Due to individual cases, please refer to the requirements of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in the United States. | 1. Passport information page and blank visa page photo. (The remaining validity period of the passport must be more than 6 months and there must be more than 2 blank visa pages). 2. Click to download the "Visa Application Declaration" 3. The information page of the most recently issued Chinese visa or residence permit. 4. Proof of the applicant's residential address in the United States (such as driver's license, water and electricity bills, bank bills, etc.). 5. If the applicant is a citizen of a third country in the United States, he or she needs to upload a photo of his legal stay or residence in the United States (such as green card, visa, I20, I94 form, etc.). 6. If the applicant has Chinese nationality and this application is the first Chinese visa application after becoming a foreign national, please upload the information page of the original Chinese passport and the photo of the naturalization paper. 7. If the applicant's name has been changed and it is the first time to apply for a visa to China after the name change, a copy of the name change document must be uploaded. 8. For visas for children of Chinese descent born in the United States, please click here for detailed instructions. http://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw/zj/qz/201502/t20150205_5098662.htm Materials to be submitted at the library: 1. The original passport used for visa application 2. Screenshot of the order information page with the status of "Waiting to be submitted" and the application barcode 3. An old passport containing the original Chinese visa and residence permit that is still valid 4. If the applicant has Chinese nationality, this application is the first Chinese visa application after becoming a foreign national, and the original Chinese passport must be submitted 5. For Q1 and S1 visas, the original proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter must be submitted 6. Other consular officials require you to submit the original materials online |
M visa
| Personnel engaged in commercial and trade activities in China | Invitation letter from a trade partner in China (Please refer to Annex 2 for the content of the invitation letter) | |
F visa | Personnel who go to China to engage in visits, exchanges, inspections and other activities | An invitation letter issued by an entity or individual in China (Please refer to Annex 2 for the content of the invitation letter) | |
Z visa | staff in China | Valid Foreigner Work Permit Notice | |
S1 visa | Spouses, parents, children under the age of 18, parents of foreigners residing in China for work, study, etc., and those who need to stay in China for other personal matters who need to stay in China for long-term (more than 180 days) visiting relatives. | 1. An invitation letter issued by a foreigner residing in China (Please refer to Annex 1 for the content of the invitation letter)
2. The inviter's passport personal information page and residence permit photo 3. The original certificate of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.). (Please upload photos online).
*For other personal matters, corresponding supporting documents must be provided upon request. | |
S2 visa | Family members of foreigners who stay in China for work, study and other reasons for short-term (no more than 180 days) to visit relatives, and those who need to stay in China for other personal matters.
"Family members" include: spouses, parents, children, children's spouses, siblings, grandparents, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren, and parents of spouses | 1. An invitation letter issued by a foreigner residing in China (please refer to Annex 1 for the content of the invitation letter).
2. The inviter's passport personal information page and residence permit or Chinese visa.
3. Proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
*For other personal matters, corresponding supporting documents must be provided upon request.
| |
Q1 visa
| Family members of Chinese citizens who apply for entry residence (more than 180 days) due to family reunification and family members of foreigners with permanent residency status in China.
The scope of "family members" includes: spouse, parents, parents of spouses, children, children's spouses, siblings, grandparents, grandparents, grandchildren, and grandchildren | 1. An invitation letter signed by a Chinese citizen residing in China or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China; (Please refer to Annex 1 for the content of the invitation letter)
2. Upload the inviter's Chinese identity document, or foreigner's passport information page and permanent residence permit in China (front and back);
3. The original certificate of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) needs to be uploaded. (Please upload photos online). | |
Q2 visa | Visit relatives of Chinese citizens residing in China and relatives of foreigners with permanent residency status in China for a short period of time (not more than 180 days). | 1. Upload an invitation letter signed by a Chinese citizen living in China or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China (the relationship must be written in the invitation letter); (Please refer to Annex 1 for the content of the invitation letter)
2. You need to upload the inviter's Chinese ID card, or the foreigner's passport information page and permanent residence permit in China (front and back). | |
R visa | High-end talents | "High-end Talent Confirmation Letter" | |
C visa | Crew | Letter of guarantee from the foreign transport company | |
X1 visa | Personnel who have studied in China for a long time (more than 180 days). | 1. Students of foreign colleges and universities 1. Confirmation Form for Foreign Students Coming to China (JW201 or JW202); 2. Admission notice 2. Foreign primary and secondary school students Confirmation Form for Accepting Foreign Students from Educational Institutions in the Basic Education Stage (Note: Foreign primary and secondary school students who have lived in China for a long time due to family reunion and other reasons do not need to apply for an X1 visa again.) ） | |
X2 visa | Persons who go to China for short-term study (no more than 180 days). | 1. Admission notice 2. Information Form for Short-term International Students in China (DQ Form, if any) | |
D visa | Permanent residents in China | Confirmation of Permanent Residence Status of Foreigners in China | |
G visa | Transit passengers through China | A scheduled interline (car, boat) ticket to a country (region). | |
J1/J2 visa applications are subject to the requirements of the competent authorities | |||
Annex 1: S1, S2, Q1, Q2 The content of the visa invitation letter
Name of the inviterXX, gender X, date of birth: X YEAR, X, X, Chinese ID number XX (or foreign passport number XX, Chinese permanent residence permit number XX), current Chinese residential address is XX, contact number XX, email XX.
I now invite the following relatives to visit relatives in China for a short period of time/long-term residence, and plan to go to China on X year X month X day with a stay period of XX days.
Invitee information: NameXX, gender X, date of birth XX, nationality XX, passport number XX, kinship with the inviter is XX.
Inviter's signature: Date:
Attachment 2: Content of the invitation letter for M, F, and L visas
(1) Invitee's personal information: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc
(2) Information on 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, source of expenses, etc
(3) Information of the inviting unit: name, address, contact number, seal of the inviting unit, signature of the legal representative or inviter of the unit, date, etc. (relevant information must be included in the body of the invitation letter)
3. Processing time and charging standards
(1) Ordinary parts: 4 working days
(2) Urgent documents: 3 working days (emergency)
Please note: The above processing time is general and is calculated from the date of submission of the passportSome applications may take longer to process, so processing times are uncertain. In such cases, applicants need to wait for notification from the visa office.
The evidence collection form issued by the staff will indicate the estimated earliest evidence collection time. Please check the status of your online order again on or after the date of collection, and pick it up after the order shows a "pending" status (click the link to jump to the order inquiry page).
Please check the visa information carefully when picking up the document, and inform the staff on site if there are any problems to prevent the information from affecting the use of entry and exit. Payment The application fee can be paid by credit card (Master or Visa card only) or cash check (Money Order, Cashier's Check).
Please click here for the fee schedule
4. Address and contact information of the consular document hall
领事证件大厅地址：2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite110, Washington,D.C. 20007 U.S.A.
External office hours: 9:30-14:30 (closed from Monday to Friday, weekends and holidays)
签证业务邮箱：washington_visa@csm.mfa.gov.cn
Consular document consultation hotline: 001-202-495-2071 (manual answering time: 12:30-16:30 on weekdays)
Personnel entering the document hall should obey the guidance of the on-site staff.
5. Commonly used declaration forms
Chinese Passport Information Declaration _4.pdf
