China

CHINESE EMBASSY

Jl. Mega Kuningan No. 2, South Jakarta 12950, Indonesia

T : (62-21)576-1039

F : (62-21)576-1034

Guide to Applying for a China Visa Online

The Chinese Embassy in the United States has officially launched the China Online Visa Application System. Applicants under the Embassy's jurisdiction can enjoy greater convenience by using this system to complete forms, upload documents for initial online review, and track application status. The visa application process through this system consists of three main steps: I. Register and log in to your account, II. Fill out the form and upload documents, III. Undergo online review and submit your passport to the Embassy. Please click the links for step-by-step instructions for each procedure.

I. Register and Login to Your Account

Open http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ (click for redirection). Click the [Login] button in the top right corner of the page.

Log in using your email account. If this is your first time using this system, please use your email address to register.

You may click the [Guidance on Visa Application] to view the application procedures and required documents for each type of visa. Once you are ready, click the [Start my application] button at the bottom and proceed to the application stage.

II. Filling out the Form and Uploading Materials

Please submit your application based on Consular jurisdiction of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in the United States (click to view). Please read the “Guidelines for Completing the China Online Visa Application (COVA) Form” and “Instructions for Visa Applications at Embassies/Consulates” carefully and begin your online application.

The application form consists of nine sections: Personal Information, Visa Type, Employment Information, Education, Family Information, Travel Information, Previous Travel Information, Other Information, and Declaration. Please complete the form in Chinese or English, respectively. After completing all required fields (marked with *) on each page, click [Next] to continue. You can also click the [Save] button to save your progress during the application process.

Saved drafts can be viewed and edited by clicking on your account in the top right corner – [Personal Center] – [My Drafts].

1. Personal Information

(1) When uploading your photo, the system supports photo editing using the drag and crop tool and automatically determines whether the photo meets the requirements. If you fail to pass the check after several uploads, you can still continue filling in the other sections and remember to bring a standard ID photo when submitting your passport to the Embassy/Consulate General.

(2) The automatic recognition of the passport biodata page will help you fill in your name, nationality, and passport information. Please check that all information is accurate before confirming the action and the system will fill in the relevant fields.

(3) If the system notifies you that the applicant currently has an application in progress, you can click on your account in the upper right corner-[Personal Center] to view the processing status of your application, or ask your agent for details about your application.

2. Type of visa

Please select your visa type based on the purpose of your visit to China. Choose "Standard" or "Expedited" processing. (Additional fees are required for expedited processing; processing time is calculated from the date of passport submission. Please confirm the type of service with the consular officer at the Embassy/Consulate General), visa validity period, and planned duration of stay as needed.

Please note that the consular officer will determine whether a visa will be issued, the type of visa, the number of visits, the validity period, and the duration of each visit. This may differ from what you provided on the application form.

3. Job Information

Please fill in your work experience in the last 5 years honestly, and provide the full name of your company/organization without abbreviations. If you have multiple work experiences in the last 5 years, please click [Add] at the bottom right to add additional entries.

4. Education

Please fill in your highest level of education honestly. If you have multiple educational backgrounds, click [Add] at the bottom right to add additional entries.

5. Family Information

Please provide relevant information honestly. If you select [Not Applicable], a detailed explanation will be added.

6. Information on your travels

(1) Please fill in your arrival and departure dates and cities according to your itinerary. Please note that the system only accepts visa applications for entry dates within the next 90 days. Applications submitted outside this period will not be processed.

(2) [6.5 Persons who have the same passport as you] is only valid if someone traveling with you uses the same passport. If you are traveling with someone else who has a different passport, please select “No” for this entry.

7. Information about previous trips

Please fill in your travel history honestly, especially including whether you have been to China, obtained a Chinese visa, and your travel records in the past 12 months.

8. Other information

Please complete this section based on personal experience and facts, statements explaining the circumstances may be asked of you.

9. Declaration

Please select the identity of the form filler (the applicant or the person filling out the form on behalf of the applicant; those filling out on behalf of someone else must provide personal information and their relationship to the applicant).

After reading and agreeing to the statement below, tick the box [I understand and agree to the above].

10. Uploading materials

(1) Please take photos and upload the requested documents according to the system instructions (only image files are supported; PDF files and other formats are not accepted). To speed up the process, please ensure that all uploaded documents are complete, clearly visible, and have even lighting. Documents marked with a red dotted line is mandatory and must be uploaded.

(2) The Visa Application Statement Template can be downloaded from the Embassy website. Click here to download. Please fill it out, print it, and then upload it.

(3) If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, and were previously a Chinese citizen/one of your parents was a Chinese citizen, please upload materials based on your personal circumstances.

(4) If you are a foreign citizen in the United States, please upload your visa, permanent residency, or other documents to prove your lawful residence.

(5) If there are other circumstances that require explanation, or if the embassy requests additional documents during the initial review, please upload those documents in the [Other things you would like to state] section.

11. Confirmation of Information

After uploading your documents, click [Next] to continue confirming your information. Here, you can review the information you have submitted and the documents you have uploaded. To make changes, click the [Edit] button in the upper right corner of the page. Once confirmed, click [Submit application form]. Please carefully review all information, as the submitted form cannot be changed until it has been reviewed by a consular officer.

III. Review and Submit Your Passport Online

After submission, your application will enter the initial online review phase, where Embassy staff will conduct an online review. You can check its progress by clicking [Track my application status] on the main page.

If the submitted application does not meet the requirements or requires uploading additional materials, the consular staff will reject it, and the application status will change to [Rejected and needs to be modified]. Please modify and complete your application materials according to the feedback from the Embassy or Consulate to avoid delays in the review process due to failure to provide additional materials on time.

After the initial review of the application is approved, the status will be displayed as “Passport must be submitted.” The applicant or agent must visit the Embassy Visa office. (click here for address) to submit a passport, a printed copy of the application information page with a barcode, and certain original documents that need to be submitted on-site (click here for submission requirements).

Please note: Approval of the online review does not guarantee visa issuance. The consular officer may request an in-person interview with the applicant or request additional documentation. Furthermore, processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances, and some visa applications may require longer processing times.