Chinese visa application form and instructions

I. Chinese visa online application form

Please read the "Instructions for online COVA visa form filling" in the next section. After online submission, please download the PDF, print out, and sign. Please note that the form cannot be modified once submitted. You will need to submit a new one if there is any change.

• Chinese visa online submission
  We recommend that you let us review your form before submitting (email us the application ID and passport number), this service requires payment of the order first.
• NGO workers: employer letter required.

II. Instructions for online COVA visa form filling

• The "location": please select a location (consulate) based on the state you currently live:
  • Los Angeles: Southern CA, AZ, CO, HI, NM, UT, Pacific islands
  • San Franciscon: Northern CA, AK, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY
  • New York: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
  • Chicago: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI
  • Washingtong DC: All others (AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV plus Puerto Rico)
• Photo: Please move the slider under the photo to adjust the head size.
• Basic personal information. the names, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport type, etc. must be exactly the same as those on the passport information page.
  • Family name: Surname on your passport.
  • Given name(s): Please note that in the US passport, the middle name is part of Given names, and should be entered here exactly as in your US passport.
  • Other names: Enter any other names you used, if you changed your name before.
  • Chinese name: if you have (had) one, enter it in Chinese characters. Required for those born in China.
• 1.6B National ID number, please put your driver's license number or passport number, not SSN.
• Former nationality(ies)：
  If you are a naturalized citizen, enter your original citizenship here (e.g. China).
• Passport type: Almost all applicants should choose "Ordinary". If you choose any other type, please make sure you know what you are doing.
• Visa details:
  Enter 120 months for 10-year visa, and select Multiple Entries. For duration of stay, enter 60-120 days.
• Work experience
  • Provide work history of last 5 years. If there is gap, or you never worked, please write an explanation on a separate piece of paper: what you do everyday, and income source. Then sign and date.
  • Leave end date blank for your current job.
  • The “position” and “duty” (form fields 3.3D and 3.3E) are needed, even though it is optional online.
  • Self-employed: enter information as normal. If there is no company name, write "No company name". Supervisor should be yourself.
• Education
  • Currently only the highest education is needed. If you did not go to college, please fill your high school information..
  • Major in 4.2C is needed.
• Address
  For home address and spouse address, don't forget city, state, ZIP code.
• Parents
  For deceased parents, check "Not applicable", then enter "deceased".
• Children
  • Adult children should also be entered.
  • If you have been married for a long time but no children, please handwrite "no children" on the supplemental page after you print out the application form.
• Itinerary
  • Flight number: You may leave it blank.
  • 6.1H address in China: enter the address in the city of your stay (address of the hotel if appying for a tourist visa): the address is required even though it is optional online.
  • For tourist visa, please enter every city you are going to visit (click "+Add" to add more cities). The dates should be the same as those in your hotel confirmations.
• Inviting person or organization in China: please leave it blank for tourist (L) visa, to avoid confusion.
• If you choose "not applicable" for any entry in the form, you need to state the reason for “not applicable”.

III. Download, print and sign the COVA application form

• Download and print form: After submission, you will be promoted to download a PDF which contains a "Confirmation of Online Visa Application" and the "Visa Application Form". Please print out the PDF (all pages).
• If you do not plan to provide an actual paper photo, please print the "Confirmation of Online Visa Application" in color, and make sure that the photo was accepted by the COVA without error.
• Sign and date on both the Confirmation Page and page 7: must be a pen-in-hand signature by the applicant -- no electronic signatures. Note that on page 7, sign in 9.1A (Applicant Signature), not at the end (9.2E Signature).
• Signatures for 18 or younger: sign by their guardian, not the child (contact us by phone or email if you have any question)
  • Confirmation page: sign (write) child's name, then sign your name.
  • Page 7: sign (write) child's name in the Applicant's signature (9.1A), then sign your name in 9.2E (you will need to complete 9.2A-D).
  • Where you stay form: sign (write) child's name, then sign your name.

IV. Other forms and links

• Where You Stay Form
• Application form for Hong Kong visa and permit (Chinese)