Visa Update
China Launches Online Visa Application System in the U.S.
China is expanding its digital visa infrastructure with the launch of the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system...
Sep 29, 2025
Read MoreReady to apply for your China visa?
China Visa for U.S. Citizens: Requirements and How to Apply
CIBTvisas checks every document, submits to the right Chinese consulate for you, and returns your passport by tracked courier. Tell us where you reside and your purpose of travel — we’ll show you exactly what you need and what it costs.
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Ready to apply for your China visa?
I hold a passport from
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Brazil
- China
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Spain
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
State of residence
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
I’m traveling for
- Tourism
- Business
- Student
- Work
- Transit
- Visiting family or friends
THE PROCESS
1China overview
2Review requirements
3Submit application
4Track your order
KEY TAKEAWAYS
All travelers to China must apply for an Arrival Card before arrival (free); airside transit passengers, cruise passengers, and crew are exempt.
Passports must be valid six months beyond the requested visa length (18 months of validity for a 12-month visa) and contain at least two blank visa pages.
Photos face strict consulate rules: taken within six months, all-white background, neutral expression, no eyeglasses, jewelry, headwear, or white shirts.
Business applicants need a Letter of Invitation; tourist applicants submit a travel record form.
01
China visa requirements for all travelers
To travel to China, most foreign citizens must secure a valid visa by submitting a completed online application along with a passport that has at least six months of remaining validity and two blank pages.
THE CHECKLIST
5 ITEMS · EVERY APPLICATION
- 01 Passport
With 6+ months validity and two blank visa pages
- 02 One passport-style photo
Taken within the last 6 months
- 03 Online visa application (COVA)
Completed online form
- 04 Proof of Residency
A driver's license or a state-issued ID
- 05 CIBTvisas order form
With signature
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Depending on your nationality, you may qualify for unilateral visa-free entry for short stays or transit-without-visa options if you are passing through designated Chinese cities to a third destination.
China Visa Types – At a Glance
Pick your purpose of travel. The requirements, fees, and processing times below will update to match.
Tourist (L) Visa – at a glance
WHO IT’S FOR
Leisure travelers & short personal trips
PURPOSE
Tourism, short personal trips
TYPICAL STAY
30–60 days per entry
DOCUMENTS YOU’LL LIKELY NEED
-
Passport — valid 6+ months, two blank pages
-
Passport-style photo — 33×48 mm, white background
-
Online visa application form
-
Proof of Residency
Extra documents can apply to former Chinese nationals, minors and some professions. The full checklist walks you through it.
TOURIST · SINGLE / SINGLE ENTRY
$505w/ standard processing
-
CIBTvisas Standard Service Fee
$307
-
Chinese Consulate Fee
$140
-
UPS Next-Day Shipping
$58
Business (M) Visa – at a glance
WHO IT’S FOR
Employees and executives traveling for commercial or trade activity
PURPOSE
Trade fairs, client and factory visits, contract negotiation and signing
TYPICAL STAY
30–60 days per entry, on a visa valid up to 10 years
DOCUMENTS YOU’LL LIKELY NEED
-
Passport — valid 6+ months, two blank pages
-
Passport-style photo — 33×48 mm, white background
-
Online visa application form
-
Invitation letter — from your Chinese partner, client, or trade-fair organizer
-
Proof of Residency — A driver's license or a state-issued ID
The invitation letter must name you, your passport number, your travel dates, and carry the inviting company’s official stamp. A trade fair confirmation letter can stand in for a company invitation.
BUSINESS · 10-YEAR / MULTIPLE ENTRY
$505w/ standard processing
-
CIBTvisas Standard Service Fee
$307
-
Chinese Consulate Fee
$140
-
UPS Next-Day Shipping
$58
Student (X) Visa – at a glance
WHO IT’S FOR
Students admitted to a Chinese university, college, or language program
PURPOSE
Full-time study. X1 for programs over 180 days, X2 for 180 days or less
TYPICAL STAY
X1: 30 days on arrival, then a residence permit for your full program. X2: up to 180 days, single entry
DOCUMENTS YOU’LL LIKELY NEED
-
Passport — valid 6+ months, two blank pages
-
Passport-style photo — 33×48 mm, white background
-
Online visa application form
-
Original admission letter — from your Chinese institution
-
JW201 or JW202 form — your school issues whichever applies
X1 students must convert to a residence permit within 30 days of arriving. Programs over six months usually require a Foreigner Physical Examination Record and proof of funds. Your school tells you which form you get; you cannot choose.
STUDENT · X1 / SINGLE ENTRY
$505w/ standard processing
-
CIBTvisas Standard Service Fee
$307
-
Chinese Consulate Fee
$140
-
Consular Processing Fee (6.9%)
$9.66
-
UPS Next-Day Shipping
$58
Work (Z) Visa – at a glance
WHO IT’S FOR
Foreign nationals with a confirmed job offer and an approved work permit
PURPOSE
Paid employment with a China-registered employer
TYPICAL STAY
30 days on arrival, then a work-type residence permit for your contract length
DOCUMENTS YOU’LL LIKELY NEED
-
Passport — valid 6+ months, two blank pages
-
Passport-style photo — 33×48 mm, white background
-
Online visa application form
-
Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit — your employer applies for this first
-
Employment contract or employer letter
The Z visa gets you into the country, not through your stay. Your employer secures the Work Permit Notification before you can apply, which usually takes several weeks. Once you land, you have 30 days to convert to a residence permit.
WORK Z / SINGLE ENTRY
$505w/ standard processing
-
CIBTvisas Standard Service Fee
$307
-
Chinese Consulate Fee
$140
-
Consular Processing Fee (6.9%)
$9.66
-
UPS Next-Day Shipping
$58
Transit (G) Visa – at a glance
WHO IT’S FOR
Travelers passing through mainland China on the way to a third country
PURPOSE
A connection with time on the ground between flights
TYPICAL STAY
7-10 days per entry, single or double entry
DOCUMENTS YOU’LL LIKELY NEED
-
Passport — valid 6+ months, two blank pages
-
Passport-style photo — 33×48 mm, white background
-
Online visa application form
-
Confirmed onward ticket — into a third country, with dates
-
Visa for your destination country, if that country requires one
Most U.S. travelers never need this visa. China’s 240-hour visa-free transit covers 55 nationalities at 65 ports of entry, as long as you hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Check whether you qualify before you pay for a G visa.
TRANSIT G / SINGLE ENTRY
$0
-
CIBTvisas Standard Service Fee
N/A
-
Chinese Consulate Fee
N/A
-
Consular Processing Fee (6.9%)
N/A
-
UPS Next-Day Shipping
N/A
THE VISA PROCESS
From application to approval, in four steps
- 1
Start your application
Tell us your trip details and pick your processing speed. It takes about 10 minutes.
- 2
Prepare your documents
Upload or courier your documents. We error-check every field before submission.
- 3
We submit to the consulate
CIBTvisas delivers your application to the Chinese consulate and tracks its progress.
- 4
Receive your visa
Your passport with the approved visa is returned to you by secure, fully tracked courier.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
China-specific rules that catch travelers off guard
Three rules cause most of the surprises we see. Review these before you start your application.
Action required
Mandatory Arrival Card
All travelers must apply for a free Arrival Card before arrival. Transit and cruise passengers may be exempt.
May affect eligibility
Former PRC nationals
If you or your parents were born in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau, additional documents and prior-passport records are required.
Plan ahead
Strict photo rules
Photos must be exactly 33mx48mm, taken within six months, on an all-white background, with no eyeglasses, jewelry, headwear, or white shirts. Many photo vendors get this wrong.
Why Choose CIBTvisas?
The Chinese consulate accepts applications by appointment and rejects anything with a mistake. Most of our clients come to us after a refusal or a missed trip. We make sure the first submission is the last one.
| APPLYING DIRECT | CIBTvisas | |
|---|---|---|
| Document review before the consulate receives it | ✕ | ✓ |
| Consulate appointment booked for you | ✕ | ✓ |
| Submission to the correct consulate for your state | You figure it out | ✓ |
| Passport returned by tracked courier | Pick up in person | ✓ |
| A specialist who answers every question | No | ✓ |
| One all-in price, known up front | Fees vary | ✓ |
One partner for the whole journey
Get all necessary travel documents for your trip in one place, with the option to add premium service for expert accuracy and guaranteed approval.
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No account needed. The same alert service our business clients rely on.
The first step is to place an order. Once you have placed your order, we will ask you to complete the application form and submit all your supporting documents. After we have received and approved all your documents, we will submit your application to the Chinese consulate and tracks its progress. After your visa has been issued, we will send your passport back to you using the delivery method you selected during the application process.
You will need to send your actual passport, not a copy of it. The China visa is stamped on your passport and will become one of your passport pages. Visa requests cannot be processed without your original passport. Because of the importance of your passport, we strongly suggest that you send your application and passport to CIBTvisas in a secure way, using a traceable courier such as FedEx, UPS, Express Mail or Certified Mail.
In most cases, applicants are not required to appear in person. However, application requirements can vary depending on the applicant's circumstances and the policies in effect at the time of application. If an in-person visit is required for your application, we will inform you and provide guidance on the next steps.
A passport, a copy of the passport information page, a letter of invitation from the company in China, a passport photo and a visa application form.
The speed to process a travel visa varies for each destination country. CIBTvisas can process travel visas for many destinations in as little as a day. Go to Visas and select your country of travel to determine the travel visa processing time.
Ready to get your China visa?
Start now — most applications take under 15 minutes.
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