The Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles will adopt the new requirements for Chinese visa application as the following:
I.Who can apply
Visa applications shall be submitted in accordance with the consular jurisdiction. Applications from outside of the service area of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles will be returned.
Ⅱ.Who do not need to apply for a new visa
1) Foreign nationals who are subject to mutual visa exemption agreements;
2) Holders with valid APEC Business Travel Cards (Virtual ABTC excepted,
3) all kinds of valid residence permits,
4) valid foreign permanent resident permit ID card;
5) Personnel who apply to the Hainan 30-day visa-free policy, 15-day visa-free policy specified for foreign cruise-group-tour through Shanghai Port, Guangdong 144-hour visa-free policy specified for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong or Macao SAR, and Guangxi 15-day visa-free policy specified for foreign tour groups of ASEAN countries;
6) Personnel who under the 24-hour Transit Visa Exemption Program are allowed to enter the Mainland of China with no need to apply for new visas.
Please note:
*The United States and Canada are transitional members of the APEC travel card program, and the APEC business travel cards issued by the United States and Canada do not have visa functions.
Ⅲ.Visa Types and Required Documents
Visa Type | Visa Description | Required Documents(include“A.Basic Documents”and“B.General Documents”) |
A.Basic Documents | B.General Documents |
M | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities | Documents on the commercial activity issued by a trade partner in China(Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter) | 1. Original Passport (The remaining validity must be more than 6 months with at least one blank visa page)
2.Photocopy of the bio-page of
the passport 3.COVA Visa Form. Please log on to https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to fill out the form online (Please follow Annex 1 "Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling") and print out the whole form (9 to 10 pages in total) 4. Photocopy of the latest Chinese visa or the Chinese residence permit. Should it be a valid long term multi entry visa, the original passport with this visa attached on is also required 5. Photocopy of proof of residence (eg, driver’s license, utility bill, bank statement) 6. Where You Stay Form (Please see Annex 4, handwritten signature required) 7. If the applicant is a foreigner in the US, they need to provide a photocopy of green card, visa, I20, or I94 to prove their legal residence in the US. 8. If the applicant was of Chinese nationality, this application is the first Chinese visa application after naturalization in a foreign country, please provide a photocopy of the naturalization certificate, and bio-page of the Chinese passport. In addition, the last physical Chinese passport is needed for the visa application.
9. If the applicant's name has been changed, and it is the first time to apply for a Chinese visa after the name change, a photocopy of the name change document is required.
10. For the visa application by a minor of Chinese origin born in the US, please provide the child’s birth certificate, copies of the personal information pages of the passports of both parents when the child was born, copies of the legal residence certificate (such as a green card) of both parents in US, or the copy of the naturalization paper if parents have changed nationality into US. |
F | Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities | An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China(Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter) |
Z | Issued to those who intend to work in China | Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners |
S1 | Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. | 1.An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies)(Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter) 2.Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page and residence permit 3. Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual. *In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon request |
S2 | Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. "family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. | 1.An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies)(Please refer to Annex2 for the contents of the invitation letter) 2.Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page, residence permit or visa. 3.Photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual. *In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon request. |
Q1 | Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. | 1.An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residencepermit who lives in China.(Please refer to Annex2 for the contents of the invitation letter) 2.Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual; photocopies of the bio- page of the foreigner’s passport and the permanent residence permit (front and back) 3.Original and photocopy of certification showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual. (eg, marriage certificate, birth certificate) |
Q2 | Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. | 1.An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residencepermit who lives in China;(Please refer to Annex2 for the contents of the invitation letter) 2.Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual; Or photocopies of the bio-page of the foreigner’s passport and the permanent residence permit (front and back). |
| R | Issued to High-level talents | Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents |
L
| Issued to those who intend to go to China for tourism
| Starting from January 1, 2024, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the United States simplify application documents required for tourist visa (L-visa). Tourist visa applicants within the United States will no longer be required to submit round-trip air ticket booking record, proof of hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter. Since visa applications are processed on a case-by-case basis, please refer to the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the United States for specifics.
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C | Issued to Crew member | The applicant will be guided by the staff by email |
W | Issued to Ambassadors and Consulates | Guarantee letter issued by foreign transportation company or invitation letter issued by relevant units in China |
X1 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. |
1.Foreign higher education institution students:
A. Photocopy or the original of Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)
B. Photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in
China 2. Foreign elementary, junior/senior high school students: Photocopy or the original of Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China (For foreign elementary, junior/senior high school students who reside in China for family reunion purpose, application for X1 visa is not compulsory.) |
X2 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of nomore than 180 days. |
1.Photocopy or the original of Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China. 2. Photocopy or the original of Information Form for Foreign Students' Short-term Visit (Form DQ, if have) |
D | Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. | The original and photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Status |
G | Issued to those who intend to transit through China. | An onward air (train or ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region. |
J1/J2 | Issued to news media personnel who intend to visit China for news report | An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China Note: in some cases the applicant might be asked to provide PU/TE category invitation letter. The Office will give guidance by email. |
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Ⅳ.How to submit visa applications
1.The applicants shall prepare visa applicaiton materials as requested in "ⅢVisa Types and Required Documents", and fill out the "China Online Visa Application(COVA)" form on https://cova.mfa.gov.cn/.
2. The applicants or agents shall take all visa application materials and visit the Visa Office to submit visa applications. The Office will isse a receipt with date for passport pickup. The applicants or agnets can come back to the Office for payment and pickup on the date written on the receipt.
Annex 1 Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling
(1) Please carefully read the prompts and requirements of the COVA form system, and complete the entries of the visa application COVA online form step by step, making sure that the information is true, accurate and complete. Please note: Once the application form has been submitted, it cannot be modified in any way.
(2) The"location"option for submitting the visa application should be in line with the consular jurisdiction.
(3) Basic personal information. Surname, middle name (please fill the middle name into 1.1C together with the given name),given names, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport type, etc. must be exactly the same as those on the passport information page, otherwise your visa application will be returned.
(4) If you were born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), please note:
1. Application form 1.1E The native language name must be entered in Chinese with the Chinese character input method, please do not fill in "Chinese", "Chinese language", etc.
2. In the application form 1.6G, select "Yes" for "former nationality", and then select the nationality information.
3. Item 1.6H of the application form is required if the applicant was born in China and is applying for a Chinese visa for the first time. This entry will be automatically generated during the form filling process.
(5) Completely fill in the work experience and educational background
1. Please fill in the complete work experience after graduation from school.
2. The “position” and “duty” of the application form 3.3D and 3.3E must be filled in completely.
3. Please fill in the complete learning experience since high school in 4.2, and the diploma/degree and major in 4.2C and 4.2D must be completed.
(6) Completely fill in each address
The address of the spouse in 5.5A of the application form, and the addresses of the parents in 5.5B and 5.5C must fill in the address of the current location, not the address of the place of birth. The address must be filled in completely, including street, city, state, and country.
(7) If you choose "not applicable" for any entry in the form, you need to state the reason for “not applicable”.
(8) Printing and signing. After completing the COVA online form filling, you must print out a full set of application forms, including the "Confirmation of Online Visa application" and "Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China" (depending on the individual filling situation, a total of 9 to 10 pages will be generated). All the pages of the forms must be printed to turn in, the signature and date on the Confirmation Page and the 8th page of Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China must be handwritten by the applicant him/herself. Visa applicant under the age of 18 is signed by their guardian, and meanwhile add a handwritten signature in the "For person filling in the application on the applicant’s behalf".
Annex 2 Contents of S1, S2, Q1, Q2 Visa Invitation Letter
Inviter’s name XX, gender X, date of birth: XX, Chinese ID number XXX (or foreign passport number XX, Chinese permanent residence card number XX), current address in China is XX, contact phone number XX, email XX.
I hereby invite the following relatives to visit China for a short-term visit/long-term residence. He/She plans to go to China on XX, and stay in China for XX days.
Invitee information: name XX, gender X, date of birth XX, nationality XX, passport number XX, and the relative relationship with the inviter is XX.
Inviter's signature: Date:
Annex 3 Contents of M, and F Visa Invitation Letter
(1) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.
(2) Information about 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, who will pay for the travel, etc.
(3) Inviting party information: inviting party name, address, telephone number, official seal, legal representative or inviter’s signature, date, etc. (the information must be included in the text of the invitation letter)
Annex 4 Where You Stay Form
Please note: According to the visa application requirements, applicants not in the United States can not apply for a visa from the Consulate-General in the United States.)
