Quick answer: COVA is China's mandatory online visa form. You fill it out yourself using the steps below (about 30–45 minutes), wait for the status to change to "Passport to be submitted" (usually 4–10 business days), then mail us only your physical passport — no photos, no printouts, nothing else. We handle the San Francisco consulate drop-off and mail your visa back to your door.
- What is COVA, in plain English?
- Before you start: what to have ready
- Which visa type am I?
- Screen-by-screen walkthrough
- Every COVA error message, explained
- Special situations (renewals, kids, mistakes)
- Photo requirements at a glance
- How long it actually takes
- After "Passport to be submitted"
- Common mistakes that cause delays
- 2026 policy updates
- COVA vs. the old system
- Frequently asked questions
What Is COVA, in Plain English?
If you've never applied for a Chinese visa before, here's the short version: COVA stands for China Online Visa Application. It's the official website where anyone applying for a visa to China now has to fill out their information, since September 30, 2025. Before that date, some consulates accepted paper forms or an older online system. Now, every single applicant — no matter which US consulate handles their case — uses this one website.
Think of it like filling out a very detailed online form for a passport renewal, except instead of the US government reviewing it, it's reviewed by staff connected to the Chinese consulate assigned to your state. For residents of the eight SF consulate states (Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming), that's the San Francisco office.
Once you submit the form online, it doesn't go straight through — it enters something called "preliminary review." That's just the consulate's staff checking that everything you entered is complete and consistent before they'll let you send in your actual passport. You'll know you passed this check when your status changes to "Passport to be submitted." That's your green light. Nothing before that status means anything — don't mail your passport a day earlier.
The reason this extra review step exists at all: China added it specifically to bring its process in line with how most other countries screen visa applications before physical documents change hands. It typically adds about a week to the overall timeline compared to the old system — which is exactly why patience during this stage is normal, not a sign something's wrong.
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →Before You Start: What to Have Ready
COVA times out after a period of inactivity, and re-starting from scratch is frustrating. Have everything below open or ready before you click "New Application" so you're not hunting for information mid-form.
- Your current passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned travel, with at least one blank visa page
- A digital photo that meets COVA's exact specs (see the photo section below) — or a plan to take one during the process
- Your planned travel dates, or a best estimate if not booked yet
- A complete list of every previous trip to China, with approximate dates — this trips up more people than anything else on this list
- If you're renewing: your most recent Chinese visa number and issue date
- If you have a new passport since your last Chinese visa: your old passport's bio page and visa page, for reference
- Your US residential address in a standard format (street, city, state, ZIP)
- A working desktop or laptop — the form is long and form-heavy; mobile browsers cause more errors
- 30–45 minutes of uninterrupted time, plus access to the email account you're signing up with (for verification codes)
Which Visa Type Am I? (Read This Before You Start the Form)
COVA asks you to pick a visa category early on, and it's easy to freeze here if you've never seen these letter codes before. Here's what each one actually means, in order of how often we see them from mail-in applicants:
| Code | Who It's For | How Common |
|---|---|---|
| L | Tourism, or visiting friends/family who are not Chinese citizens or permanent residents | Most common — this is the default for the vast majority of our customers |
| Q1 / Q2 | Visiting family who are Chinese citizens or hold Chinese permanent residency — Q1 for longer stays, Q2 for shorter visits | Common |
| M | Business trips — trade, commercial activity, meetings | Common |
| S1 / S2 | Visiting family who are foreign nationals working or studying in China — S1 for longer stays, S2 for shorter | Occasional |
| X1 / X2 | Studying in China — X1 for programs over 180 days, X2 for shorter courses | Occasional |
| Z | Working in China under a formal employment arrangement | Rare for mail-in applicants |
| F | Exchanges, visits, study tours, or other non-commercial activities not covered above | Rare |
Not sure which applies to you? The honest answer for most people reading this: if you're going to China as a tourist, or to see friends and relatives who don't hold Chinese citizenship, you want L. When in doubt, contact us before you start the form — this is exactly the kind of question we're happy to answer up front, since choosing wrong can mean starting over.
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →Screen-by-Screen: How to Complete the COVA Form for SF Consulate
Step 1: Go to the Official COVA Website
Visit consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ and switch to English using the language toggle. Bookmark this page — you'll be returning to it daily to check your status.
Step 2: Create or Log In to Your Account
Use a personal email address you check often. COVA sends verification codes when you sign up, and later sends status-change notifications here too.
- Use an email you won't lose access to before your visa arrives — this could be weeks away
- Write down your password somewhere safe; there's no quick "forgot password" flow tolerant of typos in your recovery email
Step 3: Start a New Application and Select San Francisco
Click "Start my application" → select "North America" → choose "San Francisco" as your visa office.
Step 4: Select Your Visa Type
Use the visa type table above if you're unsure. Choose the code matching your actual travel purpose — don't select "tourism" just because it sounds simplest if you're actually visiting Chinese-citizen relatives (that's Q, not L).
Step 5: Fill In Personal Information
- Full name: exactly as printed on your passport, including middle names — no nicknames or shortened versions
- Date and place of birth
- Sex, nationality, and any other nationality you hold
- Occupation and employer information
Step 6: Fill In Passport Information
- Passport number, type (ordinary), and issuing authority — double check every digit against your actual passport
- Issue date and expiry date
- Place of issue
Step 7: Fill In Travel and Contact Information
- Your US residential address, in standard US format
- Phone number and email
- Planned entry date, length of stay, and general itinerary
- Who is paying for the trip and where you'll be staying
Step 8: List Every Previous Trip to China
This is the field people skip or fill in incompletely more than any other. COVA wants every prior visit, not just the most recent one — approximate dates are fine if you don't remember exact ones, but don't leave trips out because you assume they don't matter. Incomplete travel history is a common reason applications get flagged for extra review.
Step 9: Upload Your Photo and Supporting Documents
- Digital photo (JPEG, pure white background, 354–420 × 472–560px, 40–120KB) — uploaded directly in COVA. No printed physical photo is required or accepted for mail-in applications — the digital upload is the whole photo requirement.
- Any supporting documents specific to your visa type (invitation letters for Q or M visas, admission letters for X visas, and so on)
See the full photo specs section below, or our dedicated Ultimate COVA Photo Guide 2026 if your photo gets rejected.
Step 10: Review Everything Before Submitting
Once you submit, you cannot edit anything. Go back through every screen and re-check it against your passport and your actual travel plans. This is worth an extra ten minutes — it's the last chance you get.
Step 11: Submit for Preliminary Review
Submit the form. Your status will show something like "Application received" or "Preliminary review in progress." This is normal and expected — it's not stuck, it's just being checked.
Step 12: Monitor Your Status Daily
Log in regularly — ideally once a day. When your status changes to "Passport to be submitted," that's your signal to move to the next stage. See exactly what to do at that point in the after Passport to be submitted section below.
Every COVA Error Message, Explained
These are the exact messages the COVA system shows on screen, and what to actually do about each one — so you don't have to guess, and don't have to ask.
Special Situations: Renewals, Kids, Mistakes, and More
I'm renewing an existing Chinese visa, not applying for the first time
You'll need your most recent Chinese visa number and issue date on hand. If you've gotten a new passport since that visa was issued, also have your old passport's bio page and visa page ready — COVA typically wants to see the visa history tied to your previous document, not just your current passport.
I'm applying on behalf of my child
Each person needs their own individual COVA application — there's no "add a dependent" option. A parent or legal guardian completes the child's application using the child's own passport information, with the adult's contact details listed for correspondence.
My name has changed since my last passport or visa (marriage, legal name change)
Have supporting documentation ready (marriage certificate or legal name change order) in case it's requested. Make sure every field in COVA matches your current passport exactly, even if it differs from a name that appears on an old visa.
I lost my old passport, or it was damaged, and it had a previous Chinese visa in it
Note this in your application where previous travel history is requested, and be ready to explain the circumstances if asked. A police report or replacement passport documentation can help support the application.
My whole family is applying together
Every family member — including children — needs a completely separate, individual COVA application. There's no household or group submission option inside the system itself.
I already submitted and just noticed a mistake
Once submitted, the form cannot be edited directly. Depending on where you are in the process, you may be able to resubmit a correction (COVA allows a limited number of resubmissions), or you may need to wait for the outcome of preliminary review and start fresh if it's rejected. This is exactly why the review step in Step 10 above matters so much — it's much easier to catch a mistake before submitting than after.
COVA Photo Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Digital size | 354–420px wide × 472–560px tall |
| File size | 40–120KB · JPEG format |
| Background | Pure white (#FFFFFF) — no off-white, shadows, or gradients |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Expression | Neutral, full-face view, eyes open, mouth closed, both ears visible |
| Glasses | Not permitted, of any kind — remove before photographing |
| Physical print? | Not required for mail-in applications — the digital COVA upload is the entire photo requirement |
For the full photo guide — including how to take a compliant photo at home, the best free apps to use, and how to fix "photo check failed" specifically — see our Ultimate COVA Photo Guide 2026 →
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →How Long COVA Preliminary Review Actually Takes
As of mid-2026:
- Typical: 4–10 business days
- Occasional delays: Up to 15+ business days reported during peak periods (holidays, back-to-school season, and other high-volume stretches)
Here's the "why" behind that range: the new COVA system added a dedicated consular review stage specifically to bring the process in line with international visa-screening standards. That extra step is the reason review generally takes about a week longer than it did under the old system — it isn't a sign of a problem with your specific application, it's simply built into how the new process works.
We monitor status daily on submitted applications and notify you the moment you can mail your passport. For full timeline data including consulate processing and return shipping on top of this review period, see our Processing Times & Fees 2026 guide.
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →What to Do After Reaching "Passport to Be Submitted" Status
This is your green light. And here's the part that surprises a lot of first-time applicants: there is almost nothing left to prepare.
- Package your passport securely (a padded envelope or small box works well)
- Mail it to our office via a trackable carrier (FedEx or UPS)
- We handle everything from there — verifying your COVA status, hand-carrying your passport to the SF consulate at 1450 Laguna Street, and returning it with your visa via tracked mail
Full end-to-end process, including our mailing address and packaging tips: China Visa by Mail San Francisco 2026.
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →Common COVA Form Mistakes That Delay SF Consulate Applications
- Selecting the wrong consulate — must be San Francisco for all 8 jurisdiction states
- Uploading a photo that doesn't meet exact specs — SF is strict on size and background
- Incomplete travel itinerary or missing previous visa details — every prior trip to China needs to be listed, not just the most recent
- Submitting before double-checking every field — there's no editing after submission
- Mailing the passport before reaching "Passport to be submitted" — any earlier status means it's not ready yet
For the complete list of rejection triggers across the whole application (not just COVA itself), see our Top 10 Rejection Mistakes guide.
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →Real Examples: Successful COVA Completion from the 8 States
- Oregon family: Completed COVA in one evening, reached "Passport to be submitted" in 6 days, mailed just the passport, received visas in 12 total days.
- Alaska remote worker: Completed the entire form from home, used our mail service to avoid a $1,200 flight to SF.
- Northern California renewal: Had the old visa number ready in advance; status updated in 4 days.
No Fingerprints Required + Other 2026 Policy Updates
- Fingerprints are not required for SF consulate applications in 2026.
- Reduced visa fees continue until December 31, 2026.
- The COVA system is fully digital — no paper forms accepted anywhere.
For every 2026 policy change in one place, see our China Visa Policy Updates 2026 guide.
Apply Now — Mail from Your State →COVA vs. Old System — What Changed in 2025/2026
| Feature | Old System | New COVA System (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Form type | Paper or old online form | Fully online with digital uploads |
| Preliminary review | None | Mandatory online check (4–15+ days SF) |
| Status tracking | Limited | Real-time "Passport to be submitted" |
| Fingerprints | Sometimes required | Not required in 2026 |
| Editing after submission | Sometimes possible | Not possible — form locks on submit |
Filled Out COVA? We Take It From Here.
Once your status reads "Passport to be submitted," mail us just your passport — no photos, no printouts, nothing else. We handle the SF consulate drop-off and mail your visa back.
Start Your Application →