China Visa · Start Here
中国签证 · 从这里开始
Your China Visa,
Answered in 6 Questions
您的中国签证
六个问题，一次说清楚
Do you need one? Which visa? What documents? What will it cost? Which office handles your application? When should you start? Get all six answers here — in plain English, no guesswork.
Quick answer
Most U.S. travelers going to China for a normal trip need a visa.
You probably need a visa if you're going for:
- ✓Vacation
- ✓Business
- ✓Visiting family
- ✓School
- ✓Work
You may NOT need a new visa if:
- ✓You already have a valid Chinese visa. (Whether you can still use it depends on your situation — it's worth double-checking rather than guessing.)
Just passing through China?
Some travelers can stay in China without a visa for up to 240 hours (10 days) — but only while traveling through China on the way to another country or region.
San Francisco → Shanghai → Tokyo
✓ This may qualify — Shanghai is just a stop on the way to Tokyo.
San Francisco → Shanghai → San Francisco
✗ This does NOT qualify — you're not continuing to a third country.
Important details
This is China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy. It only applies at certain airports/ports, requires a confirmed onward ticket to your next country, and limits where you can go while there. If China is your actual destination — not just a stop along the way — this does not apply to you.
Not sure which one is you?
Tell us what passport you hold, where you're flying from, where you're going after China, and how long you plan to stay. We'll tell you plainly whether you need a visa.
Ask Us Before You Book →
Why are you going?
Tap the reason that matches your trip. We'll show you the visa you're probably looking for — the official code comes second.
You're probably looking for a Tourist Visa.
Official name: L Visa
Example: "I'm going to Beijing for vacation." → Tourist Visa (L)
Going for meetings, trade shows, buying/selling, visiting suppliers, or other business? You're probably looking for a Business Visa.
Official name: M Visa
Example: "I'm going to Shanghai to meet suppliers." → Business Visa (M)
Going to China to work for an employer? You need a Work Visa.
Official name: Z Visa
Example: "I'm moving to China for a job." → Work Visa (Z)
Going to school in China? You need a Student Visa.
If your program is longer than 180 days, it's normally called X1. If it's 180 days or less, it's normally X2 — you don't need to memorize this, your school will tell you which applies.
Example: "I'm attending university in China for a year." → Student Visa, usually X1
Visiting family in China is common — but the exact visa depends on who you're visiting.
Who are you visiting?
You're usually in the Q-family visa group — "Q" is for visiting Chinese family.
Short visit (180 days or less)Q2
Long-term family reunionQ1
Example: "I'm visiting my wife, who is a Chinese citizen." → Family visa, usually Q2
You're usually in the S-family visa group — "S" is for visiting foreign family living in China.
Short visit (180 days or less)S2
Longer stayS1
Example: "My daughter is American, studying in Beijing, and I'm visiting her." → Family visa, usually S2
Going for a cultural exchange, academic visit, research visit, study tour, or another non-business exchange? You're probably looking for an Exchange / Visit Visa.
Official name: F Visa
Still not sure? The reason for your trip decides the visa category, but the visa office makes the final call on the exact type, validity, and how long you can stay — not ChinaVisaMail. On our own application form this is simplified even further into three common groups: Tourist (L), Business (M), and Family (Q/S) — most people fit one of those. If your situation doesn't clearly match anything above, just tell us your purpose of travel and we'll confirm the right category before you start.
Most people need these
- ✓Passport. Your current passport. It generally needs more than 6 months left before it expires. It also needs some completely blank visa pages — how many depends on which visa office handles you (usually 1 or 2). We'll confirm the exact number for your case.
- ✓Online application. You fill out China's online visa form first. It's called COVA.
- ✓Whatever COVA asks you to upload. The online form tells you exactly what to upload as you go — usually your photo and basic details. In plain English: it's a step-by-step online form, not a mystery — it tells you what it needs.
- ✓Proof of where you live. Something showing your U.S. address, such as a driver's license, utility bill, or bank statement.
- ✓Old Chinese visa info, if you've had one before. If you've had a China visa before, you may need information from it.
- ✓Getting the online part "checked off." The visa office checks your online application before you send in your passport. Once that's done, your COVA status changes to "Passport to be submitted" — that's your signal that your passport is now ready to send in. We handle that mailing step for the customers we serve. ⚡ Chose Express? Because Express is built for speed, you can mail your passport to us as soon as you submit the online form — you don't have to wait for "Passport to be submitted" to appear first. Just make sure your application is complete and accurate before you do: if the consulate needs to ask a question or request more information, that typically adds 3–5 business days, even with Express.
You may also need these
Good news for tourists
If you're applying for a Tourist Visa (L), you do not need to show a round-trip flight, hotel booking, itinerary, or invitation letter. This requirement was removed back in 2024. (The visa office can still ask an individual applicant for more information — but you don't need to prepare any of this up front.)
- Business Visa (M) — a letter from the Chinese company you're doing business with.
- Family visa (Q or S) — an invitation letter and proof of your relationship to the family member you're visiting.
- Work Visa (Z) — a Work Permit from your employer in China.
- Student Visa (X) — your school's admission letter.
Special situations
- •Not a U.S. citizen? You may need proof you're allowed to be in the U.S. (like a Green Card or work permit).
- •Used to be a Chinese citizen? You may need your old Chinese passport or naturalization papers.
- •Changed your legal name? You may need official proof of the name change.
- •Applying for a child of Chinese descent? There are a few extra documents — ask us and we'll list them for you.
- •Had a China visa in an old passport? You may need to include that old passport too.
You don't have to figure this out alone. Text or email us with questions about your COVA form or which documents to send, and we'll help point you in the right direction before your passport ever leaves your hands. (We're not the visa office and can't review or guarantee your paperwork — that decision always belongs to them — but you're not guessing on your own.)
Good news
It's just one price. The government's own visa fee is already built in — you won't get a second bill later.
1
Our service
You pay ChinaVisaMail to help you get the right documents together, answer your questions by text or email, take your passport to the correct visa office, pick it up, and mail it back to you.
✓
Government visa fee
Already included. The Chinese visa office's own fee is built into the price below — it is not billed separately.
Standard · 1 person
Best if you have enough time
$449
11–13 business days*
Express · 1 person
Faster, for tighter timing
$494
8–11 business days*
Standard · Couple
Best if you have enough time
$799
11–13 business days*
Express · Couple
Faster, for tighter timing
$849
8–11 business days*
* These ranges start once we have your passport in hand — and they're estimates, not guarantees. Two things can add time, and neither is something we control: every visa office moves at its own pace (San Francisco, for example, typically runs about a day faster than Los Angeles), and if anything on your application is missing or unclear, the consulate can request more information — that usually adds another 3–5 business days for each request. This is exactly why we tell every customer the same thing: apply early. It gives everyone room to fix small things calmly, instead of scrambling against a deadline.
TOTAL = Our Service + Government Visa Fee (already inside the price above)
Families of 3–4 get their own combined rate — see the full pricing section below. Groups of 5 or more need a custom quote — text Mandy directly.
The one thing that's not included: mailing your own passport to us. That's a small shipping cost you pay directly to the carrier (like USPS) — not to ChinaVisaMail.
Here's the whole process
Five steps, start to finish. You'll understand the whole thing in about 15 seconds.
1
Fill out the online form
You complete China's government visa application online. It's called COVA.
2
Wait for the online check
The visa office checks your application online first. If they ask you to fix something, you fix it online.
3
When it says "Passport to be submitted"
That means the online part is ready, and your passport can now be physically mailed in. Chose Express? You can mail it as soon as you submit the online form — don't wait for this status. Just make sure your application is accurate first, since a consulate request for more information adds 3–5 business days either way.
4
Mail your passport to us
We take it to the correct visa office for you.
5
We pick it up and send it back
After processing, we pick up your passport and mail it back to you. Done.
Passing the online check doesn't guarantee your visa — the visa office can still ask for more information or an interview before deciding.
Which visa office handles me?
Pick where you live. We'll tell you. You don't choose the office yourself — where you live decides which office handles your application (not your phone area code or where you're flying from).
Texas
→ Your visa office: Washington DC
Arizona
→ Your visa office: Los Angeles
Northern California
→ Your visa office: San Francisco
Official rule
You can start the online application when your China entry date is within the next 90 days.
Example: Entering China December 1? Your application window opens around September 2 — about 90 days earlier.
Our advice
Once you're inside that 90-day window and your plans are firm, don't wait until the last minute. Starting earlier gives you time if:
- The visa office asks you to fix something
- Another document is needed
- A holiday closes the visa office
- Shipping takes longer than expected
To be clear: this is our practical advice, not an official government rule. The only hard rule is the 90-day window above.
When Should You Start?
Use the calculator below to get your personal timeline, based on your exact travel date and where you live.
办理流程六步详解
-
1登录COVA完成网上填表 前往 consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ 注册账号并填写中国签证申请表。
关键步骤：领事馆选择处务必选「旧金山」。居住在旧金山领区8州（北加州、阿拉斯加、内华达、俄勒冈、华盛顿、爱达荷、蒙大拿、怀俄明）的申请人均须选旧金山，选错无法修改，需取消重填。
填写完成后上传证件照片，提交申请，等待系统预审（一般2–7个工作日）。 -
2提交我们的申请表并付款 前往 中文申请页面，填写您的基本信息（姓名、所在州、签证类型、申请人数量等）。我们将在1个工作日内回复您的付款方式（支持Zelle、转账等方式）及邮寄地址。付款确认后即开始受理。
-
3等待COVA状态变为「待递交护照」 COVA预审通过后，状态页会显示「待递交护照」，并可见「领事馆提醒」内容。请截图保存此页面（含姓名、条形码和领事馆提示文字）——此截图为必要文件之一。
注意：「待递交护照」状态有效期30天，请尽快完成邮寄。 -
4邮件发送COVA截图并邮寄护照及材料 COVA状态显示「待递交护照」后，请将该页面截图（须清晰显示姓名、条形码及「待递交护照」状态）发送邮件给我们；自行打印并随护照邮寄该页面为可选项，非必须。
将护照原件及其他所需材料装入信封，使用USPS Priority Mail（附追踪号）寄至我们的湾区地址。收到付款确认邮件后，我们会告知具体邮寄地址。 -
5我们核查材料并递交领事馆 收到您的材料后，我们立即核查，确认无误后次日递交旧金山领事馆（地址：1450 Laguna Street, SF 94115）。普通件领事馆处理4个工作日，加急件3个工作日。我们全程跟进状态，有任何异常立即通知您。
-
6取证并回寄护照 签证出来后，我们当日取证，次日通过USPS Priority Mail寄出，并发送追踪号给您。您可全程追踪护照动态。护照抵达后，请仔细核对签证信息（姓名、有效期、入境次数等），如有错误请立即告知我们。
所需材料清单
所有签证类型通用材料
- 护照原件——有效期需在6个月以上（申请10年签证需在1年以上），至少有2页空白签证页，连同含照片信息页的复印件注：如有旧护照上有效中国签证，旧护照也需一并提交
- COVA「待递交护照」状态截图（必需，通过邮件发送给我们）——须清晰显示姓名、条形码及「待递交护照」状态自行打印并随护照邮寄该页面为可选项，非必须
- 护照照片——33mm × 48mm（并非美式2英寸/51×51mm护照照片），白色背景，正面免冠，近6个月内拍摄，彩色清晰
- 美国合法居留证明（非美国公民）——有效签证/绿卡/EAD卡原件及复印件
- 驾照或美国州ID复印件（可选，推荐附上，有助于加快审核）
探亲签证（Q2签）额外材料
- 邀请函——由中国境内亲属手写或打印签名，内容须包含：申请人信息（姓名、性别、出生日期、护照号）、行程安排（入境日期、停留时间、探访地点）、邀请人信息（姓名、地址、电话、与申请人关系）
- 邀请人中国居民身份证复印件——正反两面
商务签证（M签）额外材料
- 中国境内邀请公司出具的邀请函——须含公司名称、申请人信息、商务行程目的、联系方式，并加盖公章
⚠ 材料退件常见原因（请提前检查）
• COVA选错领事馆（须选旧金山）
• 未提供COVA「待递交护照」状态截图（含姓名及条形码）
• 护照有效期不足6个月
• 照片不符合规格（背景非白色、佩戴有色或反光眼镜等）
• 探亲签证未附邀请函或邀请函内容不完整
• COVA选错领事馆（须选旧金山）
• 未提供COVA「待递交护照」状态截图（含姓名及条形码）
• 护照有效期不足6个月
• 照片不符合规格（背景非白色、佩戴有色或反光眼镜等）
• 探亲签证未附邀请函或邀请函内容不完整
签证照片规格要求（2026年）
尺寸与背景
- 33毫米 × 48毫米（并非美式2英寸/51×51mm正方形护照照片）
- 白色或近白色背景，光线均匀，无明显阴影
- 头部高度28–33毫米
- 近6个月内拍摄
其他要求
- 正面免冠，五官清晰
- 避免佩戴有色、反光或粗框眼镜等遮挡眼部的物品；不可戴帽子
- 双耳须清晰可见
- 无阴影、无过度修图
- 着装需与背景形成对比（避免白色上衣）
如COVA系统提示照片检测未通过，仍可保存继续，并在寄送材料时附上2张符合规格的纸质照片。
处理时间参考（2026年）
您完成COVA填表后预审2–7个工作日
护照邮寄至我们（各州不同）2–5个工作日
我们核查材料当日完成
旧金山领事馆处理普通件4天 · 加急件3天
回寄至您地址1–5个工作日（按州）
全程（收件起算）普通件11–13个工作日
全程（收件起算）加急件8–11个工作日
建议提前6–8周开始办理，预留充足时间应对COVA预审延误、材料补件及节假日影响。旧金山领事馆每年关闭约20天（中美两国节假日），请提前查询节假日安排。
护照邮寄说明
推荐方式：USPS Priority Mail（带追踪号）
- 购买带追踪号的USPS Priority Mail信封（任何邮局或USPS官网）
- 将所有材料整齐装入信封，不要折叠护照
- 在信封外标注您的姓名和联系方式
- 保存追踪号（Tracking Number），方便查询投递状态
- 如需更快送达，可选择Priority Mail Express（次日或两日达）
付款确认后，我们会发送具体邮寄地址（湾区地址）。请勿在未确认地址前提前寄送。
已了解流程，立即申请
填写中文申请表，1个工作日内回复。所有步骤我们全程中文指导，安心办理。
立即填写申请表 →电话：+1 (415) 987-8661 · mandy@chinavisamail.com