Normal visa application process for China (not visa-free)

15/04/2024

1: Application process

(1): Fill in the form online. Please log in to https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to fill out the visa application form online. After completing the filling, print out the confirmation page and form, and sign the confirmation page and item 9 of the form.

(2): Submit the application. Applicants are required to submit application materials and have their fingerprints collected at the embassy in person during the opening hours of the embassy’s consular window.

*The following visa applicants are exempted from fingerprint collection, and those exempted from fingerprint collection can entrust others to submit visa applications.

(1): Persons under 14 years old or over 70 years old;

(2): Persons holding diplomatic passports or meeting the conditions for the issuance of diplomatic, service, or courtesy visas;

(3): Persons who have applied for a visa at the Chinese Embassy in Barbados with the same passport within five years and whose fingerprints have been retained;

(4): All ten fingers are missing or all ten fingerprints cannot be preserved.

2:Application materials

(1): Fill in and print the visa application form and confirmation page online;

(2): Original passport with a validity period of more than 6 months and a blank visa page and a copy of the information page;

(3): 1 original photo uploaded in the application form (frontal, bareheaded, color small 2-inch 48mm × 33mm photo within 6 months);

(4): Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later became a foreign national);

(5): The original and copy of the valid residence permit in Brazil (Saint-Loup and Saint-Germain) (applicable to third-country citizens in Brazil, Saint-Loup and Saint-Germain);

(6): In addition to the above materials (1) to (5), the following types of visa materials are also required to be submitted:


type of visaApplicable situationsMaterial requirements
M visaF visa
F visaF visa		Go to China to engage in economic and trade, exchanges, visits, inspections and other activitiesInvitation letter issued by relevant units in China. The invitation letter must contain the following contents:
the name, gender, date of birth, etc. of the invitee; the reason for the invitee’s visit to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting unit or inviter, source of expenses, etc.; name of the inviting unit or invitation Name, contact number, address, unit seal, signature of legal representative or inviter, etc.
Z visaGo to work in Chinavalid "Foreigner Work Permit Notice" (or the original "Foreigner Work Permit", etc.).
*The holder of the certificate must apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entering China from the exit and entry administration agency of the public security bureau of the local people's government at or above the county level where he or she intends to reside.
X1 visa
(long-term study, more than 180 days)
X2 visa
 (short-term study, no more than 180 days)		Students studying in China X1：
①The original and copy of the admission notice issued by the recruiting unit in China;
②The original and copy of the "Visa Application Form for Foreign Students Studying in China" (JW201 or JW202 form).
 *The holder of the certificate must apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entering China from the exit and entry administration agency of the public security bureau of the local people's government at or above the county level where he or she intends to reside.
X2：
The original and copy of the admission notice issued by the recruiting unit in China.
S1 visa
 (long-term visit to relatives, more than 180 days)
 S2 visa
(short-term visit to relatives, no more than 180 days)		Spouses, parents, children under 18 years old, and spouse’s parents of holders of work or study visas or work or study residence permits.① Original proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (such as family relationship certificate, marriage certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.);
② Invitation letter issued by a foreigner working in China;
③ Passport of the inviter, Copies of visa and residence permit.
 *If adult children and their spouses apply for a relative visit (S2) visa, in addition to the above materials, they must also submit corresponding explanations according to the requirements of the consular officer.
Q1 visa
 (residence)
Q2 visa
(short-term visit to relatives, no more than 180 days)		① Foreign family members of Chinese citizens; ② Foreign family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China; * Scope of family members: spouse, parents, spouse’s parents, children, children’s spouses, brothers and sisters, grandparents, maternal grandparents, Grandchildren, grandchildren. Q1:
 If it is for family reunion, you must provide:
①Invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen living in China or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China. The invitation letter must contain the following content: Name, gender, date of birth, etc. of the invitee; reason for coming to China, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended period of stay, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.; name, contact number, address, and information of the inviter Signature etc.
② A copy of the inviter’s Chinese ID card or a copy of the foreigner’s passport and permanent residence permit;
③Proof of the family member relationship between the applicant and the inviter (spouse, parents, children, children’s spouses, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandparents, grandchildren, and spouse’s parents) (marriage certificate, birth certificate, public security certificate Proof of kinship or notarized kinship certificate issued by the police station, etc.) original and copy.

If it is a matter of foster care, you must provide:
① Notarization of the foster care authorization issued by the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or a foster care authorization letter notarized and certified by the host country or China;
② The original and copy of the passport of the client and the relatives of the foster child Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by the public security station or notarized kinship certificate, etc.);
③ Letter of consent to accept foster care and a copy of the ID card issued by the trustee accepting foster care;
④ Both or one of the parents of the foster child If the child is a Chinese citizen, a copy of the certificate proving that the Chinese parents settled abroad when the child was born should also be provided.
*The holder of the certificate must apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entering China from the exit and entry administration agency of the public security bureau of the local people's government at or above the county level where he or she intends to reside.

Q2:
① Letter of invitation issued by a Chinese citizen residing in China or a foreign citizen with Chinese permanent residence status. The invitation letter must contain the following:
The name, gender, date of birth, etc. of the invitee; the reason for the invitee’s visit to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.; name, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.
② A copy of the inviter’s Chinese ID card or a copy of the foreigner’s passport and permanent residence permit.
J1 visa
(foreign journalists stationed in Chinese news organizations, staying for more than 180 days)
J2 visa
 (foreign journalists stationed in Chinese news organizations, staying for no more than 180 days)		Journalist in China J1:
Visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and an official letter issued by the reporter’s media.
*The holder of the certificate must apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entering China from the exit and entry administration agency of the public security bureau of the local people's government at or above the county level where he or she intends to reside.
J2:
 Visa notification letter from the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or the relevant authorized unit and an official letter issued by the media where the reporter works.
R visaaspect"Confirmation Letter for High-end Foreign Talents"
 *Spouse and minor children must submit proof of relationship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate) to apply for S2 visa.
C visacrewA letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transportation company or an invitation letter issued by relevant units in China.
L visaTourists (stay for more than 30 days)Itinerary materials such as round-trip air tickets and hotel orders, or invitation letters issued by units or individuals in China. The invitation letter must contain the following contents:
the invitee’s name, gender, date of birth, etc.; the invitee’s arrival and departure date, travel location, etc.; the name of the inviting unit or the inviting person’s name, contact number, address, unit seal, legal representative or invitation Signature etc.
For emergency humanitarian visas beyond the above-mentioned acceptable range, if you are going to China to attend a funeral or visit a critically ill relative, you must submit the identity document of the deceased or sick relative (such as a foreigner's passport, etc.), a death certificate or a diagnosis certificate and critical illness notice issued by the hospital. books, proof of kinship and other materials.

3. Consultation methods

Consultation email: bridgetown@csm.mfa.gov.cn

Consultation hotline: +1-246-4356890 (Monday to Friday 8:30-11:30, 13:30-17:30, except holidays)