If it does not, you MUST apply for a new passport and have it in hand before you are able to apply for your travel visa.**
China Visa Application Processing Time
**Schedule your visa appointment as soon as possible. Some consulates are scheduling two months out.**
Once you have sent in your complete visa application packet to the China consulate, it will generally take 5-7 business days for a regular application to be approved (if all the documents meet the requirements). If sending via courier service, applicants should expect an additional 2-4 days on either side for shipping time, giving a maximum timeline of about 2 weeks from application to receipt of your travel visa. Please note that this timeline may be longer now. Some travelers are currently seeing 3-4 weeks.
- If time is tight, Expedited (2-3 business days + shipping) or Rush (1 business day +shipping) application options are available for an additional cost.
Tourists planning to visit China are required to possess a China tourist visa (also know as an “L visa”) to enter the People’s Republic of China. Visas are issued only by a Chinese Consulate or Embassy. Travelers should start preparing their visa application packet 45-60 days prior to their departure date.
The visa application process can get a little complicated when it comes to adoptees traveling back to their birth countries. Don’t worry! We’ll walk you through every step of the process!
Step 1: Find a Courier Service to work with (unless you live near a Consulate). Courier Service Fees vary, generally ranging between $100 – $200 per visa. For U.S. travelers, here is a short List of Known China Visa Courier Services our travelers have used in the past.
- Your courier will let you know everything you will need to include in your visa application packet.
- Your courier will help verify that all of the information in your COVA (China Online Visa Application) is correct and acceptable before moving forward. They are the experts and will help you successfully obtain your visa.
- Your courier will schedule an appointment with the Consulate as soon as everything is confirmed.
Step 2: Complete your COVA (China Online Visa Application Form).
- Choose your continent
- Scroll to find your correct Consulate state (Here is a Consular district map to help guide which consulate to use in the U.S.)
- Refer to our Visa Application Form Tips for basic field response tips
Step 3: Print out and sign your COVA. Collect the rest of your visa application packet required documents (see next tabs).
Step 4: Pack it all up and mail to your courier by tracked and certified mail.
Let us know as soon as you’ve sent out your visa application packet to your courier.
For Chinese adoptee travelers, you will need to prepare the following documents for your visa application:
*A detailed Adoptee Documents Guide can be found in your Travel Portal
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Make 100% sure that your passport has at least 6 months validity (meaning its expiration date is at least 6 months past your tour departure date) and at least TWO blank visa pages available. This does not include the pages reserved for amendments or endorsements.
*If your passport does not have enough validity, you need to apply for a new passport before you can apply for a travel visa*
There are two ways to complete a China visa application form.
Option 1. China Online Visa Application Form (COVA)
Log onto https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to start an online application. Each online application is assigned a unique ID number. Be sure to keep this number on hand. *As long as a COVA form is available for your country of residence, you should use a COVA form*
Option 2. PDF Chinese Visa Application Form
*Only use this option if your country of residence is not available on the COVA site.*
Download a Chinese Visa Application Form to complete and print out to include in your visa application packet. Your visa application form must be TYPED. Do not print out and hand write your answers.
Please visit our Visa Application Form Tips below for helpful tips when filling out your application.
If you have previously traveled to China and have expired visas, you will need to send:
- Photocopy of each previous visa
- Original of most recent expired visa
If you are unable to locate these, your courier may have you write a letter explaining this.
Two passport-photo-sized portrait photos.
- Photos need to be taken against a white or plain, solid background.
- Clear, front-facing photos. No hats, sunglasses, or anything else that covers your face are allowed (including bangs).
Photo Size Requirements:
- Paper Photo: 33mm × 48mm
- Digital Photo: 400px x 520px
This is the passport that was issued to you during your adoption and naturalization. A lot of people call is their baby passport, but that may be misleading as not everyone receives it as a baby. Either way, this is your expired Chinese passport and you will need to include it in your visa application packet. This will be returned to you!
- If your first time traveling back to China since your adoption: Send the full original passport.
- If not your first time traveling back to China since your adoption: Send a photocopy of the photo page of the passport.
- Send two additional photocopies of the photo page of your Chinese passport
You will need to include a copy of your Adoption Registration Certificate in your application packet. Do not send any originals, only photocopies.
Read our ‘Adoptee Documents Guide‘ (in your Traveler Portal) for sample versions of the Adoption Certificate if you are not sure what this looks like.
You will need to include a copy of your Court Validation.
You will need to include your original State Birth Certificate, plus a photocopy. Your original will be returned to you!
Read our ‘Adoptee Documents Guide‘ (in your Traveler Portal) for sample versions of these documents if you are not sure what these look like.
Some China consulates may require that you include a copy of your Certificate of Citizenship in your application packet. Do not send any originals, only photocopies.
If you do not have a Certificate of Citizenship, your courier may have you write a letter explaining.
Read our ‘Adoptee Documents Guide‘ for information about the Citizenship Certificate if you are not sure what this looks like.
This could be a copy of your driver’s license.
Download and complete this simple form. Handwritten signature is required. This must match your proof of residence address.
For travelers who were not adopted from China, you will need to prepare the following documents for your visa application:
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Make 100% sure that your passport has at least 6 months validity (meaning its expiration date is at least 6 months past your tour departure date) and at least TWO blank visa pages available. This does not include the pages reserved for amendments or endorsements.
*If your passport does not have enough validity, you need to apply for a new passport before you can apply for a travel visa*
There are two ways to complete a China visa application form.
Option 1. China Online Visa Application Form (COVA)
Log onto https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to start an online application. Each online application is assigned a unique ID number. Be sure to keep this number on hand. *As long as a COVA form is available for your country of residence, you should use a COVA form*
Option 2. PDF Chinese Visa Application Form
*Only use this option if COVA does not cover your country of residence.*
Download a Chinese Visa Application Form to complete and print out to include in your visa application packet. Your visa application form must be TYPED. Do not print out and hand write your answers.
Please visit our Visa Application Form Tips below for helpful tips when filling out your application.
If you have previously traveled to China and have expired visas, you will need to send:
- Photocopy of each previous visa
- Original of most recent expired visa
If you are unable to find previous visas, your courier may ask you to write a letter explaining this.
Two passport-photo-sized portrait photos.
- Photos need to be taken against a white or plain, solid background.
- Clear, front-facing photos. No hats, sunglasses, or anything else that covers your face are allowed (including bangs).
Photo Size Requirements:
- Paper Photo: 33mm × 48mm
- Digital Photo: 400px x 520px
This could be a copy of your driver’s license. Ask your courier what would be best.
Download and complete this simple form. Handwritten signature is required. This must match your proof of residence address.
Travelers can make an appointment at their nearest China Embassy/Consulate to present their visa application packet in person or opt to use a courier service to help apply for them.
Courier Service Fees vary between couriers, generally ranging from $100 – $200 per visa. For U.S. travelers, here is a short List of Known China Visa Courier Services our travelers have used in the past.
China Consular Visa Fee
Regular Processing Time (5-7 business days)
- U.S. Citizens: $140 USD
- Canada Citizens: $200-$300 CAD
- UK Citizens: £150-£335
China Consulates
U.S. China Embassy/Consulates:
Here is a Consular district map to help guide which consulate to use in the U.S.
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- New York City
- Washington, D.C.
Canada China Embassy/Consulates:
- Calgary
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Toronto
- Vancouver
UK China Embassy/Consulates:
- Belfast
- Edinburgh
- London
- Manchester
- As long as there is a COVA (China Online Visa Application) form available for your country of residence, you should use it to apply for your China visa.
- ALL required fields must be completed.
- Make sure all names match exactly what is shown on your passport (i.e. If your middle name is included in your passport Given Names, include it exactly the same in the Visa Application “Given Name(s)” field.)
- If you are unsure of your China birthplace/orphanage city or district, please call us
- Type of Travel Document choose Ordinary
- Types of Visa and Major Purpose of Your Visit choose (L) Tourism and choose Independent Tourist
- Number of Entries we suggest choosing Multiple
- Who Will Pay For the Travel choose Self
- For entire Other Information section (Yes/No questions), ‘No’ is the optimal answer unless absolutely necessary to choose ‘Yes’
- Review and verify that all information is correct. DO NOT click Submit.
- Copy down your Application ID number
- Provide your courier with your Application ID number
- Your courier will be able to log in and review your completed visa application form via your Application ID.
- Once the courier confirms that all is correct, you can retrieve your application using your Application ID and Submit your application
- Print out your COVA application and sign it. Provide your courier with a signed copy in your visa application packet.
Tour Resources
What to Pack
The right outfits take time
Visa Information
Everything you need to know about that pesky little piece of paper
Travel Tips
It's never too early to start becoming a pro
