Ø  General

Ø  Submission and Collection

Ø  Application Documents

Ø  Other

·   General

Q:Do I need a visa to visit China's mainland?

Foreign citizens generally need a visa to visit China's mainland with the exception of visa-free entry according to relevant agreements and regulations. (click Exemption of visa for more information.)

Q:I am a U.S. citizen, can I apply for a Chinese visa at the port of entry?

 U.S. citizens must obtain a visa before arrival in China. You are not eligible for a landing visa.

Q:I have received my visa, but there will be a change in my trip plan. Do I need to apply for a change of the visa type or validity?

Once your visa application is processed and approved, you will not be able to change a visa type or validity unless you request the visa be voided by the Visa Office and apply and pay for a new one. If you have entered China, you should apply to the local Public Security authority for a change in visa type or an extension of stay or validity. Your application will be considered by the Public Security authority in accordance with relevant Chinese Laws and Regulations.

Q: I renewed my passport recently. I previously had a Chinese visa on my expired passport which is still within the valid period.Do I need to apply for a new visa?

A: Please check whether there is any change of Name, Gender, Date of Birth and Nationality between the new and expired passports. If the information above has not changed and the purpose of your upcoming trip to China is consistent with the visa type, a new visa is not required. Please travel to China with both passports. If your personal information has changed or the purpose of your trip to China is different from the type of current visa, please apply for a new visa.

Q:I have received my visa. Is there a guarantee that I will be allowed to enter China?

A visa is not a guarantee to enter China. The decision on whether or not you will be allowed to enter China is made at a port of entry by Chinese Border Control authority in accordance with Chinese Laws and Regulations.

Q: Why the visa is different from my application in terms of type/number of entries/validity/duration of each stay?

 Whether to issue a visa, the type of visa, number of entries, validity and duration of each stay will be determined by consular officials. Consular officials will take the applicant's purpose of travel, the duration of stay and the supporting documents into comprehensive consideration and make the decision.

Q:How do I read and understand my visa?

 "Entries" refers to the number of times you are permitted to enter China. It can be single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry and good through the validity of your visa.

 Validity ("Enter Before") of a visa begins from the date of issue and good through 24h00 Beijing Time of the "Enter Before" date unless the number of entries is used up or the visa is revoked by the Chinese government.

Duration of Each Stay is the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in China on each entry, calculated from the date of entry into China. While in China, you may find your date of departure from China will exceed the "Enter Before" date. You will not be punished as long as your total stay on that entry is within the limit on the "Duration of Each Stay".

Note: Please take notice of the Remarks if any on your visa. All Z, X1, Q1, S1, D visa holders are required to proceed  to and apply for a residence permit from the local Public Security authorities within 30 days upon arrival in China unless the Duration of Each Stay on the visa is marked as 30 days.

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· Submission and Collection

Q:How to apply for a Chinese visa?

I. Signing up and Logging into Your Account. 

Go to http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ (click to redirect)

II. Filling out the Form and Uploading Materials.

Please refer to the consular jurisdiction of Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the United States (click to view) and select corresponding Embassy/Consulate-General for your submission. Then please refer to the Guidelines for China Online VISA Application, Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application to fill in the application form and upload required materials.

III. Online Review and Submit your Passport.

After the application status displays as “Passport to be submitted”(example as below), the applicant or agent should visit the Visa office of the Consulate-General to submit the passport, a printed copy of the application information page with the barcode, and certain original documents requiring submitted on-site(click here for address).

The staff will review the documents and schedule the time for pickup. Usually, it will take 4 working days if the application meets all the requirements. If there is an urgent need for travel, the applicant may apply for expedited processing by presenting the supporting documents. The processing time will be 3 working days (additional fee will be charged).

IV. Pickup.

The pick-up form issued by the staff of the Consulate will indicate the earliest estimated date for pick-up. Please check your online application status on or after that date. When the status shows “Passport to be collected”, you may come to the visa office for pickup with your pink pick-up form.

Please use credit card (Master or Visa), Money Order or Cashier's Check for payment. Click for More details.

Q: After the online preliminary review is approved, do I need to make an appointment to submit my passport and to collect my fingerprints?

The Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.S. provide walk-in visa application services. After online preliminary review approved (with the application status of “Passport to be submitted” ), the applicant or an agent can go to the corresponding Embassy or Consulate-General to submit the passport, a printed copy of the application information page with the barcode, and certain original documents requiring submitted on-site.

According to relevant regulations, applicants are not required to visit in person for fingerprint collection. However, based on the specifics of each case, consular officers may require the applicant to appear in person for an interview. Please follow the instructions of the consular officers.

Q: My passport expires in 6 months/ has less than 2 visa pages, can I use it to apply for a Chinese visa?

A: No. Please renew the passport first.

Q: After I submitted my application materials, the expected pickup date has arrived, but the system status has not yet updated to "Passport to be collected". Can I go to pick up my passport?

A: No. The date indicated on the pickup form is the earliest estimated pickup date. If the order status does not show "Passport to be collected", please check if the email address or phone number provided in your application have received any notification regarding your application, or ask your agent if they have received any notification from the Visa Office requesting supplement. Depending on the specifics of the case, some applications may take longer to process. Please wait until the expected pickup date has passed AND the online application status displays "Passport to be collected", then you or your agent may go to collect the passport.

Q: Can I apply my Chinese visa through the mail?

A:The Chinese Consulate-General does not provide mailing services for visa application. Please follow Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application and submit the application material in person or by an agent.

Q: I found that my personal information on the visa is inaccurate. What should I do?

A: Please contact the Visa Section of the Consulate-General through email chicago@csm.mfa.gov.cn or call 312-453-0210  (Hours: 9:30am-12:00pm; 1:30pm-3:00pm, Monday through Friday, closed on weekends and holidays) as soon as possible. You may also contact staff on-site to adjust the information in time.

Q:Where should I apply for a visa? Must I appear in person to submit my application? May I use a visa service?

You may apply for a visa at a Chinese Embassy or Consulate General based on your State of residence. You need to complete and sign the visa form and prepare necessary supporting documents and have your friend or a visa service help submit your application. You don't have to appear in person unless required by a consular officer.

Q:What do I need to know if I go to Visa Office to submit my application?

Please make sure you have checked our website and prepared all necessary documents BEFORE you come to the Visa Office. Oversize baggage or hazardous objects are NOT allowed in the Visa Office. You must pass a security check at the entrance of the Visa Office. Once in the office, please take a number for visa application and wait for your turn. Proceed to the window that shows your number and submit your application. You will be given a pick-up slip for your application and passport accepted. Please retain the slip and return to the Visa Office on or after the date shown on the slip to pick up your passport. You will need to pay for your visa on the pick-up day.

If no pick-up date is shown on the slip, you need to wait for a call or mail notification from the Visa Office as your application may require longer processing time.

Q:How long does it to process my application? What is the right time to submit my visa application?

Normally it takes 4 business days to process a visa application although some applications require longer processing time. You will be notified of the estimated collection date either on your pick-up slip or by phone later. You are advised to submit your visa application about one month before your planned travel date in China.

Q:Do you provide express visa service?

Yes. Express service is available for an additional fee. You need to make such request to our staff while submitting your application. Please note that not all applications can be expedited as some requires longer processing time.

Q:How much do I need to pay for my visa? What are your accepted methods of payment?

Please click to check for detailed info.

Q:I already received my visa and paid the fee. Is it still possible to get a refund or dispute the payment?

According to Article 92 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, foreigners who apply for exit/entry documents such as visas or foreigner stay or residence permits or apply for documents extension or alteration shall pay visa fees or document fees in accordance with relevant regulations. 

Once a visa is issued and fees paid, the Chinese Consulate does not refund for any reason. Billing disputes will result in legal actions.

· Application Documents

Q:I need to apply for a Chinese visa, what documents should I submit with my application? 

You need to prepare your valid passport, duly completed and signed visa application form, a passport photo, and supporting documents based on the purpose of your trip. 

Q:What are the requirements for passport, visa application form and photo?

Your passport must valid at least for one year, and not altered/damaged/smudged in any way.

Make sure you TYPE to complete and sign an up-to-date version of visa application form. You must provide true, complete and accurate answers to each question on the form. The form needs to be signed by the applicant (or a parent /guardian in case of a minor). Only original signature is accepted.

You must provide one color, passport-type photo that meets the following criteria: be taken within the last six months against a white background and printed on high-quality photo paper; 2'x2' in size; showing the full frontal view of you head without any headwear.

Q:What are the requirements for an invitation letter?

The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, and must be signed by the inviter and/or company seal in case of a business invite. An applicant may be required to provide the original invitation letter as deemed necessary by a consular officer.

Q:Do I have to provide Physical Examination Form to apply for a visa?

No.

Q:I will be traveling to China on company business. I will also meet my friends in China. What type of visa is most appropriate for me?

If you travel to China on multiple purposes, you may submit your application based on your main purpose and provide supporting documents accordingly.

· Other

Q: Can I check other applicants' visa application information at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General?

 No.

Q: What should I do if I lose my passport during my stay in China?

You should report the loss to local public security authorities as soon as possible and go to your country's embassy or consulate in China to apply for a replacement passport or travel document. After that, you must go to the local public security authorities to apply for a new entry and exit visa.

Q: I am currently in China on a visa and the permitted time of stay is almost up, but I need to stay longer. May I send my passport back to a friend in U.S. in order to get a new valid visa?

No. You must leave mainland China if you need to apply for a new visa. Or you may apply for an extension of visa from the local public security authorities in China.

Q: I am planning to travel as a tourist to Hong Kong, Macao and other cities in China. Do I need different visas?

If you are a U.S. citizen, you need to apply for mainland China visa only. For non-U.S. citizens, if you are not eligible for a short-term visa-free visit to HKSAR/Macao SAR (Click to check your eligibility), you will need to apply both mainland China visa AND HKSAR/Macao SAR visa.

Q: I am now in China on a Z visa and have received my residence permit. Can I leave China and come back as often as I wish?

You may use your residence permit (placed on your passport and similar to a visa) issued by the local public security authority to enter and exit China during the validity of the residence permit. No other visa is needed.

If you are a Chinese Permanent Resident Card holder, you don't need a visa to enter China during the validity of your Permanent Resident Card.

Q: I am a Chinese citizen. My child was born in the U.S. with a U.S. passport. What are the requirements for my child applying Chinese visa for the first time?

A: According to the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, a person whose parents are both Chinese nationals and have both settled abroad, or one of whose parents is a Chinese national and has settled abroad (for example, holding a non-conditional permanent resident card of the U.S.), and who has acquired foreign nationality at birth shall not have Chinese nationality. These foreign nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel to China. Please refer to the Chinese Visa Application Requirements for U.S.-born Children of Chinese Descent.

Q: My 10-year multi-entry visa was suspended due to the COVID-19. Is there any compensation measures?

A: U.S. citizens holding multi-year multi-entry visas issued by Chinese authorities abroad before March 28, 2020 under bilateral reciprocity agreements, whose visas temporarily suspended of use between March 28, 2020 and March 14, 2023 due to the COVID-19, may apply for compensation. However, if a new multi-year multi-entry visa or residence permit has been issued after March 28, 2020, no compensation will be given for the original multi-year multi-entry visa. Applicants may choose whether to apply for compensation after the expiration of their visas. If you choose compensation, you must submit the application normally through the  Chinese Online Visa Application System and inform the staff when submitting the original passport and other materials on-site that you are applying for visa compensation. A three-year multi-entry visa can be applied free of charge in compensation. If applicants choose to give up the compensation, a new 10-year multi-entry visa can be applied for with normal charge. Please check for more details.