The Chinese Consulate General in Chicago has officially launched the China Online VISA Application system. Applicants within the jurisdictioncould enjoy more convenience using the system to fill out forms, upload materials for online preliminary review and track the status of application. Visa application via the system consists of 3 main steps: I. Signing up and logging into your account, II. Filling out the form and uploading materials, III. Going through online review and submitting your passport to the Consulate. Please click the link for step-by-step instructions for each procedure.

I. Signing up and Logging into Your Account 

Go to http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ (click to redirect). Click the [Sign In] button at the top-right corner of the page.

Logging in with your email account. If this is your first time using the system, please use your email address to sign up.

You may click the [Guidance on Visa Application] to view the application procedures and required documents for each type of visa. Once you are ready, click the [Start my application] button at the bottom and proceed to the application stage.

II. Filling out the Form and Uploading Materials 

Please submit your application based on the consular jurisdiction of Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the United States (click to view). Read the “Guidelines for Filling in the China Online Visa Application (COVA) Form” and “Instructions for visa applications at the Embassy/Consulate” thoroughly and starting the online application.    

There are 9 sections to complete in the application form: Personal information, Type of visa, Work information, Education, Family information, Information on your travel, Information on previous travel, Other information and Declaration. Please fill out the form in Chinese or English sequentially. After finish all of the required fields (marked with ＊) on each page, click [Next] to proceed. You may also click the [Save] button to save your progress during the application process.

Saved draft can be viewed and edited by clicking your account at the top-right corner-[Personal Center]-[My draft].

1.Personal Information

(1) When uploading your photo, the system supports editing the photo using dragging and cropping tools and automatically determines whether the photo meets the requirements or not. If you fail to pass the check after multiple uploads, you may still continue filling out other sections and do remember to bring a standard ID photo when you submit your passport to the Embassy/Consulate-General.

(2) Automatic recognition of passport bio-page will assist you filling in your name, nationality and passport information. Please check that all information is accurate before confirm action and the system will fill in relevant fields.

(3) If the system prompts that the current applicant already has an application pending, you may click your account at the top-right corner-[Personal Center] to view the processing status of your application, or ask your agent for details about your application.

2. Type of visa

Please select your visa type based on the purpose of your visit to China. Choose “Standard” or “Expedited” processing (Extra charge is needed for expedited processing; processing time is calculated from the date of passport submission. Please confirm the service type with consular official at the Embassy/Consulate-General.), visa validity, and intended duration of stay as needed.

Please note that whether to issue a visa, the type of visa, number of entries, validity and duration of each stay will be determined by consular officials. It may differ from those you filled in on the application form.

3. Work Information

Please fill in your work experience in the past 5 years truthfully, and provide the full name of your company/organization without abbreviations. If you have multiple work experiences within the past 5 years, please click [Add] at the bottom right to add extra entries.

4. Education

Please truthfully fill in your highest level of education. If you have multiple educational backgrounds, click [Add] in the bottom right to add extra entries.

5. Family Information

Please provide relevant information truthfully. If you select [Not Applicable], a detailed explanation shall be added.

6. Information on your travel

(1)  Please fill in your arrival and departure dates and cities according to your travel plan. Please note that the system only accepts visa applications for entry dates within the next 90 days. Applications submitted outside of this period will not be processed.

(2)  [6.5 Person sharing the same passport with you] applies only when someone traveling with you uses the same passport. If you are traveling with others who hold different passports, please select “No” for this entry.

7. Information on previous travel

Please truthfully fill in your travel history, mainly including whether you have been to China, obtained a Chinese visa, and your travel record within the past 12 months.

8. Other information

Please complete this section based on your personal experience and fact, a statement explaining circumstances may be asked to provide.

9. Declaration

Please select the filer’s identity (the applicant or the person who fills in the application on behalf the applicant; those filling on behalf of others shall provide their personal information and relationship to the applicant).

After reading and agreeing to the statement below, check the box [I understand and agree with the above].

10. Uploading materials

(1) Please take photos and upload the required documents as per system instructions (only image files are supported; PDF and other formats are not accepted). To expedite processing, make sure that all uploaded materials are complete, clearly visible, and evenly lit. Documents marked with red dashed borders are mandatory and must be uploaded.

 (2) The template of Visa Application Statement can be downloaded from the website of the Consulate. Click here to download. Please fill in, print out and then upload it .

 (3) If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, and formerly was a Chinese citizen/either of parents is(was) a Chinese citizen, please upload materials based on your individual circumstances.

(4) If you are a foreigner in the United States, please upload your visa, permanent residence permit or other materials to prove your legal residence.

(5) If there are other circumstances requiring explanation, or if the embassy requests additional materials during the preliminary review, please upload them under the section of [Anything else you want to declare].

11. Confirm the Information

After uploading materials, click [Next] to proceed to confirm your information. Here, you may review the submitted information and the uploaded materials. To make changes, click the [Modify] button at the upper-right corner of the page. Once confirmed, click [Submit the application form]. Please carefully review all the information, as submitted form cannot be modified until consular officials’ review.

III. Online Review and Submit your Passport 

After submission, your application will enter the online preliminary review stage, where the staff of the Consulate will conduct online review. You may check the progress by clicking the [Track the status of my application] on the homepage.

 If the submitted application does not meet the requirements or need to upload additional materials, consular staff will reject it, and the application status will change to [Rejected and to be modified]. Please modify and supplement your application materials according to the Embassy or Consulate's feedback to avoid delays in the review process due to failure to provide supplementary materials in a timely manner.

After the application preliminary review is approved, the status will display as “Passport to be submitted.” The applicant or agent should visit the Visa office of the Consulate (click here for address) 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 submission requirements).

Please note: Online review approval does not guarantee visa issuance. Consular officers may require an in-person interview with the applicant or request additional documentation. Besides, processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances, and some visa applications may require longer processing time.