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China Online Visa Application (COVA): the online form used by Chinese missions

Unofficial entry · Sources checked

China Online Visa Application (COVA) (中国签证在线办理) is the online system that applicants use to register, complete a Chinese visa application form, upload supporting documents and have the application reviewed online before the passport is submitted. The definition follows the China Consular Services website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the guidelines of the Embassy of the PRC in the United States. Visa categories and entry conditions are covered in Visas and residence.

Definition

The China Consular Services website describes the portal as covering the whole Chinese visa application process. The page states that the portal gives access to the Guidance on Visa Application, lets applicants start a new application or continue a saved draft, enables status tracking, and manages later appointments such as interview bookings.

What the official text says

The Embassy of the PRC in the United States, in its guidelines dated 22 September 2025, states that a visa application through the system consists of three main steps: signing up and logging in, filling out the form and uploading materials, and online review followed by submitting the passport to the Embassy.

The Embassy's requirements notice, updated September 2025, states that the new COVA System launched at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. on 30 September 2025 and that its application requirements apply to visa applications made through the new system.

Step I: Signing up and logging in

The guidelines say that the portal address is http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/. The guidelines state the following sequence:

  1. Go to http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/.
  2. Click [Sign In] at the top-right corner of the page.
  3. Log in with your email account.
  4. If this is your first time using the system, sign up with your email address.
  5. Click [Start my application] at the bottom of the page.

The guidelines state that you may click [Guidance on Visa Application] to view the application procedures and required documents for each type of visa before you start.

Step II: Filling out the form and uploading materials

The guidelines state that the application form has 9 sections: Personal information, Type of visa, Work information, Education, Family information, Information on your travel, Information on previous travel, Other information and Declaration.

The guidelines state the following sequence for completing the form:

  1. Read the "Guidelines for Filling in the China Online Visa Application (COVA) Form" and the "Instructions for visa applications at the Embassy/Consulate."
  2. Fill in the sections in order, in Chinese or English.
  3. Complete every required field marked with ＊ on each page.
  4. Click [Next] to go to the next page.
  5. Click [Save] to save your progress.

The guidelines state that a saved draft can be viewed and edited by clicking your account at the top-right corner, then [Personal Center], then [My draft].

Section 2 (Type of visa) of the guidelines states the following:

  • Select the 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.
  • Confirm the service type with a consular official at the Embassy or Consulate-General.
  • Select visa validity and intended duration of stay as needed.

The guidelines state that consular officials determine whether a visa is issued, its type, number of entries, validity and duration of each stay. These may differ from what the applicant entered on the form.

Section 6 (Information on your travel) of the guidelines states the following:

  • Fill in arrival and departure dates and cities according to your travel plan.
  • The system accepts visa applications only for entry dates within the next 90 days.
  • Applications submitted outside this period will not be processed.
  • Item 6.5 (Person sharing the same passport with you) applies only when someone traveling with you uses the same passport.

Section 10 (Uploading materials) of the guidelines states the following:

  • Take photos and upload the required documents as the system instructs.
  • Only image files are supported. PDF and other formats are not accepted.
  • Make sure all uploaded materials are complete, clearly visible and evenly lit.
  • Documents marked with red dashed borders are mandatory and must be uploaded.
  • Fill in the Visa Application Statement template, print it, and then upload it. The template can be downloaded from the Embassy's website.
  • Upload other circumstances requiring explanation, or materials the Embassy requests during preliminary review, under [Anything else you want to declare].

Section 11 (Confirm the Information) of the guidelines states the following sequence:

  1. Click [Next] to confirm your information.
  2. Review the submitted information and uploaded materials.
  3. To make changes, click [Modify] at the upper-right corner of the page.
  4. Click [Submit the application form].

The guidelines state that a submitted form cannot be modified until consular officials have reviewed it.

Step III: Online review and passport submission

The guidelines state that after submission the application enters online preliminary review. The applicant can check progress by clicking [Track the status of my application] on the homepage.

The guidelines state that if the application does not meet the requirements or needs additional materials, the status changes to [Rejected and to be modified], and the applicant must modify and supplement the materials as the Embassy or Consulate advises.

The guidelines state that after preliminary review is approved, the status displays "Passport to be submitted." The applicant or agent then visits the Visa Office of the Embassy to submit the passport, a printed copy of the application information page with the barcode, and certain original documents that must be submitted on site.

The guidelines state that online review approval does not guarantee visa issuance. Consular officers may require an in-person interview or additional documentation, and processing times may vary.

The Embassy's requirements notice, under "I. Process of Visa Application," states the following:

  1. Visa applicants log on to the New COVA System to fill in the forms and upload materials for preliminary review.
  2. When the application shows "Passport to be submitted," the visa applicant or agent submits the passport, the application information page with barcode, and other original documents as required to the Visa Office within office hours.

The same notice lists the consular jurisdiction of the Embassy: Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico. The notice states that the applicant should confirm that he or she lives in these places before submitting the application.

Related terms

Sources

Checked 10 October 2026 and 11 October 2026.

This entry is an unofficial summary of the documents listed above. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this entry, the official text and those instructions prevail.

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