Since September 30, 2025, every Chinese visa application begins online through COVA — China Online Visa Application, the official platform operated by the Consular Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This guide covers how to use it, why it sometimes sends you to a second website, and what happens at the embassy after you submit.
Before using this guide, confirm you’ve identified your visa type and prepared your documents. If not, start with China Visa Types: How to Choose the Right One and China Visa Requirements: What to Prepare first.
What COVA Does
COVA handles account registration, the 9-section application form, document upload, online preliminary review by consular staff, and real-time status tracking. It feeds your completed application to the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate for the final decision. COVA does not approve or deny visas — that authority belongs exclusively to the embassy.
The Two COVA URLs — and the CVASC Redirect
New system (launched September 30, 2025)
The current primary platform. Applicants create an account, complete the form, upload documents, and receive a preliminary review — all before going in person.
Legacy system
URL: cova.mfa.gov.cn
Still live in regions not yet migrated to the new system. If your local embassy still uses this URL, it is valid and official. Both are part of the same government infrastructure. Check your consulate’s website to confirm which applies to you.
The CVASC redirect
In some countries, COVA automatically redirects you to visaforchina.cn — the portal of a China Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). This is not an error. CVASCs are authorized intermediary institutions that handle the in-person stage on behalf of the embassy: document verification, fingerprint collection, fee payment, and passport return. They do not make visa decisions.
If redirected to visaforchina.cn, continue there — your application data carries over. If you are not redirected, your country has no CVASC and you submit directly to the embassy or consulate.
Completing the Online Application
Step 1 — Create your account at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA using your email address.
Step 2 — Select your location. Choose the embassy or consulate that covers your area of residence. Submitting to the wrong jurisdiction results in rejection. Confirm your consulate’s jurisdictional boundaries on its official website before selecting.
Step 3 — Complete the form. Nine sections in sequence: personal information, visa type, work history, education, family information, travel plan, previous travel history, other information, and declaration. Fill in Chinese or English. For any inapplicable field, select “N/A” and provide a brief written reason. Save progress frequently via Personal Center → My Draft.
Critical: The form cannot be modified after submission. Verify your name, passport number, visa type, and travel dates against your actual passport before clicking submit.
Step 4 — Upload documents as JPEG files only — PDF is not accepted. Each file under 2MB. Multi-page documents can be split into separate uploads. Fields with red dashed borders are mandatory. Ensure scans are clear, evenly lit, and unobstructed.
Step 5 — Submit. Status changes to “Under Review.” Consular staff review your submission online, typically within 1–2 working days. If issues are found, status changes to “To Be Modified” with email guidance — you can correct and resubmit without starting over. Once approved, status changes to “Passport to Be Submitted.”
Known bug: The new system occasionally returns a “photo check failed” error for fully compliant images. This is a documented platform issue. If it occurs, continue your application — consular officers conduct the final photo review manually.
The Offline Stage: Submitting Your Passport in Person
Completing COVA online is not the end of the process. China has not introduced an e-visa system — all Chinese visas are issued as physical stickers affixed to your passport. This means every applicant, without exception, must submit their passport in person at some point. The online stage handles the form and preliminary review; the offline stage handles everything that requires your physical presence.
Do not go in person until your COVA status shows “Passport to Be Submitted.” Arriving before this status appears serves no purpose — your application is not ready for physical processing.
Where to go:
If COVA redirected you to visaforchina.cn, go to your local CVASC. If you were not redirected, go directly to the Chinese embassy or consulate that covers your area.
What to bring:
- Original passport
- Printed confirmation page with barcode, hand-signed in ink by the applicant. Minors may be signed by a parent or legal guardian, who should also add their own signature
- All original supporting documents — staff verify these against your uploaded scans
At the counter:
Document verification, fingerprint collection (where required), and fee payment are all handled here. Once processed, you receive a pick-up slip with an estimated collection date.
At collection:
Before leaving the counter, check the visa type, validity dates, number of entries, and duration of stay. If anything is incorrect, raise it immediately — corrections after leaving are significantly harder to arrange.
Status Tracking
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Under Review | Online submission being reviewed |
| To Be Modified | Issue found — check email and resubmit |
| Passport to Be Submitted | Online approved — go in person now |
| Processing | Physical documents received |
| Passport to Be Collected | Visa ready — collect with pick-up slip |
After Entry
Hotels register foreign guests automatically. Private accommodation requires PSB registration within 24 hours of arrival. Z, X1, Q1, S1, and K visa holders must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry. The NIA 12367 app (English available) helps locate offices and track remaining stay days.
References
Chinese Embassy in the United States. (2025). New COVA system guidelines. https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw/zj/qz2021/202509/t20250920_11712388.htm
Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York. (2025). Guidelines for China Online Visa Application. https://newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/tzgg/202509/t20250924_11714475.htm
China Visa Application Service Centre. (2025). About the visa centre. https://www.visaforchina.cn/
Chinese Consulate General in Lagos. (2025). Notice on fingerprint exemption. https://lagos.china-consulate.gov.cn/chn/zlsggg/202512/t20251222_11777708.htm
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