Complete your visa application on the official Chinese Consulate COVA System Portal. Register an account with your email and verify it.

On the first screen choose English, North America, and Chicago. When you reach the visa type selection, choose L — Tourism.

The COVA form has 9 detailed sections — fill out every section completely. The most important:

• Section 1 — Personal Information: Enter your name, date of birth, and passport details exactly as they appear on your passport. Include any middle name in the “Given Name(s)” field.
• Section 2 — Visa Type: Select “L — Tourism”.
• Sections 4–6 — Education & Family: Fill in your education and immediate family details. For National ID, use your driver's license number (not your SSN).
• Section 7 — Travel Information: Enter your intended dates of entry and itinerary. Provide at least one address per city, even if tentative.

When you finish, print the full set of COVA forms (8–10 pages) and hand-sign and date the Confirmation Page AND section 9.1A on page 7. If not signed as described, the consulate will not accept your application.

• Send in your actual passport plus a photocopy of the main photo/data page.
• More than 6 months of validity remaining and at least one blank visa page.
• Passport must be in good condition with no damage.

One clear color copy of both sides of your driver's license, state ID, military ID, or valid passport.

If your name has changed from your citizenship document, also provide the original marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court-issued name change document.

• Under 6 months old and different from the photo in your current passport.
• Color photo, plain white background, no shadows.
• No hat or glasses — the consulate will reject them.
• You'll also upload a digital scan into the COVA form.

• If the visa is in an old passport, submit that old passport with your current one.
• If you no longer have it, provide a signed statement explaining what happened to it.

• Send your actual Naturalization Certificate, Green Card, U.S. visa, I-20, or I-94 document, plus a color photocopy.
• If previously a Chinese national and this is your first Chinese visa after naturalization, also provide a photocopy of the bio-page of your old Chinese passport AND submit that last physical Chinese passport.

Download the Proof of Residence Form, print it, and complete in black ink. Sign and include it in your shipment.

Download the China Visa Application Consent Form, print it, and complete in black ink. Sign and include it in your shipment.

• One clear photocopy of a round-trip airline ticket confirmation with your name as passenger.
• One clear photocopy of your confirmed hotel reservation from a Chinese hotel with your name listed.

Both can come from a travel agent, but must include all flight and hotel details.