China visa documents checklist: what every applicant and each visa type needs

How a China visa application works now

1. Fill in the online form and upload your documents. Depending on where you apply, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs system may send you to a Chinese Visa Application Service Center website.
2. Wait for the online review. If the application is returned for changes, revise and resubmit.
3. When the status shows the passport can be submitted, take your passport, the printed application page with its barcode and any required originals to the visa office or visa centre.

The UK embassy moved to online processing on 31 March 2025; the US embassy launched its new system on 30 September 2025.

Documents every applicant needs

• Passport with more than six months of remaining validity and at least two blank visa pages.
• The completed online application form and a photo that meets the visa photo requirements.
• Your latest Chinese visa or Chinese residence permit, if you have one.
• Proof of your address in the place where you apply, such as a driving licence or utility bill, as the US embassy requires.
• If you are not a citizen of the country where you apply: proof of legal stay there, such as a residence card or visa.
• Any declaration the embassy asks for. The US embassy asks for a signed Visa Application Statement.

Extra documents by visa type

Local differences to check

The same visa type can need different documents in different places. Two examples from official pages:

• United States: since 1 January 2024, L applicants in the US no longer need a round-trip ticket, hotel booking, itinerary or invitation letter. Uploads must be image files; PDFs are not accepted.
• United Kingdom: L and G applicants should upload flight tickets in their name and all hotel orders in China. Applicants who are not British must upload proof of legal stay in the UK. From 17 December 2025 to 31 December 2026, short-term applicants staying up to 180 days do not give fingerprints, except for D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z visas.

Always open the page for the embassy, consulate or visa centre that covers where you live.

Special situations

• Former Chinese citizens applying for the first time after naturalisation: Chinese passport and naturalisation certificate. See the guide for former Chinese citizens.
• First application after a change of name: the name change document.
• Minors: for a Q2 visa in the UK, the birth certificate showing both parents and both parents' passport pages.

Pre-submission worksheet

Copy this list and fill it in for your own application. Remove rows that do not apply.

Visa type: [L / M / F / Q2 / S2 / ...]   Apply at: [embassy, consulate or visa centre]
Passport valid until: [date]  Blank visa pages: [number]
Photo passed the online check: [yes / no]
Proof of residence or legal stay: [document]
Previous Chinese visa or permit: [yes / no / not applicable]
Invitation letter (if required): [issuer, seal or signature, dates match form]
Tickets and hotels (if required): [names and dates match form]
Open questions: [list]