In order to prepare your online application form please upload a digital photograph. Please see photo guidelines
here.
The availability of the appointment might delay the visa process.
Please note: If you are dual national it is mandatory to submit two original passports
Applicants over 70 years old do not need to submit their biometrics.
According to the July 20 announcement from the Civil Aviation Administration, the General Administration of Customs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, all passengers who are flying from the United States to China must provide negative COVID-19 tests issued within three days before boarding, starting on September 15, 2020.
China Entry Guidelines and COVID Testing Procedure
Details are as follows:
1. Foreign citizens who are scheduled for direct flights from the United States to China should take COVID-19 nucleic acid tests within 3 days of boarding a plane. For instance, if a passenger is to board on October 10, the issuance date of the certificate should be between October 7 and 10.
The negative certificate needs to be emailed or submitted to the Chinese Embassy or Consulates General in the U.S. according to the consular jurisdiction that the testing facility belongs to (map, consular jurisdiction of the Consulate-General in Houston) once it is issued (no later than 24 hours before boarding in the U.S.), along with the scanned copy of the valid passport information page and the signed health declaration (see the attachment below the notice):
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Embassy in the United States (temporarily taken over the work of the Consulate-General in Houston): embchn@gmail.com
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Consulate General in New York: cnnyhdf@gmail.com
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Consulate General in San Francisco: health.sfconsulate@gmail.com
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Consulate General in Los Angeles: Please click
here to submit online
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Consulate General in Chicago: 12308chicago@gmail.com
It usually takes one business day to process the health declaration. If the certificate submitted needs to be verified with the issuing agency, the processing time will be extended accordingly. After approval, the scanned copy of the health declaration will be emailed back to the passenger and needs to be printed out and carried throughout the journey. The health declaration is valid through the third day after the issuance date of the nucleic acid test certificate. Passengers are advised to travel before it expires and be prepared for checking by the airlines before boarding.
2. Foreign citizens who are to fly from the U.S. to China and transit in a third country or region shall follow the requirements stated in the notice on August 12. However, starting from September 15, the COVID-19 nucleic acid tests should be taken within THREE days before boarding in the transit country. For instance, if a passenger is to board on October 10, the issuance date of the negative certificate should be between October 7 and 10.
3. Foreign citizens who are to transit in the U.S. before flying to China shall present to the airlines a Health Declaration Form, which shall be verified by the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the country of departure.
4. Foreign citizens are advised to confirm with an eligible institution or hospital on the issuing date of the negative report before scheduling a trip. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General have not designated specific institutions to perform the nucleic acid test. Test result certificates issued by eligible medical or testing institutions are currently accepted. At present, only the COVID-19 nucleic acid RT-PCR Test negative report is accepted - antibody tests or serology tests аrе NОТ accepted.
Additional required documents for minors
• Application form. The application form must be signed by both parents.
• Birth certificate. A copy of the applicant's birth certificate.
• Parents' passport copies. A copy of the information pages of both parents' signed passports.
When applying for a child with Chinese parents, the applicant must also provide proof of parents' status in the UK.
Additional requirements for applicants born in China, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan
• Chinese name. The applicant's name written in Chinese characters.
• Proof of name change. If the applicant's name has changed since birth, please provide a copy of the court order or marriage certificate showing the name change.
• Previous visa. Copy of a previously issued Chinese visa or copy of the information page from your Chinese, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwanese passport. Note: If your old passport has not been cancelled, you will be required to submit the original passport with your application.
Persons with Occupation Related to Media
If you are a media professional or employed by a media company, even if you are not travelling for business purposes, please print and sign a declaration form that states you will not be conducting any media related activities. The form can be found
here. If you are to engage in any journalism-related activities, please apply for a Journalist Visa.