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China Non-Commerce Visa (F Visa)

For research, scientific, cultural, or other non-commercial exchange activities in China. We prepare, pre-check, and submit your application so it moves smoothly the first time.

1. Documents 2. COVA Form 3. Submit Request 4. Fees & Payment Special Cases Final Steps

A China Non-Commerce (F) visa is issued for research, scientific, cultural, or other non-commercial exchange activities on behalf of a U.S. employer or institution, where you won't receive payment from a Chinese company or institution — paid activity requires a Z visa instead. F visas are currently issued for single entry only, typically valid for 30–60 days per visit.

Typical stay
30–60 days per visit
Entry & validity
Single entry only
Non-U.S. passport holders
Single entry, 3–6 months
Processing time
2–6 weeks by service level
1

Gather your documents

Most delays come down to one of these items being missing or out of spec — start here.

Original passport, plus a photocopy of the bio page
  • Needs at least 6 months of remaining validity for a single-entry visa, or 12 months for multiple-entry. Need a new passport first? See our expedited passport services.
  • Must have at least 2 blank visa pages. The last 3 pages of a U.S. passport are amendment pages reserved by the State Department and can't be used for a visa — renew before applying if you're out of space.
  • Applying with a new passport but already hold a valid China visa in an old one? Send both passports, along with a photocopy of the old visa and that passport's bio page.
  • Non-U.S. passport holders: include a notarized photocopy of your proof of legal U.S. residence (Green Card or a valid long-term residence visa).
  • Traveled to Turkey on your current passport? Let us know if it contains Turkish entry or exit stamps.

Proof of residence

A photocopy of your driver's license, or a recent major utility bill showing your name and address.

One recent passport-style digital photo
  • See our Chinese visa photo requirements for the exact specifications.
  • The two most common upload errors: a background that isn't a solid, sufficiently white color, and hair covering too much of the forehead.
  • Need help getting a compliant photo? Try snap2pass.com.

Where You Stay Form

A hand-completed and signed form listing every address where you'll stay while in China. We'll provide the form.

Formal invitation letter from a Chinese institution
  • Full name, gender, and date of birth of each applicant.
  • Purpose of visit — must reflect research, scientific, or cultural exchange. Note: "teaching" is not an accepted purpose for this visa type; a paid teaching position requires a Z visa instead.
  • Detailed itinerary, including every city to be visited, and planned length of stay.
  • Your relationship to the inviting institution.
  • The inviting institution's name, address, and contact details.
  • Confirmation that no payment will be received from a Chinese entity.
  • Signature of the inviting person, on official letterhead.
  • Official seal or stamp of the inviting institution.

Photocopy of your previous Chinese visa, if you have one

If you've held more than one, copy your most recent visa. If it's in a different passport, include a photocopy of that passport's bio page as well.

2

Complete the China Online Visa Application (COVA)

Important: Fill out every section and save it — but do not click "Submit the application form." We review your form before it's ever submitted, so we can catch problems while they're still easy to fix. Save your COVA login email and password; you can safely close the form without submitting.
Full COVA checklist
  • Choose the correct Chinese Consulate or Embassy for your state. Not sure which one? See our jurisdiction guide.
  • Complete every section thoroughly, including family member details, highest education received, your most recent five years of work history, and uploading your materials in Section 10.
  • Your Surname and Given Name must match your passport's bio page exactly. Given name means first name + middle name, exactly as printed.
  • Every entry must be truthful and complete — mistakes or omissions can cause an application to be rejected.
  • Work history: describe the position and duties fully. If your work history exceeds five years, cover at least the most recent five. If you're retired, use the five years before your retirement date.
  • Education: list the highest level you've completed.
  • Spouse's address should be their current address, not their place of birth.
  • Any field marked "Not Applicable" should include a brief explanation.
  • Need to convert a PDF to JPG for upload? Try Adobe's free PDF-to-JPG tool.
3

Submit the Service Request Form

Tell us the service level you'd like and provide your contact and mailing information. One form covers multiple applicants traveling together.

Start a Service Request
4

Pay processing, service & shipping fees

Service level Review & processing Shipping Embassy fee Service fee
Regular (Pre-check + Submission) 5–6 weeks 2 days $140 From $259*
Express (Pre-check + Submission) 3–4 weeks 2 days $165 From $349*
Rush (Pre-check + Submission) 2–3 weeks 1–2 days $165 From $399*

*Fees and schedules vary by consulate. Rush service is subject to availability.

Fees & shipping notes
  • Additional fees may apply for Q or S visas, some jurisdictions, and applications from Chinese descendants.
  • Return shipping starts at $36 via FedEx; addresses in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico cost more.
  • Processing schedules are posted for reference only. Consular processing time is based on submission date and is subject to change without notice.
  • Once you submit your request, email us the confirmation number and we'll send an invoice. Credit card payments carry a 3.6% surcharge.

Does anything special apply to you?

Two situations call for extra documentation. Both are quick to check — skip whichever doesn't apply.

Additional requirements by jurisdiction

Requirements are largely consistent across Chinese Consulates, but each one has a few rules of its own. See the additional requirements for your jurisdiction.

Additional requirements for Chinese descendants

If you're of Chinese descent, some Consulates ask for extra documentation. See the additional requirements — skip this if it doesn't apply to you.

Before you mail anything

  1. Email us scanned copies of all items listed above, in separate PDF files, for a pre-check.
  2. Once your documents pass pre-check, submit the Service Request Form, then email us your COVA login email and password.
  3. In the subject line, include your SR confirmation number, name, state, and travel date — e.g. SR123456 — Jane Doe — NJ — 2026-09-10
  4. We'll review everything and email you detailed shipping instructions.

Following these steps closely is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid delays.

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