1. Application Procedures
1.1 Fill out the Visa Application Form online (http://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn), print out the confirmation page and sign on the bottom of the confirmation page.
1.2 Submit the application in person to at the Chinese Embassy in Iran and have all ten fingerprints collected there.
*The following applicants can be exempted from fingerprint collection (and they can authorize other persons to submit visa applications on their behalf):
(1) Applicants under the age of 14 or over the age of 70;
(2) Diplomatic passport holders, or applicants eligible for diplomatic, service or courtesy visas;
(3) Applicants who have applied for visas at the Embassy and have been collected fingerprints already with the same passport within the past five years;
(4) Applicants with all ten fingers amputated or the fingerprint of none of whose ten fingers can be collected;
(5) To further facilitate Chinese visa applications, from now on till 31 December 2026, fingerprint collection is exempted for all short-term visa applicants (duration of each stay no more than 180 days) at the Chinese Embassy in Iran.
2. Documents Required
2.1 Passport: the original of a passport with over 6 months’ validity and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the information page of the passport
2.2 Visa Application Form and Photo: a printed copy of the Visa Application Form completed online, and a paper photo that is the same as the one uploaded in the application form
2.3 Proof of legal residence status in Iran (applicable to those not applying for visas in their country of citizenship)
2.4 Previous Chinese passport (applicable to foreign citizens who used to be Chinese citizens) or previous Chinese visas:
2.4.1 If a foreign citizen who used to be a Chinese citizen is applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, the original of the previous Chinese passport and a photocopy of its information page should be submitted.
2.4.2 If a foreign citizen who was issued a Chinese visa before is applying for a Chinese visa with a different foreign passport, a photocopy of the information page of the previous passport and a photocopy of the previous Chinese visa should be submitted.
2.4.3 If the name on the current foreign passport differs from that on the previous Chinese passport or the previous Chinese visa, an official document issued by competent authorities on the name change should be submitted.
2.5 Other documents required for different visa types are listed as follows:
Visa Type | Purpose | Required Documents |
L | Tourist | 1. Invitation letter issued by an authorized tourism organ and applicant's traveling expense (100 USD per day required according to the itinerary) or financial certificate. 2. Invitation letter issued by Chinese travel agency, proof of hotel reservation, detailed travel schedule in China, round-trip air ticket booking record, financial certificate which includes traveling expense (100 USD per day required according to the itinerary). 3. Invitation letter issued by an individual residing in China, copy of the inviter’s ID card (applicable to Chinese inviter) or passport and residence permit (applicable to foreign inviter), detailed travel schedule in China, round-trip air ticket booking record, financial certificate which includes traveling expense (100 USD per day required according to the itinerary). Attention:According to Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, the inviter/inviting party is responsible for the authenticity of the content of the |
M | Business and trade | Invitation letter TE or Verification Letter of Invitation issued by the central and state organs, central enterprises, foreign affairs and commercial departments of provincial governments, and foreign affairs departments of municipal governments; applicants with invitation letter issued by a trade partner in China and other required materials may be exempted from submitting Invitation letter TE or Verification Letter of Invitation.
Invitation Letter TE or Verification Letter of Invitation may be exempted when the following 5 documents are provided: (1) Invitation letter issued by the inviter in China, which should be printed in Chinese, and contain the elements as listed below: - Information of the invitee：including full name, gender, date of birth, passport number. - Information of the visit：including purpose of visit, date of arrival to and departure from China, place of visit, itinerary and who will pay for travel. - Information of the inviter：name, address, contact number, signature and official seal of the inviter/inviting party. - The inviter should declare in invitation letter that the visa applicant shall abide byChinese laws and regulations and depart from China within validity of period of stayas shown on visa. (2) Copy of one of the documents from the inviter: Business License. Certification of Organization Code. Certification of Tax Registration (3) Original certificate of bank deposit（no less than 5,000 USD), or assets certificate( no less than 10,000 USD) or original bank credit certificate. For the first two documents, extra 100 USD per day is required according to the itinerary of the visa applicant in China. (4) Travel insurance (5) Round-trip air ticket booking record |
F | Non-commercial activities such as exchanges, visits, and study tours | Invitation letter TE or Verification Letter of Invitation issued by the central and state organs, central enterprises, foreign affairs and commercial departments of provincial governments, and foreign affairs departments of municipal governments; applicants with invitation letter issued by an inviting party in China and other required materials may be exempted from submitting Invitation letter TE or Verification Letter of Invitation.
Invitation Letter TE or Verification Letter of Invitation may be exempted when the following 5 documents are provided: (1) Invitation letter issued by the inviter in China, which should be printed in Chinese, and contain the elements as listed below: - Information of the invitee：including full name, gender, date of birth, passport number. - Information of the visit：including purpose of visit, date of arrival to and departure from China, place of visit, itinerary and who will pay for travel. - Information of the inviter：name, address, contact number, signature and official seal of the inviter/inviting party. - The inviter should declare in invitation letter that the visa applicant shall abide byChinese laws and regulations and depart from China within validity of period of stayas shown on visa. (2) Copy of one of the documents from the inviter: Business License. Certification of Organization Code. Certification of Tax Registration (3) Original certificate of bank deposit（no less than 5,000 USD), or assets certificate( no less than 10,000 USD) or original bank credit certificate. For the first two documents, extra 100 USD per day is required according to the itinerary of the visa applicant in China. (4) Travel insurance (5) Round-trip air ticket booking record |
Z | Work | The original of the Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners or the Work Permit for Foreigners |
X1 | Long-term study (for more than 180 days) | (1) A photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202) (2) The original or a photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by the school in China (3) Original bank deposit certificate (no less than 2,500 US dollars * remaining school years) or scholarship certificate (4) The original or a photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Elementary-Stage Foreign Students to Study in China, if the applicant is a foreign student of the primary/elementary or junior/senior high school level |
X2 | Short-term study (for no more than 180 days) | (1) A photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202) (2) The original or a photocopy of the Admission Notice issued by the receiving institution in China (3) Original bank deposit certificate (no less than 1,500 US dollars) or scholarship certificate |
Q1 | Family reunion (for more than 180 days) for family members of Chinese citizens, or family members of foreigners with Chinese permanent resident status , and for those who intend to enter and stay in China for the purpose of foster care
“Family members” refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, and granddaughters. | (1) An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent resident status residing in China (2) A photocopy of the inviter’s Chinese ID card or foreign passport and the permanent resident ID card (3) The original and a photocopy of the certification (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) showing kinship between the applicant and the inviter
|
Q2 | Short-term family visit (for no more than 180 days) to a relative who is a Chinese citizen residing in China or a foreigner with Chinese permanent resident status residing in China | (1) An invitation letter issued by the Chinese citizen or foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent resident status residing in China (2) A photocopy of the Chinese ID card or the foreign passport and the permanent resident ID card of the inviter (3) The original and a photocopy of the certification (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) showing kinship between the applicant and the inviter |
S1 | Long-term family visit (for more than 180 days) to a foreigner working or studying in China, to whom the visitor is a spouse, parent, son or daughter under the age of 18, or parent-in-law, or long-term stay in China for other private affairs | (1) An invitation letter from the inviter (the foreigner residing in China) (2) A photocopy of the inviter’s passport and residence permit (3) The original and a photocopy of the certification (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) showing kinship between the applicant and the inviter |
S2 | Short-term family visit (for no more than 180 days) to a foreigner working or studying in China, to whom the visitor is a family member, or short-term stay in China for other private affairs
“Family members” refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, and granddaughters. | For family visits: (1) An invitation letter from the inviter (the foreigner residing in China) (2) A photocopy of the inviter’s passport and residence permit (3) The original and a photocopy of the certification (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) showing kinship between the applicant and the inviter For medical treatment: (1) Invitation letter, hospitalization certificate or proof of admission issued by hospital in China (2) Original bank deposit certificate of not less than 10,000 US dollars (3) Accompanying persons are limited to family members (spouse, parents, parents of spouse, children, spouse of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, maternal grandparents, grandchildren, maternal grandchildren) and should be no more than 2, proof of kinship and hospital certificate should be submitted |
R | High-level foreign talents or foreigners whose skills are urgently needed in China. | Confirmation Letter for High-Level Foreign Talents *Spouse and children under the age of 18 submit proof of relationship (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) for S2 visa |
C | Foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships. | Guarantee Letter from the foreign transport company or an invitation letter from a relevant entity in China |
D | Applicants who intend to reside in China permanently | Confirmation Form for Foreigner’s Permanent Resident Status |
G | Applicants who intend to transit through China | An onward air (train or ship) ticket with confirmed date to the destination country or region |
J1 | Resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China | Visa Notification Letter issued by the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China |
J2 | Foreign journalists who intend to enter China for short-term news coverage | Visa Notification Letter issued by the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or other authorized entities in China |
Group L | Group tourists | Invitation Letter for Tourist Group issued by the authorized Tourism Unit |
2.6 For visa applications for emergency humanitarian reasons (such as attending a funeral or visiting a person critically ill), relevant proof documents should be submitted.
3. Special Reminders
3.1 On filling in the form online:
Please read the system prompts carefully and fill in the form in a truthful, complete, and accurate manner, and upload the the photo of the applicant in line with the standards. If such information as the name, gender, date of birth, passport number, passport issuance country, etc. is incorrect, or the photo is of someone else, or the key information in the application form is intentionally concealed or falsely stated, the application will be rejected or returned, and the applicant will need to submit a new application form online.
3.2 On the invitation letter:
The invitation letter can be a fax, photocopy, or printout, unless otherwise specified. The invitation letter should contain:
3.2.1 Information on the applicant: name, gender, date of birth, and nationality, etc.
3.2.2 Information on the visit: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) of visit, relations between the applicant and the inviter entity or individual, and financial sources for expenditures in China, etc.
3.2.3 Information on the inviter entity or individual: name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, nationality and signature of the inviter individual or of the legal representative of the inviter entity, etc.
3.3 If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant on a case-by-case basis.