Processing a Visa Application for China

A visa application for China can be processed through Sam’s Passport and Visa Services. A China visa application form for a tourist, business or work visa is provided below as well as other visa application documents.

Passport Information

• Passport must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay.


• The original passport must be submitted and should have at least two blank visa pages for processing.

• ATTENTION! - All Non-U.S. passports will only receive a 6 month double entry visa.
• ATTENTION! - Passports for Non-U.S. citizens must be valid for at least 6 months before application is submitted
• ATTENTION! US Citizens can only stay for a max of 60 days at a time, per entry on a multiple entry visa.
• ATTENTION! - All Chinese born applicants must print their Chinese name in Chinese characters on the application in order complete the application process. If born in China or Taiwan, the applicant is required to submit his or her Chinese Passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa when he ore she applies for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport.
• ATTENTION! All nationals of France and Nigeria will be required to make a personal appearance at the consulate, a third party service provider will not be able to act on the applicants behalf.

Tourist Visa

• Passport, signed and valid 6 months beyond intended stay.
• Non U.S. Citizens must provide and original U.S. Green Card, I-94 or U.S. Visa in his or her passport, copies will not be accepted.
• The Visa Request Form - Link, is required for the completion of the visa.
• 1 China Declaration Form - Link, completed and signed by all

• 1 Visa Application PDF format, - Link - Fully completed and signed. Typed only, handwritten applications will not be accepted.
• Supplemental Tourist Form - Link
• For a Tourist Visa one of the following documents is required:
  • - Invitation letter from a Tourist Group
  • - Invitation letter issued by companies, corporations, institutions and individuals in China.(If the individual is traveling on a F-Business Visa, he or she must submit a hotel confirmation as well) (A Z-Visa, Resident Visa or Chinese Passport holders can provide the letter of invitation with a copy of the passport page and China Visa if Applicable.) .If the invitation is issued from an individual we must also submit a photo copy of their ID and visa.
  • - Roundtrip airline ticket and hotel reservation (in cases where traveler is visiting family, we must have a photocopy of the inviting parties i.d. or passport information page or a copy of the inviting parties status in China.
• A copy of the travelers flight itinerary.
  
• 1 Recent Passport-Type Photographs.
• A copy of the applicants passport information page.
• A copy of the applicants drivers license.
• A copy of the previous Chinese Visa and Custom Stamps.
• The visa will not expire if the traveler does not enter within the allotted time of visa issuance, there is not an activation rule.
• The entire application should be completed before submission. In cases where no information is required, do not leave a blank space, use NA to complete the field. Any delay due to incomplete applications will be the liability of the applicant, not Sam's Passport and Visa Service. (If the applicant should neglect to abide by the above consular requirements, his or her application will be rejected and the result will be a rejection fee that is solely based on consular discretion )
  
  

Business Visa

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
• Non U.S. Citizens must provide and original U.S. Green Card, I-94 or U.S. Visa in his or her passport, copies will not be accepted.
• The Visa Request Form - Link, is required for the completion of the visa.

• 1 - Visa Application PDF format, - Link fully completed and signed. Typed only, handwritten applications will not be accepted.

• 1 Passport-type photographs required.
• A copy of the applicants passport information page.
• A copy of round trip airline tickets or letter from travel agent confirming round trip tickets will be issued.
  
• A business Letter of Guarantee is required, to be typewritten on your company letterhead and addressed to: Consulate General of China/Visa Section/ Houston TX, That must clearly explain the purpose of travel; Guarantee financial support for the visit and return transportation; the letter should be signed by an officer or manager of the company, other than the applicant.
• An Official Letter of Invite - (Link to sample) from a qualified issuing agency or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The invitation must have the fax number of the inviter. The letter of invitation must have the personal information from the invitee-name, gender, date of birth etc. The letter must have information concerning the invitees visit to China-purpose of visit, date of arrival and departure, places to be visited, relationship between the applicant and inviter in addition to the applicants accommodations and who will be responsible for the cost of the accommodations while the applicant is in China.
• The visa will not expire if the traveler does not enter within the allotted time of visa issuance, there is not an activation rule.
• A copy of the applicants drivers license
• A copy of the previous Chinese Visa and Custom Stamps.
• The entire application should be completed before submission. In cases where no information is required, do not leave a blank space, use NA to complete the field. Any delay due to incomplete applications will be the liability of the applicant, not Sam's Passport and Visa Service. (If the applicant should neglect to abide by the above consular requirements, his or her application will be rejected and the result will be a rejection fee that is solely based on consular discretion.)
  
  
  

Z Visa - Work Visa

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
• Non U.S. Citizens must provide and original U.S. Green Card, I-94 or U.S. Visa in his or her passport, copies will not be accepted.
• The Visa Request Form - Link, is required for the completion of the visa.


• 1 - Visa Application PDF format, - Link, fully completed and signed. Typed only, handwritten applications will not be accepted.
• China Declaration Form - Link, completed and signed.


• 1 Passport-type photographs required·
• Copy of airline tickets/flight itinerary.
• A copy of the previous Chinese Visa and Custom Stamps.
• A copy of the applicants passport information page.


• Original Z-Visa Invitation from China approved by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


• A Business Letter of Guarantee is required, to be typewritten on your company letterhead and addressed to: Consulate General of China/Visa Section/ Houston TX, That must clearly explain the purpose of travel; Guarantee financial support for the visit and return transportation; the letter should be signed by an officer or manager of the company, other than the applicant.
• An Official Letter of Invite - (Link to sample) from a qualified issuing agency or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a seal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The invitation must have the fax number of the invitor.The letter of invitation must have the personal information from the invitee-name, gender, date of birth etc. The letter must have information concerning the invitees visit to China-purpose of visit, date of arrival and departure, places to be visited, relationship between the applicant and inviter in addition to the applicants accommodations and who will be responsible for the cost of the accommodations while the applicant is in China.


• In addition to the requirements listed above, accompanying spouse and children, a copy of the marriage certificate and birth certificates should be included for processing.
• The visa will not expire if the traveler does not enter within the allotted time of visa issuance, there is not an activation rule.

The entire application should be completed before submission. In cases where no information is required, do not leave a blank space, use NA to complete the field. Any delay due to incomplete applications will be the liability of the applicant, not Sam's Passport and Visa Service. (If the applicant should neglect to abide by the above consular requirements, his or her application will be rejected and the result will be a rejection fee that is solely based on consular discretion.)

72 Hr Visa Transit Policy - The attached is a visa free transit policy for foreigners to enter and exit from Beijing China for a stay of no longer than 72 hours. Link

Other Information

• Vaccinations - International Certificate of Vaccination required for Yellow Fever if Arriving from Infected Area within 5 days.


• When requesting a Type C Visa for pilots - A copy of the Pilots Permit is required for processing.


• Chinese applicants must input their Chinese Name on the the top portion of the application.
• French passport holders will need to appear in person will all required documentation (hotel confirmation, itinerary, current U.S. visas status)
• Please see link for recent China processing changes - Link

Processing Instructions

Send the passport and all completed requirements as detailed above to:

Applications will be hand carried to the Embassy and are usually processed in 4-5 business days.

Return Postage (Fed-Ex/UPS/Air Borne)

• Priority Delivery = $30.00


• Next Day Delivery = $75.00


• Saturday Delivery = $45.00

Q. What is a visa? And why do I need one.
A. A visa is a stamp that is affixed to a blank visa page in your passport that is required by foreign countries before you are able to enter their territory.

Q. Do I need to send you my passport in order to receive a visa?
A. Yes, your passport must be submitted with the required paperwork and photos in order to obtain a visa for traveling outside the USA. For visa service in Houston, you can drop off your passport at our agency.