In accordance with the relevant arrangement, starting from 20 June, 2022, visa application requirements for business, work and family visits to China are updated as follows:
1. application procedures
1.1 Visa applications except for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas
a. Fill out the visa application form online (https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn), print out the confirmation page and form, and sign the confirmation page and item 9 of the form.
b. Make an appointment online to submit the application and print out the visa appointment confirmation form.
c. Submit the application in person at the Visa Office of the Chinese at the appointment time and retain ten fingerprints.
1.2 Applications for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas
Please fill out the visa application form online (https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn, no online appointment is required), print out the confirmation page and form, sign the confirmation page and item 9 of the form, and submit the visa application to the Visa Office of the Embassy.
2. Material Requirements except for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas
2.1 Application form completed online ( please print out the full form, 8 pages in total);
2.2 Original passport and photocopy of the information page or other pages if needed;
2.3 One original photo same as in the application form;
2.4 Certificate of lawful stay or residence permit (for citizens of other countries who are in Lesotho);
2.5 Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to foreign nationals who once held Chinese nationality );
2.6 Certificate of COVID-19 vaccination;
2.7 In addition to the visa documents in 2.1 to 2.6 above, the following types of visa documents must be submitted:
Categories of Visa | Description | Required Documents |
M-Visa F-Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade and technology activities. | Invitation letter issued by the Central Party and State Institutions, central enterprises, foreign affairs and commercial departments of provincial governments, and foreign affairs departments of municipal governments |
Z-Visa | Issued to those who intend to work in China. | Effective “Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit” or the original “Foreigner's Work Permit” |
Q1-Visa Q2-Visa | Issued to foreign family members of Chinese citizens or foreign family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China. *"family members" refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren. | ① Certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, household register, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual ② An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China ③ Proof of the Chinese invitor’s identity (e.g. Chinese ID card, household register), or foreign invitor’s passport and Chinese permanent residence permit |
S1-Visa S2-Visa | Issued to spouse, parents, children under the age of 18, parents of the spouse of the holder of a Z visa or work category residence permit. | ① Original certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual ② An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work) ③ A photocopy of the inviting individual's passport and residence permit. |
S2-Visa | For emergency humanitarian visas, such as those for funerals or visits to critically ill relatives in China. | The identity documents of the deceased or ill relative (e.g. foreigner's passport, etc.), a death certificate or a certificate of diagnosis, critical illness notice issued by a hospital, proof of kinship, etc. |
R-Visa | Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China. | “Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents” *Spouses and children under the age of 18 submit proof of relationship (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) to apply for an S2 visa. |
C-Visa | Issued to crew members. | A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China |
3.Contact Information
Visa Application Helpline: +266 58882882 (8:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. weekdays only )
E-mail for Visa Application Inquiry: chinaemb_ls@mfa.gov.cn
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Lesotho
16 June, 2022