(Updated in April, 2023)
I. Application Procedure
a) Fill in the visa application form online (https://cova.mfa.gov.cn), print out and sign on the application form and the confirmation page. Please find Important Tips for Online COVA Visa Form Filling in Annex 1.
b) Send an email to nassau@csm.mfa.gov.cn to make an appointment in the following format:
i. Subject line: “Full Name+Passport Number+Visa Category (e.g. Z Visa)”
ii. Email Content: Please elaborate the purpose and estimated date of your visit to China and attach the documents required for visa application in PDF or JPG format (Please see Article II for details).
c) Once visa application is previewed, applicants will be notified by email of the specific time and date for submitting all the required documents (printed out) in person to the Embassy.
d) All applicants are requested to go to the Embassy in person for fingerprints collection.
*The following applicants can be exempt from fingerprints collection.
1. Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70;
2. Diplomatic passport holders, or applicants eligible for diplomatic, official and courtesy visas;
3. Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past
five years at the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas with the same passport；
4. Applicants with all fingers mutilated or uncollectible.
II. Visa Types and Required Documents
a) Passport (with more than 6 months' validity and at least 2 blank visa pages) and a copy of bio data page.
b) Visa Application Form and the confirmation page, both with applicant’s signature.
c) One recent color photo (within 6 months), front view, white background, in 48mm x 33mm size.
d) Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (for those who once held Chinese nationality and later joined a foreign nationality).
e) A certificate of lawful stay and residence permit in The Bahamas for foreigners from the third countries.
f) Other documents required by the Embassy.
Visa Types | Description | Required Documents |
L Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for tourism | Round-trip air tickets and hotel orders (name and personal information of the applicant must be included); Or invitation letters issued by a relevant entity (e.g. a travel agency) or an individual inside China (photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual must be included) (Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter) |
M Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities | An invitation letter issued by a commercial or trade partner in China (Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter) |
F Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities | An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China (Please refer to Annex 2 for the contents of the invitation letter)
|
Z Visa | Issued to those who intend to work in China. | Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners |
X1 Visa | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. | 1. Original and photocopy of "Visa Application for Study in China" (Form JW201 or Form JW202) 2. Original and photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in China |
X2 Visa | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. | Original and photocopy of Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China. |
S1 Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. |
1. Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page and and residence permit 2. An invitation letter from the inviting individual - a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies (Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter) 3. Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing the relationship of family members between applicants and inviting individual.
*In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon request. |
S2 Visa | Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. "family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
1. Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page, residence permit or visa. 2. An invitation letter from the inviting individual - a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies (Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter) 3. Photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing the relationship of family members between applicants and inviting individual.
*In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon request.
|
Q1 Visa | Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
"Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.
| 1. An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residencepermit who lives in China. (Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter)
2. Original and photocopy of certification showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual. (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate)
3. Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual; Or photocopies of the bio-page of the foreigner’s passport and the permanent residence permit (front and back).
|
Q2 Visa | Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. | 1. An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China; (Please refer to Annex 3 for the contents of the invitation letter)
2. Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting individual; Or photocopies of the bio-page of the foreigner’s passport and the permanent residence permit (front and back).
|
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
|
C Visa | Crew Visa | Guarantee letters issued by foreign transportation companies, or invitation letters issued by the relevant organizations in China |
D Visa | Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. | The original and photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Status |
G Visa | Issued to those who intend to transit throughChina | An onward air (train or ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region |
J1/J2 visa | Issued to journalists | Notice from competent authorities |
Annex 1 Important Tips for online COVA visa form filling
(1) Please carefully read the prompts and requirements of the COVA form system, and complete the entries of the visa application COVA online form step by step, making sure that the information is true, accurate and complete. Please note: Once the application form has been submitted, it cannot be modified in any way.
(2) Please select Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas as the location for submitting the visa application.
(3) Basic personal information. Surname, given names, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport type, etc. must be exactly the same as those on the passport information page, otherwise your visa application will be returned.
(4) If you were born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), please note:
1. Application form 1.1E The native language name must be entered in Chinese with the Chinese character input method, please do not fill in "Chinese", "Chinese", etc.
2. In the application form 1.6G, select "Yes" for "former nationality", and then select the nationality information.
3. Item 1.6H of the application form is required. If the applicant is applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, this entry will be automatically generated during the form filling process; but if the applicant has previously applied for a Chinese visa, this entry will not be displayed when filling in the online form, and the form must be printed out and supplemented by hand-written Chinese name and other information. This Item cannot be empty.
(5) Completely fill in the work experience and educational background
1. Please fill in the complete work experience after graduation from school.
2. The “position” and “duty” of the application form 3.3D and 3.3E must be filled in completely.
3. Please fill in the complete learning experience since high school in 4.2, and the diploma/degree and major in 4.2C and 4.2D must be completed.
(6) Completely fill in each address
The address of the spouse in 5.5A of the application form, and the addresses of the parents in 5.5B and 5.5C must fill in the address of the current location, not the address of the place of birth. The address must be filled in completely, including street, city, state, and country.
(7) If you choose "not applicable" for any entry in the form, you need to state the reason for “not applicable”.
(8) Printing and signing. After completing the COVA online form filling, you must print out a full set of application forms, including the "Confirmation of Online Visa application" and "Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China" (depending on the individual filling situation, a total of 9 to 10 pages will be generated). All the pages of the forms must be printed to turn in, the signature and date on the Confirmation Page and the 8th or 9th page of Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China must be handwritten by the applicant him/herself. Visa applicant under the age of 18 is signed by their guardian, and meanwhile add a handwritten signature in the "For person filling in the application on the applicant’s behalf".
Annex 2 Contents of M，F and L Visa Invitation Letter
(1) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.
(2) Information about the invitee’s visit to China: reason for coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting unit or inviter, who will pay for the travel, etc.
(3) Inviting party information: inviting party name, address, telephone number, official seal, legal representative or inviter’s signature, date, etc. (the information must be included in the text of the invitation letter)
Annex 3 Contents of S1, S2, Q1, Q2 Visa Invitation Letter
Inviter’s name XX, gender X, date of birth: XX, Chinese ID number XXX (or foreign passport number XX, Chinese permanent residence card number XX), current address in China is XX, contact phone number XX, email XX.
I hereby invite the following relatives to visit China for a short-term visit/long-term residence. He/She plans to go to China on XX, and stay in China for XX days.
Invitee information: name XX, gender X, date of birth XX, nationality XX, passport number XX, and the relative relationship with the inviter is XX.
Inviter's signature: Date:
III. Fees, Processing Time and Payments
Regular Service
| Number of Entry | Bahamian Citizen |
| Single Entry | $55 |
| Double Entries | $80 |
| Multiple Entries for 6 Months | $110 |
| Multiple Entries for 24 Months | $165 |
Regular service: 4 business days
Express service: 3 business days, with an additional fee of $25 per visa
Rush service: 2 business day, with an additional fee of $37 per visa
Methods of Payment
You must pay your visa fee upon collection. Only credit or debit card is accepted.
IV. Contact Us
Address: Shirley Street East, Nassau, The Bahamas
Office hours: 9:30-12:00 of each Friday (closed on holidays)
Email: nassau@csm.mfa.gov.cn
Tel: +1-242-3931415(9:00-12:00; 14:30-17:00, Monday to Friday)