How Much Does a China Visa Cost for U.S. Citizens?
The current Chinese government visa fee for a U.S. citizen is $140 for regular service through December 31, 2026; express, assistance and shipping costs are separate.
Government fee table
For U.S. citizens, the published regular fee is not reduced by requesting fewer entries. Non-U.S. citizens use a different entry-based table and some nationalities have separate rates, so U.S. residents who hold another passport must not use the U.S.-citizen figure.
Fees are paid for processing, not for a guaranteed approval or a requested validity. A refusal, shorter validity or different number of entries does not automatically convert the government fee into a refundable service.
What eChinaVisa pricing should show
A clear estimate separates the consular fee, eChinaVisa service fee, inbound and return shipping, optional express request and third-party costs such as photos, translations or apostilles. Ask which amounts are already incurred and which remain optional.
The service fee pays for document pre-review, COVA preparation assistance, status follow-up and passport-handling coordination. It does not buy a favorable decision, and approval remains with Chinese authorities.
Avoid outdated fee pages
Check the publication date and the end date of any temporary fee policy. The current Embassy notice extends reduced fees only through December 31, 2026; applicants filing later should recheck the official page.
Do not combine the official three- or four-business-day passport-processing time with an agent’s total turnaround estimate. Preparation, preliminary review and shipping are separate parts of cost and timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the China visa fee $140 for every U.S. applicant?
It is the current regular visa fee for U.S. citizens. A U.S. resident with a non-U.S. passport may have a different fee.
Is express service included in $140?
No. The current notice lists an additional $25 per visa for express service when available.
Are eChinaVisa service and shipping included?
No. They are separate from the government fee and should be shown as separate line items.
Related guides
- Visa Fee Payment and Receipt
- China Visa Express Service
- Total Processing Time
- How Mail-In Assistance Works
Use one managed application workflow
eChinaVisa can help identify the visa category, pre-review documents, prepare and check COVA, follow online preliminary review, and coordinate passport submission and return. We are an independent application assistance service, not a government website or government agency; approval, validity, entries and official processing time are decided by Chinese authorities.
Start an applicationSources
- Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: reduced fees through December 31, 2026
- Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: current processing and fee instructions
- Reddit COVA fee question (not an official rule)
eChinaVisa is an independent visa application assistance service operated by Dragon Byte Design Inc. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any Chinese embassy or consulate.