The M visa is for commercial and trade activities such as business meetings, supplier or factory visits, negotiations, and trade events. It is different from the F visa for non-commercial exchanges and the Z visa for employment in China.
Who this visa is for
- Meetings, negotiations, supplier visits, factory visits, or trade fairs
- Other genuine commercial or trade activities supported by a China-based trade partner
When to review another category
- Taking employment in China — review the Z visa
- Non-commercial exchange or study tour — review the F visa
- Tourism as the primary purpose — review the L visa
Basic application documents
- Passport bio page and the blank visa page requested by the receiving office; the current U.S. guidance says the passport should have more than six months of remaining validity and at least two blank visa pages.
- A completed online China visa application with a recent, compliant photo.
- Proof of lawful stay or residence in the United States when applicable, plus any jurisdiction-specific residence evidence requested for the case.
- Previous Chinese passport or previous Chinese visa records when the applicant formerly held Chinese nationality or the authority asks for prior records.
Current checklist basis: Chinese Embassy in the United States guidance updated September 2025. Requirements remain case-specific.
Business invitation letter checklist
- Invited applicant: full name, gender, date of birth, passport number, and other identifying details.
- Visit: commercial purpose, planned arrival and departure, places to be visited, relationship to the inviting party, and who pays the expenses.
- Inviting party: organization name, address, telephone, official seal, authorized signature, and date.
- The invitation, COVA answers, employer or business evidence, and actual trip purpose should be consistent.
Start a case and provide your actual travel purpose. Our team can help organize the category and supporting-document review.
Documents that may apply to your case
- Documents for a minor applicant, including parent or guardian records where required.
- Name-change, naturalization, immigration-status, or prior-passport evidence when relevant.
- Additional originals, explanations, or supporting evidence requested during online preliminary review or passport submission.
How the assisted application works
- Start your case. Create an account and tell us your nationality, U.S. residence, travel purpose, and planned dates.
- Category and document review. We identify inconsistencies and provide a case-specific preparation checklist.
- Online preliminary review. The application and uploads follow the current official online process; additional materials may be requested.
- Passport submission and return. Submit only after the case reaches the required status and follow the case-specific mailing instructions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- An invitation that omits the commercial purpose or applicant details
- Using M for paid employment rather than a commercial visit
- Different dates, company names, or trip purposes across the application and invitation
Frequently asked questions
Does eChinaVisa decide whether my visa is approved?
No. eChinaVisa is an independent application-assistance service. The relevant Chinese authority decides acceptance, category, validity, entries, duration of stay, processing time, and approval.
Can the authority request more documents?
Yes. Published checklists are a starting point. The reviewing authority may request corrections, explanations, additional uploads, or original documents for an individual case.
Should I buy nonrefundable travel before approval?
Avoid relying on a visa outcome or date that has not been issued. Plan conservatively and review cancellation terms before making travel commitments.
Ready to prepare your M visa application?
Create your case online. You will receive the next document and submission instructions for your situation.
Start Your China Visa ApplicationOfficial source
Chinese Embassy in the United States: Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application