How to Write an Invitation Letter for a China Visa

October 10, 2026 · Visa Knowledge

Many applicants get stuck on the invitation letter: what must it include? Does it need a seal? Can a family member just hand-write one? The answer — an invitation letter follows a fixed content checklist, and missing one item can get your application sent back.

1. The three elements every invitation letter needs

Invitee information: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality
Inviter information: name or company name, contact details, address, ID number
Visit details: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, places to visit, who covers the expenses

Whether it's a family visit, business trip, or tourism, the letter is built around these three blocks — the emphasis just differs.

2. Q1/Q2 family visit: written by family, with the longest checklist

The inviter must be a relative residing in China. Required contents include:

Inviter: name, gender, date of birth, Chinese ID number (or foreign passport / China permanent residence permit number), residential address in China, phone number, email
Visit details: short-term family visit or long-term residence, planned arrival date, length of stay, who bears the expenses in China
Invitee: name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, relationship to the inviter
Inviter's handwritten signature + date (a printed signature doesn't count)

Also attach a copy of the inviter's ID card (or passport / permanent residence permit) — the counter staff often ask for it. And make sure the dates and length of stay in the letter match your COVA application form exactly; mismatches get the letter sent back for rewriting.

3. M business: written by the company — the seal is the key

Invitee details: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.
Visit details: purpose of the business visit, arrival and departure dates, places to be visited, relationship with the inviting company, source of funding
Inviting company details: exact company name, phone number, address, official company seal, signature of the legal representative or inviter, and date

Business letters fail most often on the seal: it must be the company's official seal. A company abbreviation, a missing seal, or a seal that doesn't match the company name are all common reasons for rejection.

4. L tourist: optional, but it saves hassle

For an L (tourist) visa, you can substitute round-trip flight bookings + hotel reservations for an invitation letter. If you have family or friends in China willing to invite you, the letter needs: applicant information, inviter information, and visit details (purpose and itinerary). If your itinerary isn't fixed yet or you'd rather not book hotels in advance, the invitation-letter route is more flexible.

5. Four common rejection pitfalls

Incomplete information — missing fields like the ID number or who covers expenses means the application goes straight back
Conflicts with the application form — travel dates or length of stay in the letter differ from the COVA form
No signature — family-visit letters missing the inviter's handwritten signature
No company seal on business letters — or a company name written in abbreviation that doesn't match the seal

6. How we can help

Visa form filing: from $80 — we pre-check your invitation letter item by item against the official checklist
Filing + drop-off & pickup bundle: $180 — documents prepared in one go, no wasted trips

Not sure your invitation letter will pass? Contact us — send it over and we'll check it against the checklist, free of charge.

Policy details may change — please follow the latest requirements published on the consulate's official website.