October 19, 2026 · Visa Knowledge
The M visa is issued to people traveling to China for commercial and trade activities. The checklist is short — but one document decides everything.
1. The four required document types
- 1. Passport: valid for at least 6 months, with 2 or more blank visa pages; bring old passports from the past 5 years (if any); include a copy of the data page.
- 2. Online visa application form: completed online and signed, with a recent passport photo (see our visa photo requirements — 中文).
- 3. Invitation letter from your Chinese business partner (the key document — see section 2): invitation letters, trade documents, or trade fair invitations all count.
- 4. Business license of the inviting Chinese company: a copy is fine.
2. The invitation letter's three must-have items
The invitation letter is how the consulate judges whether your business activity is genuine. All three items are required:
- Invitee information: full name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.
- Visit information: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, places to stay, relationship with the inviting entity, and who covers the costs.
- Inviter information: company or inviter name, phone number, address, the company's official stamp, the legal representative's or inviter's signature, and the invitation date. If signed by someone other than the legal representative, state their job title.
Fax copies, photocopies, or computer printouts are generally acceptable, but the consulate may request the original or additional documents.
3. Want a multiple-entry visa on the first try?
State in the invitation letter which multiple-entry visa you want (half-year, one-year, two-year). First-time multiple-entry applicants must also attach their own company's business license plus a dispatch letter (title, purpose of visit, number of entries, arrival/departure dates, cost coverage — with the company stamp).
4. Don't mix up M and F visas
- M visa: commercial and trade activities — negotiations, signing contracts, trade shows, market research.
- F visa: exchanges, visits, study tours, lectures — non-trade activities.
Going to talk business? Apply for an M and make sure the invitation letter states the commercial purpose.
5. Three most common reasons documents get returned
- Missing stamp or signature on the invitation letter: the #1 return reason — both are needed.
- Passport validity under 6 months: returned outright — renew your passport first.
- Photo doesn't meet the requirements: the most common, and most avoidable, problem.
6. How we can help
- Form-filing service from $80: online form filing + document pre-check
- Drop-off only from $120 / full package (filing + drop-off & pickup) $180 (consulate fees not included; expedited $50–100)
- Invitation letter pre-check: send us your draft and we'll verify the three required items before you submit
Always verify against the consulate's current standards: Chinese Consulate-General in Los Angeles. Not sure your documents are complete? Contact us — send photos of your documents for a free pre-check.