# Chinese travel documents: application, photos and replacement

[Service guides](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides) › [China family visit visa: plan a reunion, one document at a time](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa) › Chinese travel documents: application, photos and replacement

A factual guide to official travel-document procedures for families in the US. Confirm your document route with the responsible consular office, then use its current application and evidence instructions.

## First confirm the document route

The office must determine whether this is the appropriate document for the applicant. Los Angeles publishes separate instructions for first issuance, renewal, lost or damaged documents, and other circumstances. Use the child guide to prepare questions about identity history; this page does not decide nationality or eligibility.

This is an informational page, not an offer by CEV to process Chinese travel documents. Visa form review, consular visa handoff and VIP visa services should not be assumed to include travel-document work.

- [Los Angeles: travel-document procedure and materials (June 25, 2025)](https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/lbqw/lszj/hzlxz/202506/t20250625_11658204.htm)

- [US-born children: evidence for a consular determination](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa/children-born-in-us)

## The official app and document stages

1. Check the consular office for your US residence and its travel-document instructions. The Chinese Consular app is separate from the online visa application system.
2. Complete the relevant application, declarations, photo and requested uploads. Follow the office’s identity-verification instructions.
3. Watch the app for corrections and any interview appointment; a minor may need to participate with a parent or guardian.
4. Follow the office’s instruction to submit physical materials, then track production and return. Do not mail documents prematurely.

For the Embassy’s travel-document process, the materials page specifies online application plus two-way mailing after the app reaches ‘复审中’. Los Angeles gives its own submission and collection options. Do not mix one office’s mailing checklist with another office’s address or appointment rules.

- [Chinese Embassy in the US: Chinese Consular app instructions (February 29, 2024)](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/202105/t20210529_9035355.htm)
- [Chinese Embassy in the US: passport and travel-document materials](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/202204/t20220416_10668741.htm)
- [Los Angeles: travel-document procedure and materials (June 25, 2025)](https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/lbqw/lszj/hzlxz/202506/t20250625_11658204.htm)

## First issue, renewal or replacement: keep the records distinct

| Application situation | Preparation focus |
| --- | --- |
| First issue | Gather the office-requested birth, parent-identity and status records; let the office determine the route. |
| Renewal | Locate the most recent original document. Los Angeles lists expiry, less than six months’ validity, fewer than four remaining visa pages, and holders of exit-entry permits among its renewal situations. |
| Lost, stolen or damaged document | Locate genuine prior copies and explain the loss or damage using the office’s current declaration. Additional verification can affect timing. |

- [Los Angeles: travel-document procedure and materials (June 25, 2025)](https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/lbqw/lszj/hzlxz/202506/t20250625_11658204.htm)

For general validity, the Chinese Embassy in Angola’s FAQ says travel documents are normally valid for two years and multiple entries/exits unless annotated otherwise, and cannot be extended. This source describes general document validity, not US submission procedure. Check your own document’s expiry and annotations and the responsible US office’s renewal instructions.

- [Chinese Embassy in Angola: general travel-document validity FAQ (not US application procedure)](https://ao.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw_0/hzlxz/cjwd/202401/t20240111_11221967.htm)

## Photo and paper-material checklist

The US Embassy’s travel-document list links to its passport-photo standard: a recent colour photo on a white background, 33 mm wide × 48 mm high. The head is 15–22 mm wide and 28–33 mm high. Use the full official standard for positioning and image quality; the app’s upload checks do not replace it.

- [Chinese Embassy in the US: passport photo specifications (March 9, 2019)](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/201903/t20190309_5098803.htm)
- [Chinese Embassy in the US: passport and travel-document materials](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/202204/t20220416_10668741.htm)

- Use a photo taken within six months; the Embassy standard prohibits altered or composite photos.
- Confirm the number of paper photos for your office: the Embassy list asks for three; Los Angeles asks for two in the relevant travel-document checklists.
- Keep the app information page and any requested original prior document with the packet.
- Include the requested birth or guardianship evidence for a minor, and follow the office’s signature or declaration instructions.
- Use the office’s current payment and return-envelope instructions; this page does not quote a CEV travel-document fee.

- [Chinese Embassy in the US: passport and travel-document materials](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/202204/t20220416_10668741.htm)
- [Los Angeles: travel-document procedure and materials (June 25, 2025)](https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/lbqw/lszj/hzlxz/202506/t20250625_11658204.htm)

## Plan around verification, not a promised delivery date

Los Angeles warns that individual cases, especially verification of a lost prior document, can take longer and advises against buying tickets before holding a valid travel document. Check status and requests with the issuing office. Visa processing estimates and historical visa-order statistics do not predict a travel-document completion date.

- [Los Angeles: travel-document procedure and materials (June 25, 2025)](https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/lbqw/lszj/hzlxz/202506/t20250625_11658204.htm)

- [Family guide overview](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa)
- [Understand the separate visa timing stages](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa/processing-time)

## Related guides

- [Overview: China family visit visa: plan a reunion, one document at a time](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa.md)
- [US-born children: visa or Chinese travel document?](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa/children-born-in-us.md)
- [Q2 visa processing time: plan the whole family timeline](https://app.chinaentryvisa.com/guides/china-family-visit-visa/processing-time.md)

## Official references

Follow the current instructions of the Embassy or Consulate handling your application. These references do not confirm CEV service availability or an order-specific receiving address.

- [Chinese Embassy in the US: Chinese Consular app instructions (February 29, 2024)](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/202105/t20210529_9035355.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01
- [Chinese Embassy in the US: passport and travel-document materials](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/202204/t20220416_10668741.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01
- [Chinese Embassy in the US: passport photo specifications (March 9, 2019)](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zj/hzlxz/201903/t20190309_5098803.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01
- [Los Angeles: travel-document procedure and materials (June 25, 2025)](https://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/lbqw/lszj/hzlxz/202506/t20250625_11658204.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01
- [Chinese Embassy in Angola: general travel-document validity FAQ (not US application procedure)](https://ao.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw_0/hzlxz/cjwd/202401/t20240111_11221967.htm) — verified on 2026-10-01

Content updated: 2026-10-01

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