<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000841501</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OWENS MORTGAGE INVESTMENT FUND A CALIF LTD PARTNERSHIP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258627</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DRAPER BRYAN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2221 OLYMPIC BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94595</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Dir./Off. of General Partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258626</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OWENS WILLIAM C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2221 OLYMPIC BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94595</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Dir./Off. of General Partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258753</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUTRA WILLIAM E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2221 OLYMPIC BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94595</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Dir./Off. of General Partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258679</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NAVONE ANDREW J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2221 OLYMPIC BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94595</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Dir./Off. of General Partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units of Limited Partnership Interests</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4251</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3568989</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Owens Financial Group, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units of Limited Partnership Interests</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4251</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3573240</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Owens Financial Group, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Footnote 1:
Directors and Officers of General Partner:
   Bryan H. Draper 14.634% ownership, authorized by the following other beneficial owners to sign this Form 4
   William C. Owens 56.098% ownership
   William E. Dutra 14.634% ownership
   Andrew J. Navone 14.634% ownership</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Footnote 2:
Other Direct and Indirect ownership:
For William C. Owens:
   Indirectly by Investor's Yield, Inc. - $173,591.33
   Indirectly by Self as Trustee for Owens Trust Dated 2/24/98 - $8,109.00
   Indirectly by Belmar, Limited Partnership - $51,419.64
   Indirectly by Spouse - $29,609.00
   Indirectly by Spouse for Samantha Pigg-Kabrick (Custodial Account) $3,000.00
For Bryan H. Draper:
   Indirectly by Investor's Yield, Inc. - $45,283.89
   Indirectly by Draper Family Partnership - $51,953.00
   Directly - $469,695.00
For William E. Dutra:
   Indirectly by Investor's Yield, Inc. - $45,283.89
   Directly - $60,587.00
For Andrew J. Navone:
   Indirectly by Investor's Yield, Inc. - $45,283.89
   Indirectly by Self as Trustee of Navone Family 2001 Revocable Trust - $343,459.00
   Indirectly by Emilia Sera Navone, Child (Custodial Account) - $18,077.00
   Indirectly by Gianna Mia Navone, Child (Custodial Account) - $21,243.00</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Footnote 3
Carried interest for services provided, paid in units of Owens Mortgage Investment Fund,
Pursuant to Limited Partnership Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bryan H. Draper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
