I. Fill out the Chinese visa application form and make an online appointment for submission.
II. Prepare the required documents for a Chinese visa application.
Fill out the Chinese visa application form
III. Submit the application form and required documents
IV. How much is the Chinese visa fee?
V. Online application/landing application for Chinese visas
VI. Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Why do Chinese visas have different categories?
A: In light of China’s laws and regulations, consular officers decide what type of visa is best suited for an applicant’s stated purpose of visit to China.
Q:Why is there an extra fee if I request to have my passport returned by mail even if I’ve already paid the postal charge on the return envelop?
A:The postal service fee (postage exclusive) reflects the time and efforts spent on processing postal applications. The postage is charged by the postal service provider.
Q:What to do when the online application form photograph is not qualified?
A:1)if you have already uploaded the photograph 3 times and have not yet uploaded successfully, the system will remind you to bring a suitable photograph. When you come to the centre to submit the application, please bring a recent photograph of yourself with a white or close to white background and comforming to the photograph standard requirements, the visa centre will upload your photograph for you when you come for your submission.
2)Please ensure that you have uploaded the correct photograph of the person detailed in the application form when filling in the online application. The visa centre will reject any application where the uploaded image is of another person. A new application form with an appropriate photograph will be requested if the application form contains another person’s photo. If the online form indicates that the photo is not qualified and cannot be uploaded successfully, please be sure to bring an appropriate photograph to the centre when you come to submit your application.
Q:How long should be the remaining validity of my passport when I apply for a China visa?
A:Generally speaking, there should be at least six months left before the passport expires.
Q: What would be the best time for me to apply for a visa before my planned departure for China?
A:
It is advisable that you apply for your visa approximately one month prior to your intended date of entry into China, but not earlier than three months. If you apply for a visa too early, the visa might expire before your arrival to mainland China. For instance; if you plan to enter China on 1st of July, the best time to submit your application would be around 1st of June (counting working days only).
If you are a dual national or multi-national, you may be requested to provide all current valid passports in your possession. Additionally, you may be required to provide your previous passport(s) in support of your application.
Please ensure you contact us shortly before your intended date of travel for the most up-to-date information regarding your visa application.
Q: Where do I apply for a visa?
A:If you hold an ordinary passport, you should submit your application at the Visa Centre in the country where you lawfully reside. Holders of diplomatic and service (official) passports or applicants eligible to apply for China’s diplomatic, courtesy and service visas, and applicants applying for a visa to the Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Region of China should should also submit at the CVASC.
Q:Do I need a visa to enter Hong Kong and Macao?
A:
Kindly refer to the following websites:The Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: http://www.immd.gov.hk
Public Security Police Force of the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region：http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/eng/main.html
Q:Do I need to apply for a visa if I transit through Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou?
A:
As of June 2015, citizens of 53 countries with valid international travel documents and air tickets for a connecting flight with confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country or region can apply for a 72-hour transit visa exemption at ports of entry in Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport，Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport，Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport，Shenyang Taoxian International Airport，Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport，Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport，Guilin Liangjiang Airport，Kunming Changshui International Airport，Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Haerbin Taiping International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, and Tianjin Binhe International Airport.
53 countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar
Q:Can I apply for a visa online?
A:It is not possible to apply for a visa through the Internet currently. You need to submit all the required application documents to the Visa Centre, and the Visa Centre staff will then handle your application.
Q:Is it permitted for someone else to submit my application to the Visa Centre on my behalf?
A:According to the requirements of Chinese Embassy and Consulate General, you must come to the Visa Cntre in person to submit your applicaiton and your fingerprints must be collected (person who under 14 years old or elder than 70 years old is exempted). If you want to apply through a travel agency, the agency will be responsible to confirm with you about the submission and fingerprint collection.
Q:Can I apply for a visa through a travel agency?
A:Please be aware that from 17th December 2018 onward, the visa centres in the UK will take a photograph and capture fingerprints for each applicant who are aged 14 to 70 inclusive when teh applicants submit their applications at the Centre. Visitors to China whose fingerprints and photo do not match may be denied entry and should bear all the consequences.
Q:How long should be the remaining validity of my passport before I apply for a China visa?
A:Generally speaking, there should be at least six months left before the passport expires.
Q:How long does it take to process a visa if I submit my application at the Visa Centre in person?
A:A visa typically takes three or four working days to process if all the accompanying documents meet the requirements.
Q:I am currently in China. Can I mail my application to you?
A:No, you can’t. If you are currently in China, you have to exit the country to apply for a Chinese visa. Application acceptance is only available to people lawfully residing in the country in which this centre is located.
Q:Is the service fee the same for a child?
A:Yes. The visa processing procedure is the same for a child, who is an independent applicant or an accompanying applicant sharing the same passport with the principal applicant. Therefore, the child incurs the same amount of service fee.
Q:Does a child need to fill out a visa application form as well?
A:As an independent applicant, the child needs to fill out a separate visa application form. However, if the child shares the same passport with a principal applicant, this is not required.
Q:If citizens of Singapore and Brunei holding ordinary passports want to stay in China for more than 15 days, can they apply for an extension of stay?
A:Please contact the local public security authorities in China regarding this.
Q:Can I extend the duration of stay of my visa in China
A:
You may apply for an extension of the “duration of stay” of your visa at a local public security authority before it expires, but without an assumption that the application will be automatically approved.
Overstay violates the laws of China and will be punished.
Q: What if I lost my pick-up form?
A:If you lost your pick-up form, you must come in person to collect your passport. Kindly present your photo identity card, i.e. drivers’ license, to the Visa Centre’s staff for verification. Only after the Visa Centre confirms your identity card can the passport be released. If you cannot come in person due to some special reason, you can entrust someone else to pick up your passport as long as he or she brings your notarized power attorney as well as his or her and your own identity card.
Q:What shall I do if I find the visa issued on my passport is wrong?
A:If you find mistakes in your visa after you have left the Visa Centre, please contact it immediately and follow the instructions given to you.
Q:Could you tell me what articles can I bring into China as a passenger?
A:Kindly visit the Website of China Customs for details.
Q:Does the Visa Centre belong to the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General?
A:No, it doesn’t. The Visa Centre is a commercial service organization registered in accordance with local laws and regulations and recognized by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General to handle the daily routine work of processing ordinary visa applications. However, it operates independently of diplomatic missions and is neither a branch nor an affiliated organ. Please note that the Visa Centre does not participate in the assessment and approval of Chinese visas.