2023/2024 Top Requirements for China Visas

Chinese visa is issued by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate to applicants that fulfill the various requirements following the step-by-step procedures for visa application.

To get a China visa, one is to visit the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate to choose which type of visa to apply for. The visa type one needs depends on the purpose of one’s visit to China, as well as their eligibility.

The following steps must be strictly and judiciously followed by applicants for China visas.

Firstly, one has to book an appointment with the Chinese embassy or consulate. To do this, locate the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate and make an appointment weeks beforehand Meanwhile, depending on one’s nationality, the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate might be in a neighboring country.

Application Forms can be found online. An applicant is required to choose which application form, depending on the type of visa one is applying for. The next step is to download the form and fill it out correctly and legally.

Soon after the above, collect the required documents and put them together with the form. Remember that the list of documents will depend on the type of visa you are applying for, however, the standard list of documents can be found in the section under “What Are the Requirements for a China Visa?”.

The next step is to attend the appointment where you will have to submit the application form with the required documents and give your biometric information. It is worth noting that certain applicants do go through an interview. Meanwhile, children under the age of 14 and adults above the age of 70 are not required for biometric information collection. At the end of this stage, all documents will be mailed back to you in the return envelope.

Payment of the application fee is the next, which depends on the type of visa, the number of entries, and one’s nationality.

After the payment of the application fee, one is advised to wait for a decision from the embassy or consulate. Meanwhile, the processing time for a China visa is approximately 4 working days. However, one can pay extra fees for express service and can expect their visa to be processed in 3 working days.

Once the application has been approved, one can go back to the embassy or consulate and get their passport, which has their China visa.

Meanwhile, the following is the top list of documents one needs to have when applying for a China visa:

A valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the length of your requested visa and contain at least two blank pages for the visa stamp. Moreover, it should not be frayed, torn, or altered in any way.
One fully completed and signed visa application form. The application must be completed online, be printed single-sided, be date-stamped, and be signed in blue or black ink.
A passport photo with dimensions of 48mmx33mm. Here you provide one colour passport photo taken within the last six months against an all-white background and printed on high-quality photo paper.

Provide proof of your current residency address, which shows one’s legal stay or status. The documents you can use are either a copy of the front of your driver’s license, government ID, or utility bill.

Other requirements are proofs of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (if any), Certificate of covid-19 vaccination, Proof of round trip flight or departing flight. The documents must state the dates of entry and departure, Proof of accommodation which would contain a rental agreement, a lease, or any other document that proves your accommodation l, as well as the documentation detailing the itinerary plans for the trip.

Note that the validity of a China visa is the period between the “Issue Date” and “Enter Before” date shown on your visa. It is usually 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and sometimes even 10 years.