Where to Apply for Chinese Visa - Chinese Embassy & Consulate or Chinese Visa Application Service Center

Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on December 18, 2024:

1. China has launched a 30 Days Visa-free Policy for 38 eligible countries, including several European nations — Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand are listed, while in Asia, Malaysia, South Korea, Brunei, and Japan are included. This policy is valid till December 31, 2025. Read more »

2. 240-Hour Visa Free Transit (10 days) has been lanched. 54 eligible countries include the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, etc. Eligible travelers can now travel across provinces, for example traveling from Beijing to Xian, then to Shanghai. Mohan Railway Port at China-Laos border can be used to enter/leave Yunnan. Hong Kong High-speed Rail West Kowloon Station has been added to Guangdong Province 144-hour transit visa-free. Read more »

3. Countries with a mutual visa exemption agreement with China include several European nations, including Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Malta, San Marino, Serbia, and Seychelles. From North America, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, and Barbados are listed. Several Caribbean nations are also included, such as Dominica, Grenada, and Solomon Islands. Oceania is represented by Fiji, Suriname, and Tonga. In South America, countries like Ecuador, Mauritius.

4. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.

5. Appointment is not required for visa application in many embassies and consulates.

China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!

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According to different situations, visitors can apply for Chinese Visa before departure, on arrival or in China. If you do not meet requirements of China Visa Free Policy, you must submit a visa application and get a valid China Visa prior to arrival. In this case, you may directly submit application at visa office of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate, or via China Visa Application Service Center in your residing country. Note that the Chinese Embassy and Consulate are the only official authorities to issue Chinese Visa abroad .

For special cases, like applying for Chinese Visa upon arrival, China Visa Renewal or Extension, the visa services are normally processed by the Exit & Entry Administration Department of the Public Security Bureau. Besides, visitors can also apply for visa/entry permit to Hong Kong/Macau SAR from the local Immigration Departments in Hong Kong/ Macau.

The Highest Priority - Know Where You Should Apply for China Visa

Once confirmed you need a visa for China, you must figure out where you are required to submit the application. According to your residence city and country, you can check the following country list to make clear where you should apply for and visit to get a China Visa.

Apply for Chinese Visa at Chinese Embassy Visa Office

Chinese Embassy and Consulate General are both official diplomatic organizations which issue Chinese Visa to foreign citizens and provide other consular services (including passport services to domestic nationals) in another state. If your residing country has none official China Vis Application Service Center, you have to submit China Visa Application directly at the visa section of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General

How to Apply for Chinese Visa from Chinese Embassy

Step 1: Check China Visa Free Policy to find out if you need a visa for China. Do I Need a Visa for China ?

Step 2: Read all China Visa Types to identify your visa category based on your purpose and itinerary of visiting.

Step 3: Follow the visa application instructions to prepare all required documents, including your passport, completed visa application form, photo, copy of your passport’s data page, invitation letter, proof of flight and hotel bookings.... And then submit your application to visa office of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate during office hours. China Visa Requirements & Documents >>

Step 4: Collect your passport and visa in person, or by someone else/visa agent with the pick-up slip.

Useful Links: How to Get a Visa for China: Application Requirements, Costs, Procedures and Tips.

Tips: For applicants from certain states, you can visit https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn to fill in the visa application form online, and then book an appointment for submission via http://avas.cs.mfa.gov.cn. Go to the visa office at the appointed time. If it's not available to complete the form online, you may download the form from Chinese Embassy/Consulate's offcial website, and fill in electronic form, print it out, and submit during office hours. You are suggested to check on the visa office hours first.

Chinese Embassy & Consulate Locations and Official Website

The Chinese Embassy is the main office of China’s diplomatic representatives, and its mission covers all cities and regions in the residing country. Usually, the embassy is located in the capital city of the related country and has the most comprehensive sections to deal with foreign affairs. Besides, the Chinese Consulate is a smaller diplomatic institution situated in other major cities (outside the capital).

Currently, China sets up over 170 Chinese Embassies and over 90 Consulates in 6 continents around the world. Based on local conditions, there are multiple consulates in some certain countries, like America, Canada, Australia, etc. And that offers great convenience for you to apply for a visa to China. You can locate the nearest Chinese Embassy.

Chinese Embassy & Consulate Visa Office Hours

The exact visa office hours is slightly different in each Chinese Embassy and Consulate. Generally, the visa working hour is 9:00/9:30 am to 12:00, 2:00/2:30 pm to 5:00/5:30 pm on Monday to Friday (local time). The embassies and consulates will be closed during local public holidays and Chinese holidays. Some also have specific opening hours for submission, payment and collection. Please check the latest work & holiday schedules on the official website.

Below is the part of the whole list of Chinese Embassies and Consulates. Each embassy/consulate has official website you can get more details, such as China Visa application guide (requirements, form, fees...), embassy address, contact number, office hours, payment, and more. You can find overall receivable Chinese Visa information at www.china-embassy.org or www.china-consulate.org.

List of Chinese Embassies and Consulates Abroad

Apply for Chinese Visa via China Visa Application Service Center

Up to now, Chinese Embassies and Consulates in 40 countries use an online system of application form submission and appointment booking to receive China Visa Applications. In the 40 countries, Chinese Embassies or Consulates will not accept any ordinary visa applications (except Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas), and the China Visa Application Service Center is the one and only official visa service center that can receive and deliver application to Chinese Embassy and Consulate. If you apply for Chinese Visa in Canada, Australia, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Spain, Italy, Austria and so on, you're required to apply at the service center.

How to Apply for Chinese Visa Through Visa Service Center

Step 1: Find out if you need a visa for China, check China Visa Exemptions.

Step 2: Judge which kind of visa you should obtain to visit China.

Step 3: Visit http://www.visaforchina.org/ to locate the nearest visa service center. You will start to complete a visa application form online, and schedule an appointment online in advance. Then, read visa guidance, prepare required documents, submit all materials (in person/by someone else or agent) to the visa service center. Meanwhile, you have to pay visa fees and service charges.

Step 4: Once track and know your application is processed, you can go to the center, collect your passport visa in person, or by someone else/visa agent with the pick-up slip. More conveniently, you can pay for mailing back service, no need to go back to the center again.

Attention: Walk-in submission is NOT accepted at the service center. Read more China Visa Application Guide >>

Foreign Embassies & Consulates in China

What to do if I lost my passport in China? Can I renew my passport when traveling in China? Don’t worry! You can seek help from the embassy or consulate of your country, as long as your country has diplomatic relations with China and establish foreign missions in China. They will offer lots of consular services, like passport issuing and renewal, and assistance to emergency for local citizens. You can easily locate them and contact for help without going back to your own country, and continue to travel in China.

At present, Beijing hosts over 170 foreign embassies (the largest number), and major big cities in China also have many consulates, such as Hong Kong (123), Shanghai (76), Guangzhou (62), Chengdu (17), Chongqing (10), Shenyang (7), Kunming (6), Wuhan (5), Xiamen (3) and Xian (3), etc.

Major Consular Services of the Embassy & Consulate General includes:

● Passport Services - e.g. passport renewal, replacement (if lost, stolen) and new passport and temporary travel document issuing.

● Citizenship Services - e.g. child born in China, renounce original citizenship

● Child and Family Matters: - e.g. adoption, report birth abroad, renounce original citizenship

● Emergency Assitance: - e.g. adoption, urgent medical care, arrest, death and etc.

● Notarial & Documentary Services

● Local Resources...

Major Embassies and Consulates in China

Travel China Worry-free with China Discovery

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If you are interested in China visa-free tour, we could also customize a China Visa-free Tour in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.