China Visa – China is the world’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion. China emerged as one of the world’s first civilizations, in the fertile basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain.
China was one of the world’s foremost economic powers for most of the two millennia from the 1st until the 19th century. It is a great country for sight seeing and business ventures.
China Visa Application Requirements – All you need to Know to Obtain China Visa
To apply for a China visa, you need to complete an application form attached with your recently-taken color photo, prepare a valid passport, and submit them along with other supporting documents to the Chinese embassy or consulate which is in charge of your residence area. Check the step-by-step guide on how to apply for a China visa below for details:
- CHECK WHETHER YOU NEED A CHINA VISA
An essential thing to do is to check whether you need a visa before starting the following process. As long as you are eligible for China’s visa-free policies, you do not need the visa, but some documents like your passport, in and out transportation tickets and sometimes sufficient funds still need to be prepared for immigration check.
- CHECK WHICH VISA YOU NEED TO GET
Based on your travel purpose, determine which visa you are going to get. Read China Visa Types to select one which suits you most. For tourists, the L visa is suitable.
- PREPARE ALL DOCUMENTS NEEDED
Documents required for all types of visa include passport and visa application form attached with a recently-taken photo. Besides, other supporting documents are required, but they vary according to the visa type you are applying for. For instance, if you apply for a tourist L visa, the supporting documents will refer to round-trip tickets, hotel bookings or an invitation letter from your China travel agency. See detailed China Visa Application Requirements. Be sure your documents meet the requirements of Chinese embassy or consulate.
- Passport: with a remaining validity of at least 6 months; have blank visa pages.
- Visa Application Form: truthfully completed; type-written with no blanks left.
- Photo: taken within latest six months; full face against a light background; size: 48mm x 33mm; bare-headed unless for religious causes.
- SUBMIT THE APPLICATION
Visit the Chinese embassy, consulate, or Chinese Visa Application Center (CVASC) which serves your residence area. You can show up in person or ask an agent to do this for you. In some consular offices and CVASCs, mail service is also available.
The normal processing time is four working days including the day you submit the application and the day you collect. Remember there might be additional non-working days for Chinese public holidays. By paying an additional fee you can usually have your application processed faster. It is normally possible to have your application processed overnight, for collection in the following afternoon, though some offices might offer a same-day service if you arrive in the office soon after opening. In general try to apply for it well in advance to allow for any delay.
- PAY THE FEE AND PICK UP YOUR VISA
Go to the place where you apply for China visa on the date appointed at the pick-up slip. Pay the fee and you will get your passport back with visa. See China Visa Fees.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR CHINA VISA APPLICATION
BASIC DOCUMENTS
- PASSPORT – Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least two blank visa pages and a photocopy of the passport’s data page.
- VISA APPLICATION FORM AND ELECTRONIC PHOTO – Complete the Visa Application Form in the online “application form model” and upload your electronic photo (click to check the rules for photos), then print the Visa Application Form and sign by following the tips.
- 1 PHYSICAL PHOTO SIZE 33X48MM IN COLOR W. WHITE BACKGROUND ADHERING TO PHOTO REQUIREMENTS.
- PROOF OF LEGAL STAY OR RESIDENCE STATUS (ONLY APPLICABLE FOR NON-LOCAL APPLICANTS) – If you are not applying for the visa in your country of citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates of residence (population record extract from Swedish Tax Agency) or visa of stay, employment or student status, residence permit and/or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are applying.
- PHOTOCOPY OF PREVIOUS CHINESE PASSPORTS OR PREVIOUS CHINESE VISAS – (This section is only applicable for those who previously were Chinese citizens and have now obtained foreign citizenship) If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your former Chinese passport in original and a photocopy of its data page.
- (If you cannot provide the previous passport, please provide a written statement for the Embassy’s further review.) If you have obtained Chinese visas before you should also present a photocopy of a previous Chinese visa held each time applying for a new one. If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).
- For applicants under 18 years old with one or both parents being or having previously been Chinese citizens, when applying for Chinese visa the first time need to provide a) passport copy of both parents; b) stamped and signed Certificate of Kinship “Familjebevis” in original from Swedish Tax Agency; c) a photocopy of the permanent residence permit of the parent(s) being or having previously been Chinese citizen.
The best time to apply for China visa is one or two months before your departure date. Usually, a China visa is valid for only three months from the date of issue, which indicates that the earliest time you can apply is three months before your departure. Usually you cannot renew and extend China visa once you are granted, but it can be done when you are in China at the local Exit and Entry Administration under the Public Security Bureau.
For more details on China visa application and requirements, please visit http://ng.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/zgvslx/
