China Tourist Visa Application Guide

How to apply for a China tourist visa by yourself?

I hope this guide can help you clear up potential information barriers when applying for a tourist visa to China. After reading this tutorial, you will be able to get answers to the following questions:

• Where should I apply for a tourist visa to China?

• What are their working hours?

• What materials should I prepare in advance?

• Do I need to make an appointment in advance? If an appointment is required, how do I make an appointment?

• Do I have to apply for a tourist visa to China in person?

• How much does it cost to apply for the visa?

• What is the visa application process?

• What are the consultation methods?

……

Chinese Visa Application Service Center

The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (hereinafter referred to as 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 and authentication applications. However, it operates independently of diplomatic missions and is neither a branch nor an affiliated organ. Its main services are:

• To receive visa or authentication applications and ensure their application documents meet Chinese Government requirements for smooth processing in the various categories.

• To provide applicants with intermediate business services, including computer entry of basic information, and transmission of the passport, visa, document of authentication and other application documents between the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General and the application centre.

• To collect visa fees and authentication fees, whether for normal, express or rush service in accordance with the requirements of a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General and, on their behalf, deliver the passport, visa, documents and document of authentication to the applicant.

• To release visa and authentication information in a timely manner, answer customer inquiries and provide assistance through the Application Centre’s website, information desk, telephone, and e-mail.

• To provide the applicant with other necessary services in accordance with requirements of a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General.

Firstly, please visit Chinese Visa Application Service Center and select your country/region and (nearest) city. Take the Penang Visa Center in Malaysia as an example.

Once you've entered the dedicated page, navigate to the 'About Us' section and select 'Office Hours & Location'. Here, you'll find not only the visa center's working hours and specific location but also their contact information.

In the 'How to apply' section, you will find the 'Step-by-Step Guide'. This guide primarily consists of three parts: 'Prepare Documents', 'Submit at the Centre', and 'Pay and Collect'. Within these three parts, you can find all the information you need to know about applying for a tourist visa to China. This includes whether an appointment is required, the required documents, visa processing fees, and more.

Of course, if you have any other unanswered questions, you can explore the 'FAQ' part under the 'General Information' section. If your questions persist, you may try contacting the visa center directly to obtain the information you need.

Consular Services at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate

Not all countries have established the Chinese Visa Application Service Center. In such cases, you may need to visit the official website of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate to obtain information about the tourist visa application process. You can easily find the preferred contact information under the 'Consular Services' section or a similar section on the website.

In the case of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, you can find consular services information on their official website. You can navigate to the 'Consular Services' section on the website to access details about visa applications and other relevant services.

It's interesting to note that the dedicated webpages for the Chinese Visa Application Service Center may vary across different countries, such as the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website for the United Kingdom. While the appearance of the webpages may differ, they generally offer the same information and functionalities.

At times, detailed consular service information might not be readily available on the official website of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. In such cases, it might be advisable to visit the Chinese Visa Application Service Center to access the desired information.

China boasts a rich and ancient history, a diverse culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Look forward to you creating wonderful memories in this beautiful country.

This article is filed under the Pre-trip Preparations tag.