Starting from 08 January 2023, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will adjust the scope of visa applications to visit China as follows:
I. Basic Documents
1. Passport
Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity，blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the bio data page.
2. Visa Application Form and Photo
One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken colour passport photo against a light background attached. Please refer to "Photo Requirements for Chinese Visa Application".
3. Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to non-British applicants)
The original and a photocopy of a valid British visa or other proof of legal stay, residence, employment or study in the UK.
4. Previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign nationals who once held Chinese nationality)
The original Chinese passport previously held and a photocopy of its data page are required when applying for a Chinese visa for the first time.
The photocopies of the data page of the previous passport and previous Chinese visa if the current passport does not contain any Chinese visa.
In case the name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, an official proof of name change is required.
II. Scope of Accepted Visa Application
Visa Categories | Applicable Situation | Documents Required |
M | Visits to China for commercial and trade activities. | Invitation letter issued by a trade partner in China, or trade fair invitation |
F | Visits to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other non-commercial activities. | Invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China. |
Q1 | Family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence, who intend to go to China for family reunion(exceeding 180 days), including spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren. | ①An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China; ②Photocopy of the ID card of the Chinese citizen/ Photocopy of Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Card in China and passport ③Certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, household register, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual; |
Q2 | Family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence, who intend to go to China for short-term visits(no more than 180 days) | ①An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China,the invitation letter should contain the relations between the applicant and the inviting individual; ②Photocopy of the ID card of the Chinese citizen/
Photocopy of Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Card in China and passport； |
S1 | Foreign immediate family members of the holder of a Z visa or Chinese Residence Permit for work as well as the holder of an X1 visa or Chinese Resident Permit for study, who intend to pay long-term visits in China(exceeding 180 days), including spouse, parents, children under the age of 18, parents-in-law. | ① An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or study); ②A photocopy of the inviting individual's passport and residence permit; ③ Proof of kinship between the applicant and inviter (such as proof of marriage, marriage certificate, birth certificate.) . |
S2 | Foreign immediate family members of the holder of a Z visa or Chinese Residence Permit for work as well as the holder of an X1 visa or Chinese Resident Permit for study, who intend to go to China for short-term visits(no more than 180 days), including spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren. |
X1 | Long-term overseas students(exceeding 180 days) | Original admission letter and a photocopy of the letter (newly enrolled students),visa Application Form for Foreign Students in China (JW201/202 Form), and a photocopy of the form |
X2 | Short-term overseas students(no more than 180 days) | Original and photocopy of admission letter issued by colleges and schools in China |
Z | Work | "Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit" or valid "Foreigner’s Work Permit", etc. |
G | Transit | Connecting air ticket to the onward country or region with confirmed date and seat or letter of guarantee from foreign shipping company |
C | Crew members | A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China |
J1 | Resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China(exceeding 180 days). | A visa Notification Letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, and an official letter issued by the media organization for which the journalist works. |
R | High-level talents | "Confirmation Letter of High-Level Foreign Talents" *The applicant's spouse and minor child （under age of 18） shall apply for the S2 visa by submitting proof of kinship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate). |
D | Settlement | The original and photocopy of "Confirmation Form of Permanent Residence Status for Foreigners"issued by the Chinese public security authority |
*To apply for the emergency humanitarian visa for the purpose of arranging funeral matters or visiting a family member in critical medical conditions in China, applicants shall submit the identity document of the deceased or critically ill patient (such as a Chinese identity card or a foreign passport), a death certificate or a medical certificate of the patient issued by the hospital, proof of kinship, and other necessary documents as required.
III. Application Procedures:
To apply for the above visas, applicants are required to fill in the online application form and make an appointment on the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) website before submitting applications in person on the date of the appointment and having their ten fingers’ fingerprints collected. Children under the age of 14 and adults above the age of 70 are not required to go to the CVASC for such biometric information collection. Please contact the CVASC for specific procedures, visa application requirements, processing time and fees.
IV. Diplomatic, service or courtesy visa applicants shall also submit applications at the CVASC. The applicants are not required to pre-book time slots, but shall complete and print out the online application forms in advance.
V. Foreign nationals who apply for visas for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region can submit applications to the CVASC during business hours with no need for pre-booked appointments.
VI. Visa applications for visiting purposes which are not included above will not be accepted at the moment.
VII. Holder of a valid Chinese residence permit, or valid permanent documents and APEC Business Travel Cards (excluding Virtual ABTC)does not need to apply for a new visa for entry into China.
