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HOME > Visa > Important Notice
Notice on Adjustment of Visa Application Requirements (Updated in March 2023)
2023-04-03 18:36

Starting from 15 March 2023, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will adjust the scope of Chinese visa applications 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".

(http://gb.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/visa/notice/201611/t20161124_3383971.htm)

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

      L

Visits to China for tourism

Round-trip   air tickets and hotel orders (name and personal information of the applicant   must be included); 

Or invitation   letters issued by a relevant entity (e.g. Travel agency) or individual inside   China; (Photocopies of Chinese ID (front and back) of the inviting   individual must be included)

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,   or those who   intend to go to China for other private matters. 

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.) .

④In case of other personal matters,   such as marriage, inheritance, adoption, and   medical treatment, relevant supporting materials shall be provided upon   request.

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 fill in the online application form on the CVASC website and submit the application form to the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy or consulates-general in the UK. 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.


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