Getting your Chinese Visa

It is your responsibility to obtain a visa if required. This guide is tailored for British nationals; other nationalities should check with their respective embassies.

Remember, entry requirements can change, so refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Chinese Embassy websites for the latest updates.

The process (for British Nationals)

Go to the Visa for China website and click in the top right corner 'Create Account' you will just need your email address and to create a password. A code will be emailed to you which you enter on this page. This lets you log in to see your visa process after you've submitted your application and visited the processing center. Don't use a third-party company — you will still need to supply all of the same information and visit the application centre in person so it doesn't save you any time, and will cost you more money.

Select which center you'll apply from - (London, Manchester, Belfast or Edinburgh)

**Before you click through to complete your application form, read the advisory notes and save the 'Declaration' which you'll need to print and sign.

What you'll need to complete your application form:

• Your inbound and outbound flight details
• An invitation letter from China (we will supply this)
• Your itinerary (we will supply this)
• Digital passport-style photo (420 × 472 pixels). This can be a headshot against a white wall made into the right size and with the background colour removed. You can resize your photo using a free service like Bulk Resize
• Passport information (with at least six months' expiry after the day you arrive in China and two blank pages)
• Employment history for the last five years
• Annual income (approx - note you can only select Euros)
• A list of countries you have travelled to in the last year
• Your parent's names and DOBs
• Your spouse/children's names and DOBs
• Your emergency contact information
• Details and photocopies of any previous Chinese Visas you have had
• Unless you live near the application centre, select 'postal' under collection and put TBC in the tracking box (you'll get a tracking envelope at the centre)

Once you have completed your application form, save it and print out a copy

What to take to the Visa Application Center

• Your passport
• A photocopy of your passport
• Your flight booking
• Your invitation letter
• The Declaration for your Application Centre (Here is an example of the Manchester Center declaration).
• A means of payment (all major debit/credit cards accepted)

There are computers and photocopiers available at the application center should you have forgotten everything, but don't rely on them — only the photocopier was working when we visited, and not the computers.

What happens at the Visa Application Center

*This is our recent experience in Manchester, other centres may vary slightly*

On arrival into the building you're given a slip of paper with a number on it - take a seat and wait for your number to be called. The screens show you which window to go to (much like they do at large post offices here in the UK).

When you are called to the desk, hand over all of the documents listed above. The advisor will look through your documents, take your photograph and take each of your fingerprints using the small machine in front of you.

You will be asked whether you can collect the visa in person or if you want it returned to you by post. 

- If you choose 'in person', you'll receive a number to track in your online account when your visa is ready to collect
- If you choose to post, they will supply a Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope for you to write your name and address on, and you will receive Royal Mail tracking number.

On our recent visit, we arrived at 1230 hrs and were finished by 1330 hrs but this will vary depending on what time of day you go and how many other people are in line.

They aim to post it back to you within 4-5 working days via special delivery.

We applied for our visa on a Tuesday and were advised it would be posted out that Friday, which it was, and it arrived on Saturday morning.

We understand that soon (31st March 2025) you'll be able to upload documents like your round trip flight tickets and invitation letter onto the online portal, which should speed up the time it takes to process the visa. You will still need to visit the Chinese Visa Application Centre in person.

Questions?

We will help where we can, but for things like technical queries or problems submitting or getting hold of your documents, don't hesitate to get in touch with the relevant centre as they are in the best position to help.

Contact the Visa Application Centre in London: ukcentre@visaforchina.org | 0044-20-72994049, 0797 0292561

Contact the Visa Application Centre in Manchester: manchestercentre@visaforchina.org | 0161 236 9619 (09:00-16:00)

Contact the Visa Application Centre in Edinburgh: edinburghcentre@visaforchina.org | 0131 2292519

Contact the Visa Application Centre in Belfast: edinburghcentre@visaforchina.org | 0131 2292519 (this isn't a mistake - the info is the same as Edinburgh)