From 16 June 2022, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the UK have adjusted the scope of accepted visa application and application procedures 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".
（https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/ceuk//eng/visa/notice/t1418136.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.
5. Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination (if applicable).
II. Scope of Accepted Visa Application
Visa Categories | Applicable Situation | Documents Required |
M-Visa/F-Visa | Visits related to economic, trade, science and technology purposes, etc. | "Invitation Letter (PU/TE)" or a "Verification Confirmation of Invitation" issued by central and state departments, central government owned enterprises, the foreign affairs offices of provincial governments or the provincial departments of commerce, or the foreign affairs offices of municipal governments. |
Z-Visa | Employment in China. | Valid "Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit" (or "Foreigner’s Work Permit"), etc. |
S1-Visa (long-term) S2-Visa (short-term） | Family member of Z/M/F visa/related residence permit holder Family members refer to: spouse, parent, child under the age of 18, parent-in-law, adult child, spouse of adult child, and unmarried partner | ① Proof of kinship between the applicant and inviter (such as proof of marriage, marriage certificate, birth certificate.) ; ② An invitation letter from a foreign national who stays or resides in China holding a Z/F/M visa or related residence permit; ③ The inviter's passport and residence permit; *Adult child, spouse of adult child, and unmarried partner applying for family member visit (S2) visa shall submit explanation documents accordingly as required by consular officials in addition to the documents mentioned above. *S1 visa is only applicable to a family member of Z visa/residence permit holder. |
Q1-Visa(Family Reunion) Q2-Visa(Visiting Relatives) | ①Foreign family member of a Chinese citizen; ② Family member of a foreign national with Chinese permanent residence permit. *Family members refer to: spouse, parent, parent-in-law, child, spouse of child, brother or sister, grandparent, grandchild. | ① Proof of family member kinship between the applicant and inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by public security bureaus or notarised certification of kinship, etc.); ② An invitation letter from a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen holding a Chinese permanent residence permit residing in China; ③ Proof of Chinese identity from the inviter (such as Chinese identity card, Chinese household registration), or foreign passport and Chinese permanent residence permit. |
R-Visa | 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). |
C-Visa | crew members | A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China |
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.
