China Visa

As we have already mentioned, China is a famous tourist destination for Indians. In the past few years, not considering the pandemic, tourism in China has only boomed because of what the country has to offer. China is a paradox in many ways. It has managed to hold onto its years-old traditions and legacies, which one can experience just by stepping foot into several monasteries. Contrarily, China is also one of the fastest developing countries in the world. A perfect example of a concrete jungle. All of this makes the country very appealing to tourists. However, every Indian tourist who wishes to make their way into China is required to have a China tourist visa from India.

The good news for people who wish to travel to China is that the China visa application process is fairly simple. The most important thing for you to do is have your documents in place and know exactly what kind of visa you require. A lot of the process of procuring a Chinese visa for Indians depends on the kind of visa you are applying for. Also, remember that you should always apply for your visa well in advance, as it can take some time to come through. This is especially true if you are applying for a business visa, as a China business visa processing time from India is typically more than a China tourist visa for Indians.

If you wish to know how to apply for a visa to China and if you can apply for a China tourist visa online, we have the answers to your questions. You need to be mindful of the visa application process when it comes to getting your Chinese visa for Indians, as one wrong step could lead to you having problems getting your visa. However, if you are careful while following the process and do not make any mistakes, you should get your visa without any trouble.

The steps you need to follow for your China visa application are as follows.

• If you wish to apply for a China tourist visa online, you can start the process by visiting the official website of the Chinese Embassy.

• You then need to download the application form that you find there.

• Fill in all the relevant details asked for on the application form.

• Check the details you have filled in.

• Next, look at the list of documents being asked for.

• Upload all the documents mentioned in the application.

• Submit the application form with the uploaded documents.

• Schedule an appointment at the Embassy or the visa application centre.

• Pay the applicable visa fees on the website.

• Wait to hear back with a date and time for the interview.

• Visit the Embassy at the date and time allotted for the interview.

• You will then have to take a biometric test.

• Post your interview, you will receive your passport, either with or without a visa, depending on the discretion of the officials.

Indian applicants may also submit their visa applications at any CVAC offices in Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata. The China Visa Application Centre, or CVAC, also takes care of visa applications on behalf of the Embassy of China in India. Applications for Regular Service are handled in four business days, while those for Express Service are reviewed in just two.

Whereas the CVAC in Mumbai handles the regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka, the CVAC in Kolkata accepts applications from Indians and outsiders in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The CVAC office in New Delhi handles regional district citizens' visa applications.

There are several different categories of visas that a person can apply for when they wish to travel to China. The different types of visas depend on the purpose of the visit, the duration of the visit and the nature of the visit. A person must be careful when choosing a type of visa as it determines what they can do in China and how long they may be allowed to stay there. The different types of Chinese visas for Indians are;

C Visa- This type of visa is meant for crew members from other countries travelling by air, land or water into China. The visa is also applicable for a family member of a crew member.

D Visa- The D visa is a long-stay visa meant for those people who wish to immigrate to China permanently.

F Visa- This is a short-duration visa meant for foreign nationals who wish to visit China as a tourist, to visit someone for a short period, or any other related reason.

G Visa- Foreign nationals travelling to other countries who need to pass through China and halt there will require a G visa.

J Visa- The J visa is meant strictly for journalists. Foreign journalists who wish to reside in China for over 180 days to cover news will require a J1 visa, while journalists who need to stay in China for less than 180 days need a J2 visa.

L Visa- This is a China tourist visa. Anyone going to China strictly for tourism purposes must have an L visa.

M Visa- If you are going to China for commercial or trade-related activities, you will need an M visa. This is a business visa of sorts. You must apply for this visa in advance as the China business visa processing time from India can be quite long.

Q Visa- This visa is for those who are related to people living in China as permanent residents or citizens. If you wish to be in China for over 180 days, you need a Q1 visa, and if you stay in China for less than 180 days, you need to apply for a Q2 visa.

R Visa- This is a special type of visa allotted to those who are especially skilled in their field or those that have special talents that can be beneficial to China.

S Visa- The S visa is meant for those who have relatives working or studying in China. These people can visit their relatives living in China with the help of this visa. If the duration of the visit is over 180 days, a person requires an S1 visa, and if it is less than 180 days, an S2 visa will suffice.

X Visa- Simply put, an X visa is a student visa. If a person wishes to study for over 180 days in China, they need to apply for an X1 visa, while if they wish to study for less than 180 days, they need to apply for an X2 visa.

Z Visa- The Z visa is meant for those who wish to work in China.

Any person from India who wishes to visit China needs to have a valid visa in place before they can enter the country. People from all countries barring Singapore, Japan and Brunei, need to have a visa before they can enter China. As we have mentioned above, a person from India can apply for a visa for China based on the purpose and duration of their visit there. You can apply for a China tourist visa online and wait to hear back from the Embassy in regards to the date for your interview.

A person should be cautious when applying for a Chinese visa and filling in their application form. If the officials find any discrepancies in your application form and the documents you have submitted, you will not get a visa. You must also remember to apply for your visa in advance since there are no provisions for Indians to get visas on arrival in China. Thus, if you do not have your visa in place, you will not be able to enter China. You must remember that the Chinese government is very strict with those who try to enter the country by unfair means and with those who do not have valid visas. So if you do not have your visa in hand, you must not try to make your way into the country.

When applying for something as important as a visa, it is always better to be safe than sorry. You should apply for your visa at least 30 days before beginning your trip. Regarding tourist visas, the Chinese Embassy usually takes 8-10 days to approve them. But there may be situations, like if you have applied during season time when the Embassy gets a lot of applications or say there is some minor fault in your application where the Embassy may call and ask you to rectify your mistake, when your visa may be delayed. Also, if you are applying for a business visa, the China business visa processing time from India can be a little more than a tourist visa, as the Embassy may scrutinise your documents a little more closely to see if everything is in place. Thus, having extra time in hand when applying for a visa is a must.

The documents that you need to submit to get a Chinese visa for Indians are as follows;

• The correctly filled and signed visa application form

• Your passport, which is valid for at least 6 months from your arrival in China and has at least 2 blank pages

• Round trip tickets

• Your travel itinerary

• Hotel reservations or proof of where you will be staying during your visit to China

• A cover letter explaining the reason for your visit to China and also the places you plan to visit while there

• 2 passport-size photographs having a matte white background and not being more than 3 months old

• Proof of income for the last 6 months to prove that you can sustain yourself while in China

• Travel insurance documents

If you wish to know what the China visa fees for Indians are going to be, then there are a few different categories that you will need to look at. The fees you need to pay will depend upon which category you fall into and what type of visa you need. Please note that these fees are not inclusive of the application fees and the service charges that are applicable as per your needs.

The China visa fees for Indians are

Disclaimer: Visa fee rates are subject to change based on external factors such as immigration laws, additional service charges and currency conversion rates. Please be advised to check current rates from official sources before proceeding with any payment services. *Please note that these charges are subject to change and a person should look for updated rates before planning their trip to China.

When you are travelling abroad, most people feel two things simultaneously. One is extreme excitement at the prospect of taking a break, going somewhere new and trying new things. However, the second feeling is often one of nervousness and fear. People are mostly nervous when stepping out of their comfort zone and trying something new. You could worry about things going wrong or needing help without knowing where you can go for help. The best way to remove these fears from your mind is by getting travelling insurance.

When you have travel insurance, you can rest easy knowing that even if there are situations where you feel a little cornered, you have the support you need. All you have to do is find the right travel insurance plan. Tata AIG’s travelling insurance is often a popular choice with people because of the comprehensive support provided by us. When you have a policy with us, you get baggage cover, Covid-19 cover, emergency evacuation aid, assistance while travelling, and if required, hotel cancellation insurance and flight cancellation insurance, among other things.

Thus, when you have travel insurance with Tata AIG, you can shelve the worries and insecurities you have and go ahead and enjoy your trip with only excitement and enthusiasm.

Not keeping the Covid situation in mind, there are a few situations where your Chinese visa application may be rejected. These reasons include;

• If you are a recognised immigration law offender

• If you do not have all your documents in place

• If the details filled in the application form do not match your documents

• If you do not have your Covid vaccination and PCR tests in place

• If you are thought to have the wrong intentions for seeking entrance into the country

The more things you know about a country, the more you can enjoy what it has to offer you. The same goes for China. If you try to know a few details about the country you are visiting, it can help you in many ways. China is a very interesting place with many fun nuggets of information. Here are a few of them.

• The Forbidden City in Beijing has over 9000 rooms

• Chopsticks were first made around 5000 years ago in China

• There are more skyscrapers in Hongkong than anywhere else in the world

• It is estimated that around 35 million people live in caves in China

• There are about 660 cities in China

• Chinese is one of the only remaining languages that is pictographic

• If you line up all of China’s railway lines, it could go around the world thrice

• Numbers and colours are highly symbolic in China

• The Chinese have been consuming tea for over 300 years

• Silk, kites and football originated from China

We have repeatedly mentioned that you will not run out of things to do and see while in China. If you are in China for a limited time, here are a few things you should not leave without doing or seeing.

• Climb the Great Wall of China

• Volunteer to help out with the Big Pandas in Sechuan

• Visit the Forbidden City in Beijing

• Enjoy the Beijing Zoo

• Go to Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Park

• Feel at peace at the Nanshan Temple

• Learn more about China at the China Folk Culture Village

• Take a walk and enjoy nature at West Lake

• Take a tour around Silk Road

• Cruise around the Li River

Information last updated Sep 23. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.