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CHINA - BUSINESS VISA
The application processThis page deals with the application process in the UK for a Chinese business visa. Please read carefully through the entire page as additional documents may be required from you depending on your circumstances.Applicants who are aged between 14 to 70 inclusive applying for Chinese visas are required to give fingerprints and photo take at the Visa Application Centres.
IMPORTANT NEW NOTICE
According to the working arrangement, the Chinese Embassy in the UK will extend the exemption of fingerprints collection for eligible applicants applying for single or double entry business, tourist, family visit, transit, or crew visas until 31 December 2024.
In order to further promote personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, China has decided to expand the scope of visa-free countries and implement a pilot visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. From March 14 to November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from the above countries can enter China without a visa if they come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. People from the above-mentioned countries who do not meet the conditions for visa exemption still need to apply for a visa before entering China.
Media Related Applicants
All applicants that work for a media company are required to provide an employer letter stating the job position and the purpose of applicants trip to China, The letter must be on company letter headed paper. Also a self declaration to confirm the same (their job title and must mention that the trip is purely for tourism) is required.
Exemption from express service
Former middle east nationals, such as Pakistan, Libya, Turkey etc. who apply for a China visa, need to provide either their original passport or ID card of the country of their origin or a statement explaining they do not hold this any longer. You will also need to provide this, when applying for the normal service. If you are uncertain if your country of origin will affect your application please contact us for assistance.
How To Make An Application
1. Download the visa form
Download the visa application form from this web page. The form can be downloaded by clicking here. You can then save it to your computer.
Download Application2. Fill out form by hand
Print out and begin filling in the form with a black pen. If you have any questions regarding the form, please call us for advice free of charge. We are more than happy to help you.
3. Send it to us
Send the application and your passport to us along with any additional documents mentioned on the form. It is best to post it using a secure service such as Royal Mail Special Delivery or another courier company.
What To Include In An Application
VISA24 -
1. A completed Chinese Visa Application Form
If you are unable to download our application call us and we will send you one by mail. The application may be filled out by hand. Please ensure the signature is identical to the one on your passport.
2. One recent, quality, passport sized photograph
The photo should be (45mm x 35mm) taken against a white background (the background must be white!). If you cannot obtain a photo yourself then we can print this for you from a digital file.
3. Your valid original passport(s)
It must be valid for at least the next 6 months when you apply for the visa, with at least two blank pages remaining. The passport should be in acceptable condition. If not, there is a chance your application will be rejected.
4. A Business Invitation Letter
This must be a formal, signed letter on the company's letter headed paper. Fortunately, only a copy is required, so you can have a scanned version emailed to you then print it out and include it with the application. However ensure that the copy is decent quality.
5. Proof of Stay in China
Please include photocopies of both your passport and any previous Chinese visa you have had. If you have never been granted a Chinese visa before then you do not need to include anything else.
6. Any Additional Documentation
You may need to send some additional documentation under certain circumstances. Please check below at the additional documents section to find out if you need to include anything else. After that you are ready to submit the application.
CHINA BUSINESS INVITATION
Copy of invitation from China
IMPORTANT : The person signing the letter must add their full name and position in the company. Name and signature must match the one they have in their passport, (A common mistake is if the inviter writes their English names when they send the letters to EU The embassy no longer accepts this. The name must be exactly like on their passports.)
(If the Embassy is in doubt regarding the name or the signature, they will return the passport without visa and will request a passport copy of the person that signed the invitation letter. To avoid any delays you may ask them to provide the passport copy of the main page and the signature page)
PHOTOCOPIES OF PASSPORT & VISA
When sending us your application, please ensure to include photocopies of the two following items :
Additional Documents You May Need To Include
- All self employed applicants must write their job title and business nature at section 1.5 where it says "Other (please specify) on the application form. (Media related applicants may get their visas restricted to single or double entry).
- All applicants that work for a media company must provide a letter from the employer to state the applicants job title, must confirm the purpose of the trip, letter must be on company letter headed paper. Also a self declaration is required from the applicant explaining the same.
- All EU passport holders applying for a Chinese visa are now required to provide bank statements & a formal employment letter. or if you have a UK resident card will need to sent the original card and none of the above will be required. For most of EU passport holders there is no express service or multiple entry visa available, only single or double entry visa. For EU members, who study or work in the UK without relevant visa or permit, they have to provide a Letter of Employment or Study saying they are working or studying in UK. Contact details of the employer/school is required. If unemployed, they have to provide a Letter of Employment or study from their spouse, who has been working or studying here. Contact details of the employer/school is required. A Copy is ok.
- All non EU passport holders are required to provide a copy of their UK visa or if they hold a resident card must sent in the original card and a copy. There is no express service for most of non EU passport holders and no multiple entry visa available.
- French passport holders are required to provide ORIGINAL business invitation letter. Either from the Chinese Foreign Ministry or from the Duly Authorised Unit (bearing its seal) or from a trading partner or a company in China (providing also the envelope that the letter was sent to applicant) They must provide a written itinerary day by day of their planned trip in China and their flight and hotel bookings.
- Applications for those who are under 18 years old should be signed by both parents or their guardians on the form Section 5. Also they are advised to provide birth certificate (original and copy), original Chinese passports or travel documents (original and copy if applicable), passports of both parents (original and copy of information page and signature page) or relevant legal documents for the guardians (original and copy) plus passport of the guardians (original and copy of information page and signature page).
- If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport held and a photocopy of it’s data page. If you have obtained Chinese visas before and apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should provide original previous passport(s) and present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide the official document of name change.
- Make sure you chose express service, and we receive it before 10:00 on a working day.
- Please tick on Others (please specify) on section 2.2 on the form and write 24 months please
CHINA - BUSINESS VISA - PRICES [ 5 working days service ]
Other Passports
Single Entry Business Visa, Valid for 3 Months
UK-USA & Canada passports
Multiple Entry Business Visa, Valid up to 24 Months
Other Passports
Double Entry Business Visa, Valid for 6 Months
Other Passports
Multiple Entry Business Visa, Valid for 6 Months
Other Passports
Multiple Entry Business Visa, Valid for 12 Months
CHINA - BUSINESS VISA - PRICES [ 3 working days service ]
Other Passports
Single Entry Business Visa, Valid for 3 Months
UK-USA & Canada passports
Single, Double, Multiple Entry Business Visa, Valid up to 24 Months
Other Passports
Double Entry Business Visa, Valid for 6 Months
Other Passports
Multiple Entry Business Visa, Valid for 6 Months
Other Passports
Mutliple Entry Business Visa, Valid for 12 Months
NOTE : If it is important for you that the application begins processing at the embassy the day we receive it. Then we need to recieve the application between 9.00am and 10.00am on a working day. If we receive the application outside of this window then the application can not be submitted until the next working day.
PHOTOGRAPH
You will need one photograph
Please supply one photograph with your application. It does not need to be affixed to the application, but just left loose in the envelope along with the rest of documentation.
Dimensions
Your photograph needs to be exactly 45x35mm. This is the standard passport photograph size and can be obtaining from the majority of the photo booths in the country.
Recent
The photo needs to have taken with the last 3 months. If you use the same photograph that is in your passport then your application would not be accepted.
The photo-print should be clear and with a continuous tone and printed on proper photographic paper.
YOUR PASSPORT
Is it acceptable?
The embassy has strict guidelines regarding what they consider to be an acceptable passport. If they deem it unacceptable the application will be aborted and you may lose your application fee.
It should also meet the following conditions:
Valid from/to 6 months
The passport should be valid for at least another 6 months. If it is due to expire before then, you will need to get a new passport. Additionally, if the passport was issued less than 6 months ago, you will need to include your previous passport with the application.
Free pages
The passport needs to have two completely free pages facing each other in order for the visa to be stamped in. If you do not have two pages side by side, then you will need to get a new passport.
Country : UK passport
You must hold a valid UK passport in order to apply under the standard conditions. If you hold another type of passport, please see the additional documentation section on this page to find out what else you need to include.
PAYMENT METHODS -
There are three different ways you can pay for your visa application as listed below. Please note that we submit your application as soon as we receive it so whichever payment method you choose it will not have an impact on the application process. There may be a delay in emailing the invoice to you but this doesn't impact on the delivery time.
POSTING THE APPLICATION
Where to post it?
When you have gathered all of the required documents together you can send the application to us by any method you wish. We recommend using Royal Mail’s special delivery services or if you prefer another courier service that’s fine too. If you live close by, you might consider bringing it in to our offices in person. Regardless of the method, if we receive the application before 9.20am on a week day, we can begin processing the same day. You should send the complete visa application package to :
China Visa 24 25 Cabot SquareLondon E14 4QA
GETTING YOUR VISA BACK
There are three different ways to receive your passport and visa when the process is complete. You can select the option on the order form that you download and print out from this web page. The options are:
FAQ
- Cash : You can pay by cash upon submission or collection of your passport. You can also send us the cash payment with your application, we would then recommend sending this via recorded mail.
- Cheque: You can include a cheque or postal order with the application making it payable to VISA 24.
- Bank Transfer: You or your company can pay by bank transfer by choosing “Bank Transfer” on the payment options on our order form. You will then receive an email from us with our bank details and an itemised invoice.
- If we receive your application by 9.45 then it will be submitted the same day.
- This would then be the first processing day in the process.
- If you are sending your package with Royal Mail, you must use the 9am delivery option for the application to go in the same day.
- This is dependent on your choice of visa. Single Entry Indian visas are valid for entry within 3 months from the date the visa issued.
- Double Entry Visas allow you to enter twice within 6 months whilst Multiple Entry Visas are valid for either 6 months or 12 -24 months starting from the date it was issued.
- Single Entry Visa means that you are allowed to enter the country once and Multiple Entry Visa means you can enter the country multiple times from the date your visa starts until the date your visa expires.
- You will need to send us a valid passport.
- The Indian visa will be applied to your passport, so please make sure you have 2 free pages on your passport before you apply.
- You are advised to send your application by a secure method such as Special Delivery or courier.
- For urgent service, you must get your passport to us before 9:00 am using Royal Mail 9:00 am Special Delivery, courier of your choice, or you can drop off your application in person.
- We are unable to submit your application to the Embassy after 10:00 am.
- You will find the delivery options on the order form.
- You can either collect it from our offices or have a courier/friend pick it up.
- This is a total of the processing time and the delivery time combined.
- If you use normal turnaround you should expect your passport back within a week and a half.
- If you travel in less than 14 days, please use the Express Service.
- Yes, it is all inclusive, there are no extra costs except those ones stated on our website and order form.
- Our Prices include the Embassy Fee, Service Fee and VAT.
- However you will need to pay for the delivery option of your choice.
- If you want your passport returned to you sent by post, please see our order form for more options.
- Send us an email at info@visa24.co.uk. Include your postal address or fax number in your request and we will send you the form.
- Alternatively call us free of charge on 08000845037 Mon-Fri 9am – 5.30pm.
- If you should cancel your application after it has been submitted, it can take up to 3-4 days for the embassy to release it.
- Please note that Visa24 will not charge a service fee for a cancelled application, however fees charged by the Embassy will still apply.
- If you have problems with the online visa application form you can download and fill the PDF visa application form provided.
- The Indian visa is valid from the day it is granted.
- If one or both of your parents are Indian nationals, then you can obtain the long term visa.
- This will require supplying a copy of your birth certificate and a copy of the Indian passport of your parent.
- This is the only way to obtain a long term visa if you have a parent who is an Indian national.
NOTE
Visa24 is not affiliated with the government of China. If you want to apply for a visa directly with the Chinese Embassy, you can make an appointment to go in person.
Click here for the Chinese Embassy website in the United Kingdom.
COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
S ince we receive many questions about getting a business visa for China, we have put together this informal guide about our Chinese visa agency in London. Traditionally, you have had to visit the Chinese Embassy to start the application process for your China business visa. This meant making an appointment first, visiting the embassy at least two times, filling out the visa form, and spending several hours traveling and waiting in line, resulting in lost income due to missing 2 days from work.
A s air travel prices came down, the popularity of this great country has grown and demand for a business visa to china has increased a lot but there was still only one place to get it in the United Kingdom. This has further increased the waiting time and has put the pressure on officials to come up with an alternative solution. A different method for getting a visa for Chinese visa was implemented.
T hey have allowed Chinese visa agencies like Visa 24 to file the paperwork instead of the person who is traveling. Now all you need to do is to download and fill out an application for your business visa for China, send in the form along with your passport, photograph, and any additional documents – you can find the exact document required higher on this page – pay a small service fee on top of the embassy fee and you are all set. Instead of having just one Chinese visa office where you have to turn up physically, you can now save all the time used to be lost on travel and also save your lost revenue from work.
S top reading all the confusing information online about how to get a China business visa and let us do the work for you. We will review all the paperwork before submitting and ensure that your application process will be smooth and you won’t lose precious time due to missing details. Once your visa is ready, we will send it to you or notify you that it is ready to be picked up in our Chinese visa agency in London, depending on which method you have chosen for getting your passport back.