Overview
Well, it shouldn’t surprise you that going to China requires a lot of preparation and patience. Still, you can achieve this in a week, from the idea to the visa. So, here’s what I did to get a Visa:
Inform yourself on the Visa website
This is the most important and first step, so let’s go through step by step:
- Visit https://www.visaforchina.cn/ , or google Visa for China. This is a website that processes your visa. Select or search your country and click on the city, which is available. There, it can process your visa.
- Every country’s website looks a little bit different, as a side note
- In the middle, you see Step By Step Guidance. Click on Visa
- You are on the Step-by-Step Guide. Answer the following questions and continue!
- You are on Terms and Conditions. It defines a few words, clarifies that you have to tell the truth, they can ask for an interview etc. Just continue.
- You are on Step 1 Prepare Documents. Read below for more information.
Prepare your paperwork!
The following list will just be an overview. A more detailed explanation will follow right afterwards.
The pictures on the left were taken in the Chinese Visa Office.
Remember and pay attention to these details!
- Your full name has to be on it, middle name, second name or whatever.
- You need at least 50% of hotels booked. If you stay 6 weeks, you must have printed out receipts of your hotels for a minimum 3 weeks.
This is the list. Below you will see a more detailed page
- Passport
- A photocopy of the passport’s data page and the photo page (on one A4-Sized paper)
- Visa Application Form
- Photo
- Declaration & GDPR Terms and Conditions: Please download and sign our separate Declaration & Terms and Conditions.
- Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)
- Photocopy of previous Chinese visas
- Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship).
- Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation (hotel booking confirmation of each day, and also need guest’s name on it), etc.
- If you are invited by a relevant unit or individual in China, you need to provide an invitation letter and a hard copy of the inviter’s identity card (front side and back side).
Let’s begin this and get you to China
Passport
Take with you your passport, valid for at least 6 months. They are going to take it to glue the visa in.
A photocopy of the passport’s data page and the photo page (on one A4-Sized paper)
Make the necessary copies. You need the page where your picture, name and so on is. Then, also copy the other pages, if you have stamps or a Visa, just to be sure.
They like that you give them the passport on A4, so the pages are bigger (zoomed in) than the passport.
Remember to also copy the old passport(s), if your new passport has been made during or after 2018. If you don’t have one, use the Personal Statement in the picture above or my version below.
Personal Statement – Passport Issuance Date
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing this personal statement to provide an explanation regarding the issuance date of my passport, as it relates to my current application for a Chinese tourist visa.
I, _______________________, would like to clarify that I do not have my old passport. The reason for this is that I ___________________________
I assure you that I am a responsible and law-abiding individual who understands the significance of adhering to all rules and regulations governing travel and visa requirements. As such, I commit to abiding by all applicable laws during my stay in China and ensuring that I comply with the terms and conditions of the tourist visa, if granted.
Enclosed with this letter, you will find all the necessary documents supporting my visa application, including a completed visa application form, valid travel itinerary and proof of accommodation. I have made every effort to provide accurate and complete information to facilitate the visa process.
I kindly request the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China to consider my application for a tourist visa and grant me the opportunity to visit your beautiful country.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you require any additional information or documentation, please do not hesitate to contact me at the provided contact details.
Yours sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Visa Application Form
The application form is long and requires patience, but it is easy to understand and to fill out! There are several sections and generally you shouldn’t have questions, and if you do, the Visa-website has a Q&A.
How to get to the Application Form
- Go back to the main page, and in the box Quick Access
- On this page, in the China Visa Applicant box, you have to click on New Application Form
- Agree at the bottom of the page to the terms of service, select the location (city) of the Application Center, e.g Zurich and click on Start a new application form
- A new box appears below, click on Start a new application form
The Chinese Visa application procedure
These are the different sections. I will cover all of them, even though it is easy to understand. In addition, I will write some tips or clarifications.
- Section 1 – Personal Information
- Section 2 – Application Information
- Section 3 – Work Information
- Section 4 – Education
- Section 5 – Family Information
- Section 6 – Travel Information
- Section 7 – Travel Information in the Past
- Section 8 – Other Information
- Section 9 – Mailing information
- Section 10 – Declaration / Review
- Print Completed Application Form
Here is some information I think is important:
All the information is needed
They want to know everything from you, as with other visa applications from other countries. If you have health problems, if you went to the military, how much you earn, who your employer is, your family etc.
Pay attention to the arrival date
They ask when you will arrive in China. This may be 1-2 days after you have departed from your airport, so beware of that and check when the plane arrives, and what the date is.
Multiple entries
1-2 entries are possible, just write it in the application. More than that, you would need good reasons why. In the end, it always depends on if the officer agrees or not, so better ask personally when you’re there. You can change this also then, when you apply personally.
Hotel, Flight, Train
So I went to a host, so I didn’t need a hotel, but if you stay only there, remember to book at least 50% of your hotels. Ex: You stay in Beijing for 1 week (7 days), so you need to have already booked at least 4 days in a hotel. Then, you need to print out the flight booking. Lastly, I didn’t book any trains and they didn’t ask.
Section 1 – Personal Information
- Remember to write your full name and to upload a Photo, that follows the requirements, as you can see in the picture. Note that when at the Visa Center, you can always give a different picture (2x same pictures).
Section 2 – Application Information
Here, you choose your Chinese Visa. As a Tourist, you choose (L) Tourism. If you are in a Group, then you should ask your agent why he isn’t doing this visa for you.
Then, you can choose if you want the visa faster or take the normal duration. Generally, just go with Normal.
Finally, you have to write for how many months the visa is valid, and then how many days you want to stay in China. For the first information, I would say 3 months are okay. Then, 90 days are the maximum you can stay as a tourist. In this case, you will have only a single entry. However, if you want to have a Visa valid for 6 months, and you stay 2x 1 month, you can ask for double entry. As always, it depends on the officer.
Section 3 – Work Information
Like in your CV, write every information about your jobs in the last 5 years, if you have some.
Section 4 – Education
Write your highest degree.
Section 5 – Family Information
Basically, write all the information about your family.
Section 6 – Travel Information
Here, you need to say when and where you will go in China. Then, the flight details, who pays for this trip, emergency contact etc.
Section 7 – Travel Information in the Past
Which countries you visited in the last 12 months, if you were in China before, and if you have other visas.
Section 8 – Other Information
Here it’s getting interesting: They ask if you have a criminal record, if you have been refused a visa, if you were in the military, have experience with firearms etc. Just be truthful. I also was in the military, as are a lot of people in Switzerland, and it doesn’t impact your Visa.
Section 9 – Mailing information
A few details to fill out, nothing special.
Section 10 – Declaration / Review
Check if everything is fine and then send it.
Print Completed Application Form
Now here is the important part: Download the file that allows you to store your data for the next time. Every time you do a visa, you have to bring again all the documents.
Photo
- Use these normal photo-machines that are generally around the train station or so. Take them with you and cut one out. Scan this picture to use it for the visa application form. Check the guidelines, as in the picture above.
- I took a picture with my phone, edited the picture a little bit and printed it out on normal paper. It was with a white background and the norms were fulfilled. The person at the visa center wasn’t happy about it, but she made an exemption for this time. Next time I must use a professional picture.
Declaration & GDPR Terms and Conditions: Please download and sign our separate Declaration & Terms and Conditions.
- You find this on the Visa for China Website. Go to Downloads and there you should see Declaration & GDPR Terms and Conditions. Print it out and sign it.
The rest
- Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)
- In simple terms: Provide proof that you are legally allowed to live in the country outside your country of citizenship.
- Photocopy of previous Chinese visas. If you have one…
- Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship). If you have one…
- Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation (hotel booking confirmation of each day, and also need guest’s name on it), etc.
If you are invited by a relevant unit or individual in China, you need to provide an invitation letter and a hard copy of the inviter’s identity card (front side and back side).
You will have to write the same information from the application in this invitation letter, like how long you will stay, where, your name etc.
Remember the dates: If your host is far away from your airport, you can’t arrive at the airport and be at your host the same day. So, your entry to the country is not the same as when you will be at your host, so write a few days later. Maybe you arrive on Monday at Beijing, but with the train or else you arrive at your host a day later.
So: In your application you write the date of arrival is Monday, and on the Invitation letter you write Tuesday (for example).
Congratulations, you did it. Now go get this Visa! Remember that you have to make an apointment.
So, this is what I did. A parent of my girlfriend had to fill out and/or send me the following documents (electronically).
- Copy of ID, both sides
- Invitation letter (PDF is below)
- A document or letter certifying that the parent lives in his house, like an energy bill or else.
