How Long Does It Take To Get A Chinese Visa

Currently, foreigners are required to submit an application for a Chinese visa before leaving the country, and some foreigners can apply for a Chinese visa upon entry, as long as they meet certain requirements for a Chinese port visa. So,How long does it take to get a visa to China?

Except in special cases, applicants can obtain a Chinese visa after 1-4 working days, or even the same day you submit your documents. The exact processing time depends on which service provider you choose. Below we describe a few different scenarios to help you get a clearer picture of how long it takes to process a Chinese visa.

Applicants should first prepare a valid passport valid for 6 months or more, a completed China visa application form, and attach photos and other supporting documents. You can then submit your application directly to the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or through an approved China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC). After that, you will wait for the Chinese Embassy and Consulate to process your application. Normally, a normal application takes 4 working days if all materials meet the requirements. Shipping and return times are not included. Usually, so you can get your passport and Chinese visa (if there is proof) as soon as 4-5 working days after you submit your documents.

In these cases, your Chinese visa application may take longer to process: 1.) if the Chinese embassy or consulate official requests additional materials or an interview; 2. it takes about 10 working days to mail the application (for Australians); 3. if you use CVASC's return mail service, it will take a few more days.

China Visa Expedited Processing Time: Express and Urgent Service

In addition to regular services, applicants can use express services or rush services to expedite visa application times. If you have an emergency, or want to get your China visa quickly, you can choose this type of emergency service for an additional fee (including the Embassy's visa fee and the China Visa Center's service fee). Please note that the emergency request service is only available in extreme emergency situations approved by some national and Chinese consulates.

Courier service: 2~3 working days, available for pickup on the 3rd or 4th working day.

Urgent service: 1 working day and can be picked up on the same or next working day.

U.S. passport holders can obtain a same-day China visa by submitting an application to the Visa Section of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General before 12:00 p.m. and being successfully approved. Other users of the expedited service will receive it on the next working day.

Courier service is not available for mailing China visa applications, and Hong Kong and Macau visa applications will be forwarded to the local immigration department.

What is the right/optimal time to submit a visa application?

Since Chinese visas have a fixed validity period after issuance ("pre-entry"), applying too early can result in wasted time or expired stays. Therefore, it is recommended that you submit your visa application before you leave the country, i.e. about 1 month before your planned departure date.

When and how do I get my passport and visa to return home?

When you receive a notification from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate, or see your application accepted online, you can take the pick-up slip and collect your passport, visa, or documents in person, or you can ask another person or service to help you collect them.

How long does it take to renew or extend a Chinese visa?

If you want to extend your stay in China, or apply for a new type of visa, you need to apply for a Chinese visa extension/renewal from the local Public Security Bureau (county level or above) 7 days before the expiry date. They will consider whether to extend/renew the Chinese visa within 7 working days (from the date of submission).