Visas for China

Visa Office of the Chinese Embassy

2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 110

Washington, DC 20007

Tel:  (202) 338-6688
Fax:  (202) 588-9760
Email:  chnvisa@bellatlantic.net

Office Hours:
10:00am - 12:30pm  and  1:00pm - 3:00pm  Monday – Friday

The Visa Section of the Chinese Embassy handles visa, passport, notarization and authentication applications. You are advised to read the relevant instructions for application before submission.

Procedures for Application

• For visa applications, applicants are required to come to the visa office or entrust a relative or friend or travel/visa agent (no power of attorney is required) to come to the visa office for the application process.
• Mail applications are not acceptable and will be refused. Mail back service is available (see instructions).
• No appointment is required.

Documents to be included with application:

• Your valid & actual passport. The passport must be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the end date of your stay in China, and at least one blank page left in it.
• One completed Visa Application Form (Q1)
• One passport photo (black & white or color is acceptable).

If the visa application form is not filled out completely, correctly and legibly, this can cause a delay in processing or the refusal of the requested visa.

Notes:  An applicant born in China who applies for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport is required to submit his /her Chinese passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa.

 To apply for a Multiple Entry (L) Visa, the applicant shall meet one of the following requirements:
(1) The applicant is the husband/wife, or son/daughter, or parent of a Chinese citizen, who shall submit proof of relationship, e.g. the original and the photocopy of a marriage certificate, a notary certificate of kinship etc., or an invitation letter from his/her family in China; or,
(2) The applicant owns real estate in China, who shall submit the original and a photocopy of the property ownership certificate.

 Date of Visa Issue and Length of stay

Usually, the validity of a Single Entry or Double Entry (L) visa is 90 days from the date of issue, which means the holder of the visa shall enter into China no later than 90 days from the date of issue once for Single Entry/ twice for Double Entry, otherwise the visa is expired and is null and void. The duration of stay of a (L) visa is 30 days, which means the holder of the visa may be stay in China for up to 30 days from the date of entry.

Restrictions

"Any person suffering from a mental disorder, leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious tuberculosis or other such infectious diseases shall not be permitted to enter China."

Visa fee and processing time:  $50

The regular processing time is 4 working days. For express service, additional fees of $30 for 1 working day processing (applications presented before 11:30am may be picked up between 2:30pm-3:00pm on the same day), and $20 for 2-3 working days processing will be charged.

Please pay by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check, Company Check or Cash. Personal checks are not acceptable. Please make the check or money order payable to Chinese Embassy. 

Once you are at the Visa Office:

Step1  Pick up a number before you sit down and wait until your number called.

Step2  When your number called, you can approach the first available window, either window1 or window2 to present application or make inquires.

Step3  Pay fees between 1:00-3:00 pm on the date for pick up. Line up before window 3 and pay the fees (no need to pick up a number).

Step4  Pick up at window 4. Check your visa, passport and document before you leave.

 Mail Back Service

Those applicants for visa, passport, authentication or notarization, who come to the Visa Office personally, may ask the applications be mailed back, should they provide self-addressed pre-paid return envelops.

Requirements for Return Envelope

• A self-addressed pre-paid return envelop with sufficient postage must be included.

• The following return envelops with tracking number/bar code are acceptable: Fedex, Express Mail, etc.

• Meter stamped envelops, and certified or registered return mails are not acceptable.

• The applicant shall fill in his/her name and address as the SENDER on the return envelop instead of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

 Processing Time  The processing time is 5-7 business days. No rush service is available.

Payments

In addition to the application fee, a $5 handling fee per package shall be charged.

Please pay by Money Order, Cashier's Check, or Company Check.

Personal checks and cash are not acceptable.

Please make the check or money order payable to Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate.

All payments may be written in one check or money order.