China has beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural history, which attracts many citizens from different countries. If you have a valid UK passport and want to visit China for business or work, you must apply for a China visa. If you don’t know how to obtain a China visa, in this article, we will offer you some details about how to apply for China visa application for UK passport holders.
Do UK citizens require a visa for China?
Yes. UK citizens are required to apply for a visa when traveling to China, whether they are visiting China for any reason, such as work, study or travel. Therefore, there are different visa types that you need to apply for from the Chinese Embassy.
Different types of Chinese visas
There are many types of Chinese visas available for your visit. Here you can apply for a visa based on your needs.
Tourist Visa
You can obtain this visa if you are visiting for travel or if you want to visit an immediate family member. When you apply for a tourist visa, you must provide proof of hotel reservations and a personal invitation letter stating the visit and exit dates if you visit a family member. This visa allows you to enter China multiple times with a maximum validity of 2 years.
Business Visa
If you are visiting China for business hours and meetings, you will be required to complete business visa applications. In addition, you must provide your business invitation letter from the organization with all the details of yourself and the reason for your visit. This visa allows you to enter China for multiple entries with a maximum validity of 2 years and a maximum stay of 90 days per visit.
Group E-Visa
If a group of two or more foreigners wants to visit China, they can apply for a Group E visa. It requires you to provide details of your hotel reservation, flight itinerary, etc. They need to enter or leave China at the same time. This visa only allows you to enter China for up to one month only.
Crew Visa
If you are a crew member of an airline or shipping company, you can apply for this visa with your crew letter, crew ID.
Student Visa
If you want to study in China, you can apply for a student visa. When preparing the application, you will need a letter of admission to any educational institution in China, a supplementary form, and proof of status. This student visa allows you to enter China multiple times within 2 years.
Work Visa
If you have a job in China, you can apply for a work visa. During the application process, you must submit a Foreign Affairs Permit, an invitation letter and a notification letter. This visa allows you to enter China several times with a validity of 2 years.
Journalist Visa
If you want to travel to China, you can apply for this visa. It requires you to present a notification form for journalists issued by the Chinese authorities. This visa is valid for 2 years.
China visa requirements for UK citizens
When applying for a visa to China, you must prepare the necessary documents. Here are the list of requirements for a China visa.
- Your original passport with blank visa pages of at least six months validity, and a photocopy of the bio-data page.
- A completed Visa Application Form
- A recently taken passport photo in colour against a light background.
- Original and photocopy proof of legal residence, residence, employment or study in the UK.
- Original and copy of Chinese passport or previous Chinese visa if you have Chinese nationality.
- The official proof of name change, if the applicant’s name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one.
- The visa application fee.
These are the basic required documents that you need to submit during the visa application. There is other required information according to the visa types that you apply for.
How to apply for China visa from UK
After you have prepared all the necessary documents, you can apply for a China visa immediately. However, there are different ways available, such as online or in person, depending on the applicant’s age. If you are 14 to 70 years old, you must apply for a visa in person at a visa application centre. If you are not in this age range, you can only apply online.
in person
In the United Kingdom, branches of the China Visa Application Centre are located in London, Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh. If you are between the ages of 14 and 70, you must follow the steps below and apply for a visa at CVASC.
- Applicants are required to visit the CVASC website and select the country and city.
- You must choose the visa you wish to apply for.
- Then you can create an account and fill out the online application form.
- You also need to pay the application fee according to the visa service you choose, such as regular or express service.
- Then you need to make an appointment on the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). You can choose the nearest visa application centre and the available time slot.
- On the date of the appointment, you need to visit the submit applications in person with all the required documents and have your biometric information collected.
- After that, you can pick up your visa after a few days if your application is approved.
Online
If you are a child under the age of 14 or an adult over the age of 70, you are not required to go to CVASC for biometric information collection. Just follow the steps above and complete the online application.
- You need to visit the CVASC website, select the country and city and choose the visa you wish to apply for.
- Then you can fill in the online application form and choose the visa service.
- You also are required to pay for the application fee.
- Then you just can wait for picking up the China visa collection on the scheduled day.
If you choose the mail service, you need to fill the Payment Authorization Form which can be downloaded from Center’s web and pay the postal fee. Or you can come back to the visa application center to pick your visa in person, if you need it urgently.
How much is a China visa for UK citizens?
After you have submitted the Edinburgh China visa application, you must pay the application fee. Visa fees will differ from the services you choose. Here you can check the chart of the visa fees below.
| Types | Regular | Express | Urgent |
| Other types | 130 | 161 | 182 |
| 5-year Multiple Entries | 194 | 225 | 246 |
| 10-year Multiple Entries | 257 | 288 | 309 |
How long does it take to process Chinese visa
After the applicants have submitted the electronic visa application form and submitted the application documents and biometric information to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center, the officers will process your Chinese visa as soon as possible. The application process time varies by service. You can collect the visa on the fourth working day if you choose the regular service. However, the visa will be ready for collection on the third working day, if you choose the express service.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to get a visa for China?
If you want to obtain a China visa urgently, you can choose the expedited processing service, which helps you get the visa within 3 days. Of course, you also need to pay for the expensive service fee. If possible, you can pick up the visa in person at the visa center, as it will take more time to receive the mailed visa.
Can I submit a China visa application without an appointment?
Yes. It will depend on the age of the applicants. If you are under the age of 14 or over 75 , you do not need to make an appointment to have your biometric information collected. So you just have to wait for the visa collection at the centers or in the mail after you have submitted the application online.
Do UK BRP holders need a visa for China
Yes. UK BRP holders must apply for a China visa when they wish to visit China. The application process is the same as described above. The UK BRP holders are required to show the necessary documents to obtain the China visa.
Conclusion
It is easy for you to complete the China visa application UK if you have prepared all the necessary documents. In addition, you can choose the type of visa you want to apply for, such as regular or express service according to your needs. We hope this article can help you get your China visa quickly. Have a safe trip to China.
Erin Lo