You should make your application well in advance of the planned travel date. The suggested period is one or two months in advance, but no earlier than THREE months.

Application by post takes longer time than applications submitted at the Visa Centre, around two to three weeks.

The express or rush service facility is not available for a postal application. Please always bear in mind that the processing time of a postal application begins when the Visa Centre receives all the required documents in support of the application to the time your passport is ready to be posted back to you. Any time that might elapse while the Visa Centre is waiting for any supplementary documents it might require is not included in the processing time. In addition, you should be aware that the processing time might be longer than normal in certain circumstances.

3. How should I post my application to the Visa Centre?

It is suggested that you use Australia Post Express Post to deliver your application. The Visa Centre is not liable for any loss or damage of your passport and/or your documents in post. Please make note of the tracking number of your package so that you can check its status from the Australia Post website.

Please fill out <Mail application check list>, <Post back service application form> and include it in your application package posted to the Centre and make sure that you have included all the required documents (please check <Visa Category> to view the material list) before posting your application as the absence of any one of them may delay the process.

It is important to make sure that the Visa Centre staff can reach you through the contact information such as mobile number, email address which you give in the application. The Visa Centre staff will contact you in case it is necessary.

4. What will happen if I do not include all required documents?

The Visa Centre staff will contact you and inform you when you fail to provide all required documents or when the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General requires you to supply more documents. Your application will be held during this waiting period when you provide more documents. The time that elapses during this process is not included in the processing time of postal application.

In case you fail to provide all required documents, or the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General requires you to supply additional documentation, and the Visa Centre cannot get in touch with you, your documents will be posted back to you after a maximum waiting period of 10 working days with a postage charge.

5. Can I visit the Visa Centre to collect my postal application?

Once you post your application to the Visa Centre, it will be handled as a postal application. Your passport will be posted back to you; you cannot collect your passport by visiting the Visa Centre.

6. How do I pay if I apply through postal application?

Please fill in the <Payment Authorization Form> and include it in your application package posted to the Centre.

A receipt will be included in the passport package posted back to you.

7. How to get my passport back?

You are kindly requested to provide a prepaid self-addressed envelope in the package that you post to the Visa Centre containing your application. 

8. How to track the returning package with my passport?

It is suggested that you make note of the tracking number of your prepaid self-addressed envelope, so that you can track the returning package. You can track your package with the postal service provider.

In case your returning package is delayed or is lost, the Visa Centre will provide assistance to help you to track it with the postal service provider. However, the Visa Centre is not liable for any delay, loss or damage of your passport and/or your documents during transit.

9. What should I do when I receive my passport?

As soon as you receive the passport, please carefully CHECK the particulars on your visa, such as your name, birth date, passport number, validity, number of entries, and duration of stay. Let the Visa Centre staff know immediately if there is any problem.