Notice on Launching the China Online Visa Processing System

Dear Applicants,

China Online Visa Processing System will be officially launched by the Consulate-General OF the People's Republic of China in Edinburgh on March 31, 2025. Applicants could enjoy convenience of filling out the form and uploading materials online.  After passing the online review, you can then proceed to the visa center to submit your materials (applicants for diplomatic, official, courtesy, and YES project visas should still submit their applications at the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in the UK).

To ensure a smooth system upgrade, the Visa Center will conduct a system upgrade on March 28. After the upgrade, all forms filled out on the existing website will no longer be usable. Therefore, applicants who have already filled out forms on the current website are requested to submit their materials to the Visa Center by March 28 (including March 28).

Additionally, during the system upgrade period (from 17:00 on March 27 to 09:00 on March 30), it is recommended to suspend filling out forms to avoid information loss.

After the launch of the online visa application, the visa application process will be as follows:

1. Prepare Visa Application Materials

Visa application materials include basic materials and other supporting documents.

2. Fill Out the "Visa Application Form" Online and Upload Application Materials

Please log in to the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (hereinafter referred to as the "Visa Application Center") at www.visaforchina.cn, find the corresponding Visa Application Center, register, and log in. Follow the prompts to fill out the "Visa Application Form" online, upload the required materials, and submit them. Wait for the initial review to pass. All applicants (excluding applicants for visas to Hong Kong and Macau, China) must use this website to fill out the application form and complete the upload of application materials.

Special Reminder:

After submitting the application, the embassy, consulate, or Visa Application Center may request additional materials at any time. Please check the "Application Progress Inquiry" section to stay updated on the progress of your application.

3.Submit Visa Application Materials and Pay Fees at the Visa Application Center

(1) If the application status is "Passport to be Submitted" and you have received a confirmation email, the applicant can bring the printed "Visa Application Receipt" to the Visa Application Center to submit the visa application materials during working hours from 09:00 to 15:00.

(2) Submit the following materials at the Visa Application Center:

①Original passport;

②One photo (taken within the last 6 months, without a hat, in color, small 2-inch size 48mm×33mm);

③Original of a previous Chinese passport (if you were previously a Chinese national and are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time);

④ Other supporting materials as required.

(3) Applicants are required to have their ten fingerprints collected at the Visa Application Center. The following visa applicants are exempt from fingerprint collection:

① under 14 years old or over 70 years old;

② heads of state or government and their accompanying family members;

③ qualified for a Chinese diplomatic visa, official visa, or courtesy visa (unless the reciprocity principle otherwise requires);

④ members of the staff of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China and their spouses, parents, and minor children;

⑤Applicants for Chinese visas at the same Embassy/Consulate of China with the same passports and with fingerprints already taken within the past 5 years （only when your fingerprints were taken after the 1^st of November 2023）;

⑥ missing all ten fingers or unable to provide any of the ten fingerprints.

The Embassy solemnly reminds applicants that they must personally appear to provide fingerprints. If it is discovered that someone else is impersonating the applicant to provide fingerprints, the individual will be denied entry into China and will bear the corresponding consequences.

(4) When submitting the application materials, all fees must be paid, including the visa fee and visa service fee.

4.Collect the Visa

Applicants can collect their visas at the Visa Application Center during the designated collection time by presenting the pickup form issued at the time of application submission.

Edinburgh Chinese Visa Application Service Center 

                                                                                              March 18, 2025

Please be aware of phone scams!
Please note that we do not ask for any payment by phone or online. All the payment regarding your visa application should be done when you are in the visa centre.
If you think you've been scammed and concern about your Chinese visa application, please write to us at edinburghcentre@visaforchina.org.
If you think you've fallen victim, please report to the police and contact your bank immediately.