1. Please get the following documents ready:

(1) Passport: Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least two blank visa pages. If you are a dual national or multi-national, you are requested to provide the original valid passports or ID card in your possession. Additionally, you may be also required to provide your previous passport(s) in support of your application.

(2) Photo:  You need to upload a recently taken standard photo with white background when you fill in the application form online. If you cannot successfully upload the photo, you may upload a photo for 3 times to continue with your form, in this case, please bring a qualified physical photo when you attend the visa centre.

(3) Proof of legal status (applicable for those who are not UK citizen):  You must provide the original valid certificates of residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal stay provided by the relevant UK authorities.

(4) Previous Chinese visas

If you have obtained  Chinese visas before, please provide them. (If your last Chinese visa is on previous passport, please provide the previous passport information page and Chinese visas). If you are applying for a 5/10 years visa, please provide all the previous Chinese visas accordingly.

(5) Previous Chinese passport (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, please provide the original latest Chinese passport, the Indefinite Leave to Remain UK visa and the Naturalization paper. (If your personal information on the current passport differs from that on the Chinese passport, you must provide an FCDO authenticated document of the change).

(6) Applicants under 18 years old, please provide 1) Consent letter from both parents with signatures. 2) Passport information pages or valid ID of both parents. 3) Birth certificate (the certificate should include parents information in English or Chinese) 4) If parent has sole responsibility, please provide relevant official documents and personal statement accordingly. If any personal information does not match with the documents provided (such as a name change),  the official changing proof documents will be needed.

Overseas Chinese origin who are under 18 years old applying Chinese visa for the first time also need to provide extra documents including the parents' passports and parents' UK visa or Indefinite Leave to Remain proof when the applicant was born. 

2. Supporting Document

For family reunion, the following documents are required:
(1) An invitation letter provided by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit to live in China.  The invitation letter should contain:
a) Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.);
b) Information regarding the visit (incl. purpose of visit, intended arrival date, intended place(s) to stay,intended duration of stay, relationship between the applicant and the inviting party, and details of any financial support to be provided during the stay in China);
c) Information of the inviting party (incl. name, contact telephone number, address, signature of individual).

(2) Photocopy of Chinese IDs or foreign passports and permanent residence permits provided by the  inviting party.
 

(3) Original and photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members (spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law) between the applicants and inviting parties.
 

For foster care, the following documents are required:
(1) Original and photocopy of the natural parents’ or guardians’ passports, as well as the notarized and authenticated certification showing the relationship between parents or guardians and children.
(2) Foster entrusted notarization issued by Chinese Embassies/Consulates General in foreign countries or Foster Care Power of Attorney notarized and authenticated in the country of residence or in China;
(3) A letter agreeing to foster care issued by the trustee living in China who has agreed to provide foster care services and photocopy of the ID of the trustee.
(4) A photocopy of the certificate indicating the parent(s) resided abroad , providing that either or both parents of the child are Chinese citizens.

We kindly remind you that:
Holders of a Q1-Visa must apply for a residence permit from the immigration department of the local public security authority in the place intended to stay within 30 days of entry to China.

3. Special notes

(1) According to the requirements of Chinese Embassy and Consulate General, you may need to come to the Visa Centre in person to submit your application and your fingerprints may be collected. If you want to apply through a travel agency or someone else, the agency/entrusted person will be responsible to confirm with you about the submission and fingerprint collection.

(2) Each applicant must provide all the documents mentioned above. Applicants may not share the supporting documents for their applications.

(3) If necessary, the consular officer will require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, which may not be listed in the website, in accordance with individual cases or different circumstances.

(4) According to Chinese laws and regulations, the consular officer may have an interview with the applicants and collect their ten fingerprints.

(5) The consular officer will decide on whether to issue the visa or not  and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.

(6) An expired UK passport with a valid Chinese visa is good for travelling to China while it is used together with a new valid UK passport bearing the same name ,sex ,data of birth and nationality. If any changes are made to the above mentioned information on the new passport , a new visa shall be applied.