(L)Tourism

Service areas of the Visa Centre: Ottawa Region, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut.

Open Online Form Filling Instructions 

1. The Ottawa Chinese Visa Application Service Center has launched the Chinese Visa Online Verification Platform.  All applicants must log in to the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (www.visaforchina.cn), select "Canada, Ottawa", fill out the Visa Application Form online and upload visa application materials. Only after the online verification is approved may applicants go to the Visa Center to submit physical materials. For the detailed notice, please click here to view.

2. For the "Guidelines for Online Chinese Visa Application", please click here to view.

3. To further facilitate visa applications, starting from December 17,2025 until December 31,2026, fingerprints collection will be exempted for eligible applicants who apply for short-term visas with a stay period of 180 days or less.

Applicants for Category D, J1, Q1,S1,X1 and Z visas will still follow a fingerprints collection procedure as required. 

4.For questions regarding  transit visa exemption policies, please refer to the website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada: https://ca.china-embassy.gov.cn/

5.Visa Center Inquiry Email: ottawacenter@visaforchina.org

Notice: If the applicant meets the requirements for exemption of fingerprint collection, they could submit documents by mail or authorize someone to submit documents on their behalf.  If you prefer to have the passport mailed back, please notify our staff when you submit your documents with the Canada Post pre-paid envelope with a tracking number. Only after the online verification is approved (note:approval of the online review does not mean the visa has been granted), applicants could go to the Visa Center to submit physical materials or mail the documents .

Please be sure to fill out the 'Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China' online via our website, and then prepare and upload the related supporting files.

(1) Passport or travel document (Original) 
Original passport / travel document with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least 2 blank visa pages.
Note: if you have more than one nationality, you need to hand in all passports that you have. 

(2)One fully completed Visa Application Form with 1 recently-taken color photo (full face, front view, and bare head, against a white background) attached.  A physical visa size photo is also may require when you submit the passport. 

Note: All the application form items must be filled online. When you fill out the passport information (name / date of birth / gender / passport number, etc.), please make sure that the contents on the application form should be consistent with that on your passport. 

(3) Proof of legal residence status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)
If you are not applying for a visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide your valid certificates of residence (permanent resident card), employment or student status (work permit or study visa), or other valid certificates of legal residency provided by the relevant authorities of the country where the Visa Centre is located.

(4) Previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)
If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last original Chinese passport.
If you have obtained Chinese visas before and apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page as well as the previous Chinese visa page (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).
Note: Applicants who cannot provide the original and copy of your last original Chinese passport should submit the copy of Canadian landing paper. If you are submitting an application for your child who is adopted, please also provide relevant supporting documents.

(5) For Chinese blood child. The Article 5 of Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China states: “A person whose parents are both Chinese nationals and have both settled abroad, or one of whose parents is a Chinese national and has settled abroad, and who has acquired foreign nationality at birth shall not have Chinese nationality".  An applicant of Chinese origin, born in Canada or other foreign country, who applies for a Chinese visa for the first time (under 18 years old), is required to provide: 
1. Both his or her parents' citizenship / certificates of immigration status when he or she was born. For example, passports, permanent residence cards, landing papers or Canadian visas. 2. Birth certificate (long form which states parents' names; short form can not used). 3. The recent valid passport of his or her parents. 

Please note: If an applicant was born in China, and his or her parents are both Chinese citizens or one of his or her parents is a Chinese citizen, when the applicant was born, he or she should have Chinese citizenship. Or an applicant was born in other foreign country, and his or her parents (Chinese citizens) had not obtained permanent residency, he or she shall apply for a Chinese Travel Document at the Chinese Embassy.

(6) Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and either hotel confirmation, or an invitation letter for tourism (including itinerary details) issued by a relevant unit or individual in China.
The invitation  letter should contain:
1. Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.);
2. Information regarding the planned visit (incl. purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, relationship between the applicant and the inviting party, accommodation arrangements, and details of any financial support to be provided during the stay in China);
3. Information of the inviting entity or individual (incl. name, contact telephone number, address).
*Download the Sample of the Letter of Invitation (Valid for L Visa). (Recommeded)

7) For applicant under 18 years old, the following supplymentary documents are required:

1. The birth certificate of the applicant. (long form with Parents' information on it)

2. The parents' valid passports. 

Note:
(1) The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter. An issuer of invitation letter who is a Chinese citizen should also provide a photocopy of his/her Chinese ID for both sides. If the inviter is a foreigner residing in China, please provide the photocopies of both the data page of his/her passport and the Chinese resident permit together with the invitation letter. 

(2) If necesssary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.

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