How to Get a Chinese Tourist Visa from a Chinese Visa Application Service Center

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As straightforward as it may seem, getting a visa for China was still a bit of an overwhelming process. It took filling out a job application from hell lengthy application, multiple visits to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Hong Kong (CVASC), multiple hours waiting, and a few hundred dollars to finally get my passport plastered with my golden ticket to enter the land of Giant Pandas. 

Thinking about a visit to China? Unless you're from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau or Tibet (probably some other countries as well!!!), you're going to need to apply for a visa. If you live in one of the countries that has a CVASC, you'll be able to apply at a physical office. While the steps to apply for a Chinese visa are available, I wanted to share my experience at the CVASC office in Hong Kong so you'll be best prepared for what you'll be up against should you choose to visit an office. I did it back in August of 2023, so things may have changed by the time you've read this.

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Step 1: Fill Out the Application Online

If you've ever filled out a job application online (sigh), you'll know the work you're going to need to put in for the application process. You can fill out your application here. It will take some elbow grease to complete the application, but what's nice is you can save your progress along the way. To help you make the process as painless as possible, have the following documents handy:

• Your Passport
• Your CV/resume (yeah, they'll ask for your job history)
• A recent passport photo (jpg format) with a VERY WHITE background
• A printer (you will need to print out your completed application) 

Step 2: Schedule an Appointment

Now that you've filled out and printed the application, schedule an appointment to go to the CVASC. Just know that when you schedule an appointment, it doesn't mean that you'll have your application and documents checked out right away at that time. It just means that you'll arrive at the time you said. You're still going to have to wait to be prescreened and then wait some more to have the application officially accepted for review. Basically, prepare to do a whole lot of waiting! Below are the steps to schedule an appointment online.

1. To schedule an appointment, click on the country of the CVASC you'll visit.

2. Click on the section underneath Step by Step Guidance. For instance, in the Hong Kong version of the site, it's Quick Access.

3. Scroll down to the Appointment section and click on the appropriate button to schedule an appointment. Then follow the instructions to schedule your appointment.

Step 3: Prepare all the Documents You Need for Your Appointment 

Now that you have your application filled and printed, as well as a scheduled appointment, it's time to make your way to the CVASC. Before you go, have the following ready to go and/or printed out. Here's a more in-depth checklist.

1. Your application printed out, signed and dated.
2. Your passport with at least six months of travel validity and at least two blank visa pages.
3. A photocopy of your passport's data page and the photo page if it's separate 
4. A recent passport photo with a white background and a photocopy of that photo
5. If you're not a resident of the country you are applying for the visa at (e.g. a US citizen applying for the Chinese visa in Hong Kong) you'll need:
1. A photocopy of proof of legal entry (I used my Hong Kong visa entry slip)
2. A photocopy of proof that you're leaving the country (I provided a printed page of my ticket leaving Hong Kong).
6. A photocopy of your Round-Trip (plane, train, or boat) ticket entering and exiting China
7. A photocopy of Proof of Accommodation 
1. Hotel reservation with name of the applicant in the reservation
2. An invitation letter which includes
1. Information of the applicant
2. Information of the planned visit
3. Information of the inviting entity or individual
1. A photocopy of passport or ID of inviting individual
8. Cash or Accepted Bank Card for payment

That's a lot of photocopies, yeah!!!??? I know that having proof of your ticket entering and exiting China, as well as your ticket leaving the country you applied at, may not make much sense. However, these are things that they ask for. I'm not sure you'll get much answers if you question how necessary all these documents are from folks from the office. ALL of these documents will be prechecked before you can wait to have your application officially screened, accepted for review, and payment. If you want the visa, do your best to meet the requirements and try not to complain as they go over your application with a fine-toothed comb. Just in case, consider making a copy of your applications.

The CVASC and all their required paperwork 
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Step 4: Go to the CVASC

China-Visa-Application-Service-Center-HK-Map.jpg (800×436) (travelchinacheaper.com)

Once you get there, you may feel like, what the heck do I do? At least that's how I felt. There are lines and people all over the place. You may feel you've entered a twilight zone and have no idea where to go and what to do. Having said that...breath! Let's get you mentally and physically prepared for this trip to reduce the stress you will feel. 

First, there will be a line for people to wait in IF they've scheduled an appointment time. There may be signs indicating that if you didn't schedule an appointment, your application won't be reviewed. I'm not sure if that's true, but just know there are signs like that.

You will have your application and all of the supporting documents prescreened before getting a chance to have it officially looked at and accepted to have it reviewed. I know, that doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's how it was. If you happen to not have any documents they request, they will tell you to go get them before you can move on to see the next official. In the Hong Kong office, they had computers, printers, even photo machines available which is quite convenient. These machines only took Octopus card payments though. This may be different office to office, but at the Hong Kong office, Octupus Card was the only payment accepted for those services.

Once you're approved for the next step, you will wait for 30 minutes or longer to see an official who will review your application and documents once more. You can tell this person which kind of tourist visa you want to apply for. If everything looks good the official will take your passport (take a deep breath, you will get your passport back once they're done with it. Just know that the review takes a few days so plan on not going anywhere that requires identification using your passport), application, and supporting documents to be reviewed. This person will then give you two pieces of paper. 

• A number for your application
• How much you will pay for the visa you want. Depending on the visa you want you will have to have that much in funds to pay for it. Here is a listing of how much the visas cost. (this is in Hong Kong Dollar)

You will need both of these to see the cashier who will handle your payment.

The CVASC accepts cash or debit
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Step 5: Pay for the Visa

After you've submitted your passport, application, and supporting documents, you will wait one last time to see the cashier. The cashier will ask for the pieces of paper given to you from the previous official. They will then tell you how much to pay. For instance, I wanted to get a 10-year visa which costs about $200+ in US dollar. I paid it all in cash, though at the Hong Kong office, they also accepted debit cards from local banks. 

Once you've paid, you're done for your first visit to the office. The cashier let me know that I could expect to know whether or not the visa was approved in two days (this probably varies person to person) and to come back again to receive my passport. She gave me another piece of paper that I needed to show to the reception personnel when I would come back for my passport and hopefully, a visa inside of it.

*You might have thought, wow...all that work and you may not get a visa. Yes, you do all that work and pay all of that money for a chance to get a visa. It's only a chance, so understand that it's not guaranteed. All you can do is your best to try to ensure that your application is ready and with all supporting documents so that it can be presented the best it can to be accepted.

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Step 5: Pick up Your Passport and Receive Notification of Acceptance or Denial

Return to the office on the day of or after the date they gave you to get your passport back and see whether or not you were granted a passport. You do not need to schedule an appointment for this. 

At the Hong Kong office I showed the reception person the piece of paper I was given by the cashier on my last visit. The receptionist gave me a number and told me to wait to be called. It took me about 45 minutes before I was able to see the cashier again. The cashier gave me my passport back and showed me the page with my brand spanking new 10-year tourist visa to China! 

The Trek at Gongga Trail was well worth the headache of an application!

Sigh of relief. All of that work, the stress and hours of waiting was worth it. I had the visa which allowed me to go on an epic trekking adventure in the Sichuan region of China, the Gongga trail! 

Yes, the visa was quite expensive. The expense of a visa, if you need to pay for one, is non-negotiable. There are plenty of countries that will do visa-on-arrival without you needing to pay depending on your passport. You can do that research here. 

I hope this blog was useful for you. If you've had different experiences at the CVASC where you are, let us know in the comments below. Do your best and if you get your tourist visa to China, let us know where you're going and if you had fun! Light and Aloha.