1.    Preparing visa application documents

Visa application documents consist of basic documents and other supporting documents.

2.    Fill in the online application form. Upload the visa application documents.

Please choose the correct Chinese Visa Application Service Center (in the following text referred to as Visa Center) on the website www.visaforchina.cn where the application shall be submitted. Register on the website and log in. Fill in the application form online, upload the visa application documents and confirm your application. Wait for a result  of the pre-check of your application. All applicants (excluding applicants for  Hong Kong and Macao Visa) have to fill in the application form online and upload the visa application documents.

Please note:

- After submitting your application form online you might receive a message from either the Chinese Consulate or the Visa Center stating you have to send additional documents. Inquire online in time about your current application status via „Status“. If the application status shows „Submit Passport“ print the first and last pages of the application form and sign the first and last pages.

- Video interview (if required)

Some applicants might have to introduce themselves via video interview. Please schedule an appointment on the Visa Center’s website for the video interview.

3.    Submitting the visa application documents and paying the fee at the Visa Center

1)    If your application status shows „Submit Passport“ and you have received a confirmation email, you can submit the application documents together with the printed „Visa Application Certificate“ from Monday to Friday between 09:00 – 14:30 at the Visa Center.

2)    The following documents have to be submitted at the Visa Center:

- Original passport

- printed first and last pages of the application form with signature on the first and last pages

- a photo

- additional documents if required

3)    Fingerprints will be collected from the applicants. Following groups are exempt from fingerprint collection:

- applicants under 14 or above 70 years of age;

- Diplomatic passport holders or applicants who are entitled to apply for Diplomatic, Courtesy visa;

- applicants who have applied for a Chinese visa with the same passport within the last 5 years at the Chinese Consulate in Hamburg or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center Hamburg and whose fingerprints have already been collected;

- applicants with physical limitation in this area or applicants whose 10 fingerprints can’t be collected for other reasons ;

- Until 31 December 2024 the note about the exemption of collecting fingerprints remains in effect for all entitled applicants applying for business, tourist, family visit(Q2), transit or crew visa with single or double entries. 

Faking fingerprints or fraud via using other fingerprints results in denial of entry to China. The applicant shall bear all consequences.

4)    The total fee has to be paid on submitting the documents at the Visa Center. The total fee consists of visa and service fees.

4.Passport Collection

    The passport has to be collected during the opening hours at the Visa Center with the original pick-up form. Should you wish to have the passport returned to you by post, please speak with the counter staff.