In accordance with the notification issued by the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK, starting from 10th December 2018, the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in London, Manchester and Edinburgh (hereinafter referred to as 'Visa Application Centres') will use a new version of the Chinese visa application form, and from the 17th December 2018 the Visa Application Centres will implement an online application form and appointment system. If you choose to submit your application in the visa centre in London, please read the steps illustrated below carefully:

1.    Navigate to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre’s website, and select UK, London in order to arrive at the London Centre’s homepage.
2.    Read the specific ‘Step by Step Guidance’ section’s information regarding your particular purpose of visit and your visa requirements.
3.    Enter the ‘ Quick Access’ section from the homepage, and then select ‘Online Application Form’ to fill in your application form online. The online application form will require you to upload a recent standard photograph (please check here for photograph requirements).
4.    After filling in the application form, please prints out the complete form, sign on the 1st and the 8th page.
5.    Enter the ‘Online Appointment’ section, fill in the application form number which is automatically generated and is started with ‘LON’. Choose a time slot and finish the appointment booking. They system will automatically send you a confirmation email. Please print the confirmation email out or screenshot the appointment time information and show your appointment while you arrive at London Visa Centre.
Except humanitarian visa, the visa centre can't accept any application without an appointemnt. An online appointment must be booked before you come to the Chinese Visa Application Centre to submit your application.

Service, diplomatic and courtesy visa applicants can still fill in an online application form on our website, print out and sign, but will not need to book an appointment with the Visa Application Centre. Instead you will be required to directly to the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK to submit application materials, providing fingerprints and any other biometric information that may be required.

Please be aware that from 17th December 2018 onward, the visa centres in UK will  take a photograph and capture fingerprints for each applicant who are aged between 14 to 70 when applicants submitting their applications at the Visa Application Centre. Visitors to China whose fingerprints and photo do not match may be denied entry and should bear all the consequences.  Please click here for information regarding leaving fingerprints .

Please ensure that you have uploaded the correct photograph of the person detailed in the application form when filling in the online application. The visa centre will reject any application where the uploaded image is of another person. A new application form with an appropriate photograph will be requested if the application form contains another person's photo. If the online form indicates that the photo is not qualified and cannot be uploaded successfully, please be sure to bring an appropriate photograph to the centre when you come to submit your application.