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. Documents requested regarding visa category
(1) Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation (hotel booking confirmation of each day,and also need guest's name on it), etc.

OR
(2) An invitation letter for tourist issued by a relevant unit or an individual in China.

•  Invitation issued by an organization (including government at the county level and above, company and public institution) should contain：
(A) Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)
(B) Details of the planned visit (incl. arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, accomodation arrangements, etc.)
(C) Information of the inviting party (incl. name of organization or person concerned, contact telephone number, address, official stamp of the organization, signature of the legal representative or individual)

•  Invitation issued by a Chinese citizen shall provide the fowllowing documents:

(A) An invitation letter
(B) A photocopy of the Chinese identity card (both sides) or travel permit of the inviter
(C) Proof of residence in mainland China if the inviter is holding a travel permit

•  Invitation issued by an individual who is a non-Chinese citizen and is holding legal residence in mainland China shall provide the following documents:

(A) An invitation letter
(B) A photocopy of the inviter's passport data page
(C) A photocopy of the legal residence permit in mainland 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.