1. Do I have to come to the visa centre for submission in person?

(1) According to the requirements of Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General, from April 30, 2018, 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. 
If you are not in the UK when your application is submitted, we cannot accept your application. 
Please submit to the visa centre located in the country of your current residency, or submit to our centre when you are back in the UK.

(2) The Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General have their own jurisdictional areas formally known as consular districts. Only those who reside within a particular consular district of the Chinese Consulate in Manchester can apply through this Visa Centre. Please click here to check the service areas of this Visa Centre.

2. How far in advance should I submit my application?
You are advised to apply at least one month ahead of your planned visit but no earlier than three months.

Visa processing time varies with location. Please click here for the processing time of this Visa Centre. However, you should be aware that actual processing time may be longer than that posted on the website in certain circumstances. If there is such a delay, you will be notified by the Visa Centre staff.

3. Do I have to make an appointment to apply for a visa?

Yes, please make an appointment to submit your application and give your biometric information. Please attend the visa centre on your appointment date and take a queue ticket at the reception desk. Please click here to make appointment of your visit to the Visa Centre.

The submission peak hours are between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. It is advised to arrive 15 minutes before your time slot.

4. What should I do after arriving at the Visa Centre?

(1) Please take a queue ticket to check in. When your number is called, present your appointment information, your application form and your passport at visa Check-in Counter (Counter 1 or 2). Your photo will be taken in this step.

(2) We will check in yourapplication information and give out a new queue ticket for submitting your documents.
(3) Submit your application documents at your assigned Counter (you fingerprints may be collected then). Then you will have a payment notice and another queue ticket for payment.

(4) After the payment is made, you will receive a pick-up form and a patment credential (it is not a receipt).

(5) Please make sure you bring the original pick-up form to collect your passport starting from the date on your pick-up form in our business hours.

If you lose your pick-up form, please go to Counter 8 for help.

5. Can I track the status of my application?
The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre provides a 24-hour online facility to track the status of your application. You can easily find the tracking page through Online Form and Appointment - Visa - History - Status.

6. Do I pay when submitting my application?

Yes, please make your payment of visa fee and service fee right after your application is accepted. Please refer to the next step for more information.

7. Can I cancel my application after submitting it?
The application process involves sophisticated procedures so that the Visa Centre normally won’t accept to pull a single application out of the ongoing process involving many other applications. If you do insist to withdraw your application, please fill out a request form in the visa centre and the visa fee and service fee will not be refunded.