To help the applicants get familiar with the new visa application procedure under the “China Online Visa Processing System”, answers to the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are provided for reference:
Q1: Where should I go to apply for a visa under the system? What changes have been made to the application process?
A：Visa applicants can visit “https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/” to fill out the visa application form, upload the required documents online, and the application will enter the review phase. During this period, applicants can log into the website to check the application status and, as required, modify the form or supplement application materials. When the status of the order changes to “Passport to be submitted”, please submit the Passport in person, and provide biometric information (e.g. fingerprints) in the Consular Office. Upon approval, the applicant is required to visit the Consular Office to collect the passport and visa, and pay the fee.
Q2: Do I need to create an account to apply for a visa online? How do I register?
A: Yes, online applications require creating an account and logging into the system. Currently, registration is only supported through email addresses.
Q3: What changes have been made to the expedited processing service?
A: When filling out the application form online, applicants can select “Regular” or “Express” processing method. However, this selection does not affect the timeline of the review phase. The expedited processing will only accelerate the procedure after the online review has been approved and physical documents have been submitted offline. Once the “Express” request is approved, it will take 2-3 working days to get the visa, which needs an additional fee. The consular officer may need to extend the processing time based on a case-by-case review.
Q4: How long will it take for the normal processing?
A: Normally, after submitting the passport to the Consular Office, it will take 1 week to get the visa.
Q5: Can I authorize others to submit my application?
A: Should you be unable to submit the passport on site due to schedule or distance reasons, you can authorize someone else to submit them on your behalf. But this only applies to Estonian citizens. However, if you apply for multiple entries, you still need to do it in person.
Q6: Is fingerprints collection still required, and when will it take place?
A: Except for applicants exempted from fingerprints collection under specific conditions, fingerprints need to be collected when applicants visit the Consular Office to submit the passport.
Q7: Have the working hours of the Consular Office changed? Do I need to make an appointment in advance?
A: The working hours remain unchanged: from 9:30-11:30 every Tuesday and Thursday morning (except Chinese holidays). The appointment-free policy published before on the website is still in effect.
Q8: Will the new system influence the current visa-free policy?
A: The current visa-free policy remains the same as published before. Namely, from 00:00, 30 November 2024 to 24:00, 31 December 2025 (Beijing Time UTC+8), ordinary passport holders of 38 countries including Estonians traveling to China for purposes of business, tourism, family visit, exchanges or transit within the duration of 30 days are eligible for visa-free entry. Those who do not meet the visa-free conditions mentioned above still need to apply for a visa before entering