Planning a trip to China? UAE residents must follow new visa procedure

UAE residents planning to visit China now need to follow an updated visa procedure that involves a two-step process — online review followed by in-person submission at the visa centre. 

The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Dubai recently released a circular explaining the new procedure that must be followed to obtain a visa.

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Apply online first

Unlike previously, applicants can no longer directly visit the visa centre to apply for entry permit. Instead, they must first fill out the visa application online, upload all necessary documents, such as a passport copy, a personal photo, a no-objection certificate (NOC), and hotel and flight bookings, and then submit it online.

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After submission, the application will go through a preliminary check and if approved, the applicant will receive a Visa Application Certificate by email. Only after that can they go to the visa centre in Dubai for the next step.

Visa centre visit

After online approval, applicants must visit the visa centre with the original passport, signed application form, and all supporting documents, and every document that was was uploaded online.

“Earlier, we prepared the application and submitted it directly at the VFS China visa centre," said Subair Thekepurathvalappil from Wisefox Tourism. “We would get the passport back in four days. Now, we need to apply online, upload documents, wait for the application to be reviewed, and only then go to the centre. After that, it takes another four working days for the visa to be processed.”

“For business travellers, documents like invitation letters are needed, and for tourists, hotel bookings and flight tickets are a must,” added Subair.

Payment and collection

Visa fees must be paid in person at the visa centre, either by cash or card, during submission. Applicants can collect their passports after four working days. The day of passport submission counts as Day 1.

Fingerprint exemptions

Fingerprints for many applicants may not be required.

• Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70

• Diplomatic or service passport holders, or applicants eligible for diplomatic, official, and courtesy visas

• Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past five years at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Dubai with the same passport

• Missing all ten fingers or unable to provide any of the ten fingerprints

• Applicants staying for less than 180 days (single or double entry), from September 2, 2024, to December 31, 2025

However, the Chinese consulate may still request fingerprint collection if necessary. 

Visa center timings

• Submission and payment: 9am to 3pm

• Passport collection: 9am – 4pm

Subair said that the revised visa process aims to bring more structure and reduce errors in application handling. “We have always recorded a surge in inquiries for China, especially from business travellers and also for holidays. Many UAE residents are planning trips in the upcoming months,” said Subair.

SM Ayaz Zakir

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ayaz@khaleejtimes.com

SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.