Update: With effect from 9 Feb 2024, Singapore and China will implement a mutual 30-day visa exemption, meaning that Singaporeans can visit China for 30 days without applying for a visa, and vice versa.
Nevertheless, those who need to stay longer than 30 days will still need a visa to travel to China. Here’s a guide to apply for a Chinese Visa.
Read Also: 8 Things You Need To Know Before Heading To The Money Changer
How To Apply For A Chinese Visa
To apply for a visa, applicants have to first complete the visa application form online.
Image Credit: Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
Registration is free and only takes a few minutes to complete. Registration provides access to the following features:
- Quick access to previously submitted application forms, booked appointments and visa application status inquiries.
- Fill in future application forms easier by using data from previous application submissions.
- Keeps a full history of your application.
To ensure a smooth operation and smooth out the flow of applicants over the working day, the Visa Centre strongly encourages applicants to make an appointment well in advance for submitting a visa application. Based on experience, the submission peak hours are between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm, so try to avoid this period if possible.
The Visa Centre allots a certain number of appointments in each 30-minute timeslot. Upon arrival, you need to either show a printout of the appointment information or e-mail or simply mention your name, and you will then be given a queue number on a first-come-first- served basis. This should guarantee a wait of only a few minutes.
You can click here for the location of the Visa Centre and office working hours. You can submit the application yourself or authorise a third party to do so.
The Visa Centre accepts visa applications from Singaporean citizens or citizens of other countries staying in Singapore with appropriate legal status. However, it cannot accept the application if you are not physically in Singapore when your application is being submitted.
If you are not currently in the country in which the centre is located, you have to apply from where you normally reside, or apply after you return to the country.
You may also be required to go to the Visa Office of the Embassy (Address: 150 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247969) in person to have an interview as deemed necessary by a consular officer.
Other info:
- Do note that no mail-in/online/fax applications are accepted.
- You or your agent will be able to pick up your passport with visa on the date printed on your pick-up slip unless otherwise notified by the Visa Office of the Embassy.
- Mail-back visa service is not provided.
- You must pay the visa fee once your application is processed and approved.
CVASC Address: 80 Robinson Road, #16-01/02/02A, Singapore 068898
For more enquiries, you can visit CVASC website at www.visaforchina.com.sg or call +65 67139380.
Read Also: 4 Hacks To Save Money On FX Fees For Your Travel & Online Spending
What To Do On The Actual Day Of The Application Appointment
On the day of your visit to the Centre, do be punctual. Once you arrive you will obtain a queue number for submitting your application; please wait for your number to be called. Then you need to submit your application at the counter designated for handling the particular queue number.
You will receive a pick-up form, which is a receipt showing the information of your application and expected date for collection. Do check all the particulars on the pick-up form; should you have any questions about the information printed on it, contact the staff immediately. Always carefully retain the pick-up form as it must be shown when collecting your passport.
The CVASC provides a 24-hour online facility to track the status of your application. You can click here to enter track your application status page and bookmark it. Or you can easily find the tracking page from Quick Access on the homepage of the Visa Centre’s web site.
Read Also: YouTrip Card Vs Regular Credit Card: How Much Can You Save When Spending Overseas?
How Long Will My Application Take To Process
Due to the high demand for visas in recent days, the embassy advises applicants to make appointments in advance and schedule their itinerary accordingly. It advises individuals to make an application well in advance of the planned travel date – apply one month in advance but no earlier than three months.
A regular application will take four business days and an express service is expected to take three business days.
The processing time is or reference only as some applications may require longer processing time that a pick-up date cannot be confirmed until notified by the Visa Office of the Embassy. Try to give more allowance in application response time before you secure your flight tickets and accommodation.
Read Also: Find It A Hassle To Have A Separate Travel Card Or App? Why DBS Visa Debit Card Is An Easy Solution For Your Foreign Currency Spend
Can You Enter China Without A Visa
Visitors who are travelling to a third country may stay up to 24 hours in China without a visa. Visitors of 53 countries may apply for a 72 hour or 144 hour visa-free transit upon arrival if they have a confirmed ticket to a third country or region within the stipulated time limit.
The 53 countries are: Germany, Russia, Great Britain, France, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Polen, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.
Visitors from 59 countries to Hainan are allowed to stay up to 30 days, but must remain in Hainan. The 59 countries are: Germany, Russia, Great Britain, France, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Polen, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.
Read Also: 7 Cities You Can Travel To That Are Elderly-Friendly
Listen to our podcast, where we have in-depth discussions on finance topics that matter to you.
