China Visa Online Submission: Which Indian Applicants Must Use It

The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026: the Embassy of China in India, the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers (CVASC) in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and the VFS Global payment pages they link to. China does not issue an eVisa to Indian passport holders, so online here means online pre-review, not an online visa. For fees and documents by visa type, see our China visa guide for Indians.

Who must use online submission, and who is exempt?

The Embassy launched its Online Visa Application System on 22 December 2025, and it became mandatory at the New Delhi centre from 20 December 2025. The Mumbai and Kolkata centres publish the same steps. The New Delhi centre's Step 1 notice applies it to all applicants except two groups.

In short, if you hold an ordinary Indian passport and want a Chinese visa, you complete the online stage before you visit any centre. Holders of diplomatic and official passports are also exempt from the transfer service fee at New Delhi.

Which Visa Center account should you register with?

You create the account on the website of the centre that serves your state, because consular jurisdiction decides where you hand in the passport:

• Mumbai (Consulate General of China, Mumbai): Maharashtra and Karnataka. The centre is at Mafatlal Centre, Nariman Point; applicants submit 08:00-14:00 on weekdays.
• Kolkata (Consulate General of China, Kolkata): Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. The centre is in Sector V, Bidhan Nagar; submission 09:00-12:00.
• New Delhi (Embassy of China): every other state and union territory. The centre is at Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place; normal submission 09:00-15:00, express 09:00-12:00.

An applicant living in Bengaluru, for example, registers with the Mumbai centre, not New Delhi. A Patna resident registers with Kolkata.

What happens during Step 1 online?

1. Pay the service fee online through the VFS Global payment page linked by the centre: Rs 2152 for regular service or Rs 3172 for express, inclusive of tax. Choose carefully; the service cannot be changed later.
2. Create an account on the Visa Center website for your centre and log in.
3. Fill in the form and upload your passport, photo and supporting documents together with the printed payment confirmation email.
4. Click Submit. Until you do, the status stays Pending.
5. Answer any request. If documents are missing or need correcting, the status shows Rejected; modify and resubmit, and it moves to Under Review.
6. Receive approval. The status becomes online review completed, and an email arrives with the Visa Application Certificate.

The visa fee itself cannot be paid online. Centre service fees are non-refundable and adjusted every quarter with the USD-INR exchange rate.

Does online review completed mean the visa is approved?

No. The Visa Center states that the confirmation is not a visa approval; acceptance is confirmed at the counter. Within 15 days of the confirmation, take these to the centre (no appointment is needed; appointments were removed in November 2023):

• the Visa Application Certificate attached to the approval email;
• your original passport;
• a recent photo if the uploaded one was non-compliant;
• any original documents requested during online review, such as a kinship certificate.

You then pay the visa fee at the centre. Reduced fees for Indian passport holders apply until 31 December 2026:

New Delhi accepts cash or demand draft; Mumbai and Kolkata take cash only. If the Embassy rejects an application, the visa and express fees are refunded through the centre, but service fees are not.

Do fingerprints and interviews still apply after online review?

Yes, depending on the visa. The fingerprint exemption for short-term visa applicants (stays up to 180 days) is extended until 31 December 2026, so most tourist and business applicants skip fingerprinting. Fingerprints are still collected for D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z visas. S, Q, X and Z applicants under New Delhi attend an interview at the Embassy; Mumbai and Kolkata applicants attend at the Consulate General if informed.

For qualified applications the Embassy usually needs 4 working days (regular) or 3 working days (express). New Delhi and Kolkata expect collection on the 6th working day for regular service and the 4th for express. Mumbai lists around 5, 4 and 2 working days for normal, express and urgent service.

Which upload mistakes get a file sent back?

• Uploading visas older than 5 years; upload only previous visas from the last 5 years.
• Putting several photos in one box; attach each photo in its own box. Photos are 48mm x 33mm, colour, bare head, no glasses.
• Using an agent's phone number or email; the New Delhi centre's April 2026 notice says both must be the applicant's own.
• Tourist files without the bank proof: personal savings-account statements for the last 3 months with a minimum consistent monthly balance of INR 1 lakh, or a deposit certificate of a similar amount made at least 3 months before applying.
• Business invitations without a handwritten Chinese signature and the company's official seal.
• For minors, leaving out child support, paternal and maternal authorisation and the family record or birth certificate.

For a tourist (L) file, the Chinese checklist asks for a tour itinerary, hotel order and airline ticket order. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach our team.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a China eVisa for Indian citizens?

No. China does not issue an eVisa to Indian passport holders. The online system only pre-reviews your form and documents; the original passport must still be handed in at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center for your state.

Do I need to book an appointment at the China Visa Center?

No. Online appointments were cancelled from 20 November 2023, and after online approval you go to the centre without an appointment. Submit within 15 days of receiving the confirmation letter.

Can I switch from normal to express service after paying?

No. The Visa Center says the service chosen when you pay the online service fee cannot be changed later. Express service costs Rs 3172 against Rs 2152 for regular service, inclusive of tax.

What if I need my passport back while my China visa is being processed?

Submit a withdrawal letter with the reason through the Visa Center. Once the Embassy approves it, the application is treated as withdrawn and the passport and Embassy fees are returned through the centre.