How Much Does a China Visa Cost for Indians in 2026?

The figures come from notices issued by the Chinese Embassy in India. Fees and processing times are as published on the official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. For the application process, documents and jurisdiction rules, see our China visa guide for Indian passport holders.

China visa fee table for Indian passport holders

The Embassy's fee table for Indian nationals is set out by the number of entries rather than by visa category, so start by deciding how many times you will enter China during the visa's validity.

The fee table was published as an image on the Embassy's notice, and the reduced rates are valid until 31 December 2026. If you will submit in January 2027 or later, recheck the Embassy's visa section before budgeting.

The 2026 fee reduction and when it ends

On 4 January 2026 the Embassy issued a notice extending its visa-fee reduction, and the single-entry row carries the note "Reduced fee extended until 31 December 2026". In practical terms:

• The table applies while the reduction is in force, which the Embassy states runs until 31 December 2026.
• Nothing on the Embassy pages says what the rates will be after that date. Do not assume a further extension, and do not assume a return to any older figure you have seen quoted online.
• Agents' price lists or older blog posts may show different numbers. The Embassy notice is the reference.

Express and urgent charges

Speed costs extra, and these surcharges were not part of the reduction. The Embassy lists them as "Not adjusted".

These times apply to qualified applications, meaning complete files, and they count Embassy processing only. On the published norms, express saves about one working day over regular processing. Before paying for it, ask whether a single day actually changes your travel plan.

Remember that the surcharge sits on top of the visa fee. A single-entry visa with express processing means paying both the Rs 2,900 fee and the Rs 1,800 express charge.

The Visa Center's service charge

Regular applications go through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, according to consular jurisdiction (only the centre's service fee is paid online, through VFS Global payment pages):

• Mumbai: Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Kolkata: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
• New Delhi: all other areas.

The Visa Center charges its own service fee on top of the visa fee: Rs 2,152 for regular service or Rs 3,172 for express service per application (inclusive of tax, October 2026), non-refundable and adjusted every quarter with the USD-rupee exchange rate. Since December 2025 you pay it online before submitting the online application, and you cannot switch between regular and express later. No appointment is needed, but you take your passport to the centre only after your online application shows 'online review completed'; the visa fee itself is paid at the centre.

Costs beyond the fee: photos, funds and travel

The fee table is not the whole bill. Budget for these as well:

• Photos: two recent colour photos, 48mm x 33mm, full face, bare head, taken within six months.
• Proof of funds for tourists: an L (tourism) application needs bank account deposit proof of no less than 1 lakh rupees. This is money you show, not money you pay, but it has to be in the account.
• Tourism paperwork: the L checklist also asks for a tour itinerary, a hotel order and an airline ticket order.
• Travel to the Visa Center: with only three centres, applicants from Kerala, Telangana or Gujarat may need to travel to submit and to give fingerprints. Applicants under 14 or over 70, and some others, are exempt from fingerprinting.
• Insurance: no insurance requirement is published on the Embassy pages reviewed, so confirm whether you need any cover for your trip type.

Picking the entry type that costs least for your trip

Paying for entries you never use is an easy way to overspend. Match the fee to the plan:

• One trip, in and out: single entry at Rs 2,900 is enough.
• A trade fair, a side trip outside mainland China, then back in: double entry at Rs 4,400 covers two entries. Two separate single-entry visas would cost more and mean applying twice.
• Regular sourcing or factory visits over the year: compare the six-month multiple entry at Rs 5,900 with 12 months or above at Rs 8,800 against how often you really travel.
• Travelling as a group: group visas are Rs 1,800 per applicant.

Business travellers need the M visa documents, such as an invitation from the Chinese trade partner and a copy of its business licence, whatever entry type they pick.

If your L application needs a hotel order, an airline ticket order or an itinerary, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares these for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the China visa fee different for business and tourist visas?

The Embassy's fee table for Indian passport holders lists prices by number of entries, not by visa category. A single-entry visa is Rs 2,900 whether the purpose is tourism (L) or business (M); the supporting documents differ.

Do I need an appointment to pay and submit a China visa application?

No appointment is required. Since December 2025 you pay the Visa Center's service fee online, fill in the online form and upload your documents, and go to the centre covering your state only after the status shows 'online review completed'. The visa fee is paid at the centre when you hand in your passport.

Does China charge a lower fee for children?

The fee table on the Embassy notice used for this article lists rates by entry type and does not show a separate child rate. Check the current notice on the Embassy's visa section before applying for a child.

Can I pay the China visa fee through VFS?

Not the visa fee: it is paid at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center when you hand in your passport (cash or demand draft in New Delhi, cash only in Mumbai and Kolkata). The Visa Center's service fee, however, is paid online through VFS Global payment pages before you submit the online application.