# Is a Dummy Ticket Accepted for a China Visa from India? > What the Chinese Embassy in India asks for as flight proof on tourist and transit visas, and how to make a verifiable flight reservation fit the rest of your file. _Published: 2026-10-23 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1110_ ## TL;DR For a China tourist (L) visa, the Embassy checklist asks for an airline ticket order and a hotel order, not a purchased ticket, so a verifiable flight reservation fits. Transit (G) is stricter: you need an onward ticket with a confirmed date and seat. ## Key takeaways - The L (tourism) checklist lists a tour itinerary, hotel order, airline ticket order and bank deposit proof of no less than 1 Lakh Rupees. - A G (transit) visa needs an onward air, train or ship ticket with a confirmed date and seat. - A dummy ticket should mean a verifiable reservation in your name, never an edited or fabricated document. - Single-entry visas cost Rs2900 for Indian passport holders under a reduced fee extended until 31 December 2026. - Qualified applications are usually processed in 4 working days (regular) or 3 working days (express). **Yes, for a tourist (L) visa the Chinese Embassy's checklist asks for an “airline ticket order” and a “hotel order”; it does not ask for a purchased ticket, so a verifiable flight reservation in your name matches the wording. Transit (G) applicants are different: they need an onward ticket with a confirmed date and seat.** ## Article So the useful answer depends on which visa you are applying for, and on whether your booking lines up with the rest of your file. Everything below comes from the Chinese Embassy in India's published requirements. Fees and processing times as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-10. For the full application process, read our China visa guide for Indian citizens. ### Flight proof on the checklist, visa by visa The Embassy's published requirements set out category-specific documents on top of the common list (form, passport, two photos and so on). Here is where flight proof appears: VisaTravel documents listedFlight proofL - tourismTour itinerary, hotel order, airline ticket order, bank account deposit proof of no less than 1 Lakh Rupees, invitation letter when necessaryAirline ticket orderG - transitOnward air (train or ship) ticket to the destination country or regionTicket with confirmed date and seatM - commercial and tradeDocuments or invitation from the trade partner in China, inviter's business licence and ID copiesNot named in the category listF, Q1/Q2, S1/S2Invitation letter and, for family visits, relationship proofNot named in the category listX1/X2, ZAdmission letter and JW201/JW202 form, or the work permit noticeNot named in the category listWhere a category list does not name flight proof, that does not mean dates are irrelevant: invitation letters must state your arrival and departure dates, and those should match whatever booking you hold. ### Reservation, paid ticket or “dummy ticket”: what each one is - Flight reservation (often called a dummy ticket): a real, verifiable booking or itinerary in your name, with flight numbers and dates, that has not been paid for as a ticket. This is what fits the word “order” on the L checklist. - Paid ticket: a purchased, issued ticket. Embassies generally advise against buying non-refundable tickets before the visa decision, because a refusal or a date change leaves you with the cost. - Fabricated or edited document: never acceptable. Submitting a false document is a far bigger problem than a missing one, so if a booking cannot be verified with the airline, do not use it. The same reading applies to the “hotel order” on the L list: a confirmed booking in your name that covers each night of your itinerary, rather than a screenshot of a search result. Requirements can change and the Visa Center can ask for more, so treat the current Embassy checklist as the final word. ### Making your booking match the rest of the file Consular staff read your file as one story. The flight reservation should agree with: - Your online application form, filled in and uploaded on the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website (compulsory since December 2025). - Your tour itinerary and hotel order, city by city and night by night. - Any invitation letter, which should include your arrival and departure dates, places and duration of stay. - Your passport, with your name spelled exactly as on the data page. Timing matters too. The Embassy usually processes qualified applications in 4 working days on the regular track and 3 working days on express. Make sure the reservation stays live from the day you submit until the decision, and a little beyond in case the Visa Center asks you to bring anything else. ### Transit through China: when a reservation is not enough For a G (transit) visa, the checklist wording is stricter: an onward air, train or ship ticket with a confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region. A loose itinerary without a confirmed seat does not match that. If you are transiting, check with the airline that your onward segment shows as confirmed before you submit. ### Where you submit and what the visa costs You submit at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center according to consular jurisdiction: Mumbai for Maharashtra and Karnataka; Kolkata for Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal; New Delhi for all other areas. No appointment is needed, but since December 2025 you first pay the centre's service fee online (through VFS Global payment pages), apply and upload documents on the Visa Center website, and bring your passport only after the status shows 'online review completed'. Visa (Indian passport holders)FeeSingle entryRs2900Double entryRs4400Six months multiple entryRs590012 months or above multiple entryRs8800Group visa, each applicantRs1800Express / urgent, per applicationRs1800 / Rs2700The reduced fees are extended until 31 December 2026, per the Embassy's fee notice. Visa Center service charges are separate (Rs 2152 regular or Rs 3172 express per application, October 2026) and are paid online before you submit the online application. ### Before you submit: a quick check - Reservation verifiable on the airline's site or by PNR, in your name. - Dates identical across the form, itinerary, hotel order and invitation letter. - Original passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 or more blank visa pages, plus photocopies of the information pages and any expired passports from the last 5 years. - Bank deposit proof of no less than 1 Lakh Rupees for an L visa. - Two colour photos, 48mm x 33mm, taken within 6 months, full face, bare head. - No non-refundable ticket purchased before the decision unless you accept the risk. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do I need a hotel booking for a China tourist visa? Yes. The L (tourism) checklist lists a hotel order alongside the tour itinerary and airline ticket order. The checklist also lists an invitation letter from a relevant entity or individual, when necessary. #### How much money should I show for a China tourist visa from India? The L checklist asks for bank account deposit proof of no less than 1 Lakh Rupees. Check the current checklist for any further detail on the format of that proof. #### Do I need an appointment at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center? No. No appointment is required, but since December 2025 you must first apply online on the Visa Center website and wait for the status 'online review completed'. Then take your passport to the centre that covers your state (New Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata) on a working day. #### Is travel insurance required for a China visa from India? The Embassy pages checked do not publish an insurance requirement. Confirm with the Visa Center before you submit, and consider cover for your own protection. ## FAQ ### Do I need a hotel booking for a China tourist visa? Yes. The L (tourism) checklist lists a hotel order alongside the tour itinerary and airline ticket order. The checklist also lists an invitation letter from a relevant entity or individual, when necessary. ### How much money should I show for a China tourist visa from India? The L checklist asks for bank account deposit proof of no less than 1 Lakh Rupees. Check the current checklist for any further detail on the format of that proof. ### Do I need an appointment at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center? No. No appointment is required, but since December 2025 you must first apply online on the Visa Center website and wait for the status 'online review completed'. Then take your passport to the centre that covers your state (New Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata) on a working day. ### Is travel insurance required for a China visa from India? The Embassy pages checked do not publish an insurance requirement. Confirm with the Visa Center before you submit, and consider cover for your own protection. ## Sources 1. [Chinese Embassy in India - Notice on Updating Requirements for Chinese Visa Application (Aug 2024)](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202408/t20240820_11476941.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 2. [Chinese Embassy in India - Notice on Extension of Visa-Fee Reduction (4 Jan 2026)](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202601/t20260104_11797373.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 3. [Chinese Embassy in India - Application Procedures and Material Requirements of China Visa (Jul 2022)](https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sggg/202207/t20220705_10715788.htm) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India