China Visa Application | Wendy Wu Tours

Chna Visa Coronavirus Update

(COVID-19) Visa Update

Please do not send any visa paperwork or passports to our UK office as it is currently closed in line with the Government advice.
The current entry requirements for China remains uncertain during this time. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the visa information on each page will be the same at the time of travel. We recommend that you look into visa requirements for your trip around 6 weeks prior to your departure date and follow the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice.

Important Update

Due to the ongoing situation regarding Covid-19 and the governments advise to limit any social gatherings and to avoid any unnecessary travel, we have made the decision to cancel all future fingerprint appointments.

We feel it is in the best interest for our own staff and customers that all appointments are cancelled until further notice, we will continue to review the situation on a regular bases.

You can still make your own arrangements to book your appointment directly with the visa centre, however the centre has limited appointment availability and the process is taking considerably longer than normal. If you do choose to make your own arrangements, please let us know as soon as possible.

Please continue to refer to our website for the most up to date information regarding visas.

Hassle Free China Visa

We have introduced a "new", simpler way to obtain your China visa exclusive to Wendy Wu Tours.

From January 2020, if you are travelling on one of our qualifying tours, you’ll be able to benefit from our brand new hassle-free China Visa.

To find out which visa you will need to apply for please use our eligibility questions below:

China Visa Process

Before you begin: If you can answer YES to ALL of the following questions, you are eligible for the "New" Hassle Free China Visa.

You must be entering China through Chongqing or Shanghai
You must be on the following group tours Glories of China, A China Experience, Majestic Yangtze, China Splendour or China Delights or a China tailormade holiday.
There must be a minimum of 2 passengers on your booking
All passengers must be on the exact same flights into and out of China
All passengers have the same nationality on your booking
Passengers cannot do any stopovers (e.g – 2 Nights in Hong Kong, Dubai, etc) before their China tour. Please note that connecting/transiting flights does not count as a stopover.
None of the passengers have visited Turkey, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Pakistan in the past 5 years.
Important
The New Visa Office will be closed on the following dates due to national holidays and if you depart the UK on between the below dates, then you must apply for the Traditional China Visa:
1. 20 January 2020 to 05 February 2020
2. 15 February 2020 to 31 March 2020
3. 15 September 2020 to 10 October 2020

Do you qualify for a "New" Hassle Free China Visa?

Yes

Great news you qualify!

To apply for the “New” Hassle Free China Visa, each passenger travelling to China will need to simply click on the button below to upload the required documents.

Please ensure you have the below information to hand:

Passport Copy - this must be clear and in colour and showing all four corners and the observation page opposite.
Photograph - this must be a professional photograph and must meet the photo specifications detailed below.

This must be done at least 8 weeks prior to departure and completed by every passenger.

Hassle Free China Visa Application

The visa will be posted to your home address around 8 days prior to your departure date and you must be in the UK to sign for it.

It is imperative that you take the visa with you to avoid being denied boarding or refused entry into China.

The Chinese Embassy will require all visa applicants aged 14-69 to attend their nearest China Visa Application Service Centre in person to provide biometric finger prints.

The process differs dependent on where you live in the UK, as it determines which Visa Centre you will be applying at.

Every applicant must visit one of the China Visa Centres in person at the time of their visa application submission.
The China Visa Application Service Centres are able collect your finger prints at their offices in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast.
Fingerprints are NOT required for anyone under the age of 14, or over the age of 69 (if you are 69, you still need to provide fingerprints).
An online application form must be completed, printed and signed per person.
You will need to be ready to submit your applications between 4-11 weeks prior to departure.
We strongly recommend you send Wendy Wu Tours your application reference number in order to pre-check before submitting the application online. (Once your application form is submitted online, we cannot make any amendments)

Are you aged 14 to 69?

Yes

No, I am older than 70

Complete an online application 11 to 4 weeks before your travel date (this must include a digital photo
When completing the online application form, please use the version of the application form relative to the location you will be visiting.
Save your application before submitting it and send your reference number and a colour scan of your passport to us so we can review it and make sure nothing is missing (allow 7 days). Please note that once your application form is submitted online, we cannot make any amendments.
Once we have confirmed to you that your application is in order, submit it online. Print a colour copy and sign it (you will need this later)
Book a visit to a China Visa Centre in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.

Please note, passengers over 70 do not need to attend a visa centre.

Complete an online application 11 to 4 weeks before your travel date (this must include a digital photo)
When completing the online application form, please use London version of the application form, as this is where your application will be processed.
Save your application before submitting it and send your reference number and a colour scan of your passport to us so we can review it and make sure nothing is missing (allow 7 days). Please note that once your application form is submitted online, we cannot make any amendments.
Once we have confirmed to you that your application is in order, submit it online. Print a colour copy and sign it (you will need this later)
Post your application and your original passport (not a copy) to our Head Office: Visa Department, Wendy Wu Tours, Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane, 47-49 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QG.
Once your visa has been processed, we will collect your passport and post this back to you via Special Delivery to your home address which you list on the application form.

Are you visiting the London China Visa Centre?

Yes

Please ensure your appointment is pre-booked. You can book using our online appointment system which is the only way to ensure one of our representatives will be there to meet you on the day of your appointment (London only).
As soon as your appointment is confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation. Please bring this with you.
Please ensure you arrive by 09:15am on the day of your appointment. We will only have a 10-minute slot at the Visa centre - if you miss this you will have to rearrange to visit the Visa centre at another time.
Bring your original passport (not a copy!) with you to your appointment as the embassy will keep of hold of this whilst your visa is processed.
We will collect your passport at a later date from the London visa centre, once the visa has been issued. Please allow up to 2 weeks from submission date to receive your passport and visa back. We will post this back to your home address via Special Delivery.

Appointments must be made directly with Visa Centre in Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast via the Visa Centre website. (use your reference number to do so).
You must pre-book your appointment online in advance and arrive on time.
As Wendy Wu Tours will be unable to make payment to the visa centre on your behalf, you will be required to pay for this on your appointment day. If your booking includes our visa service, we will apply a deduction or refund to your booking and send you an updated confirmation invoice confirming so. The refund the amount will be ￡151 per applicant (based on British passport holders applying on a standard service only).
For passengers in Northern Ireland: a temporary Visa Application Centre will be opening in Belfast for 4 days per month. Outside of these dates, applicants must apply at one of the mainland UK visa centres (you cannot apply at the Dublin centre).
Bring your original passport (not a copy!) with you to your appointment as the embassy will keep your passport whilst your application is processed.
You will be required to collect your passport at a later date - this can take approximately up to 1 week, but please confirm exact dates at your appointment. The Visa Centre may offer a post back service, however you would have to check with them directly and may cost you an additional fee.

Important The Online China Visa Application Form

The online application form is quite long and complex, therefore, we recommend you allow approximately 1 hour per application.

Please note you will need to provide personal information such as previous work experience and previous education, we recommend you obtain this information prior to completing your form.

Once you start your application, please make a note of your application reference number (e.g. LON2181210AL7734116). You can re-visit your application at any time, providing you have clicked the 'save' button which is located at the bottom of each page.

Important

Before submitting your application, you will be required to email our visa department ChinaVisa@wendywutours.co.uk with your reference number (e.g. LON2181210AL7734116), coloured copy of your passport photopage and a copy of your passport photo. We will pre-check your form and make any amendments to the application form before you submit and print it. Once you click the submit button on the last page, no changes can be made. Please allow 7 working days for this to be actioned.

Guide Guide to completing your Visa Form

Below is a step by step help guide with all the answers that you require for each section of the visa application form. This includes the relevant hotel information needed.

Section 1 - Personal Information

1. 1. Family name as per passport – please type your surname as it appears in your passport
  2. Middle name – please type your middle name as it appears in in your passport (if you do not have a middle name, please leave blank)
  3. Given name as per passport – please type your first name as it appears in your passport
  4. Other name(s) – please type any previous names you may have including maiden name (please type N/A if not applicable)
  5. Name as written in native language – please type your full name as per your passport.
  6. Upload your photo – please scan a passport sized photo to upload in JPEG format only (please ensure your photo meets the required photo specifications as per our guidance)
2. Date of Birth – please enter your date of birth (yyyy-mm-dd)
3. Gender – please select your gender
4. 1. Country of Birth – please select your country of birth (e.g. United Kingdom)
  2. State/Province of birth – please type your county of birth (e.g. Kent)
  3. City of birth – please type this as it appears in your passport
5. Material Status – please select
6. 1. Current Nationality – please select your nationality (e.g. United Kingdom)
  2. National ID number – if you hold a British passport, please tick 'Not applicable'
    - Do you hold any other nationality – please tick 'Yes' or 'No' if yes, please provide details
    - Do you holder permanent residence in any other country – please tick 'Yes' or 'No' if yes please provide details
    - Have you ever held any other nationality – please tick 'Yes' or 'No' if yes, please provide details
7. 1. Type of passport/travel document - if you hold a standard passport, please tick 'ordinary'
  2. passport number – please type your passport number as it appears in your passport (for British passport holders this is just the nine digit numbers only)
  3. issuing country/region – please select the country your passport was issued in (e.g. United Kingdom)
  4. issuing place – please type United Kingdom or the country your passport was issued
  5. issuing authority – for British passport holders please type either IPS or HMPO as per your passport
  6. issuing date – please type date of issue (yyyy-mm-dd)
  7. expiration date – please type date of expiry (yyy-mm-dd)
8. lost/stolen passport/travel document – please tick 'Yes' or 'No' if yes, please provide details

We recommend you select 'Save' before proceeding to Section 2.

Section 2 - Application Information

1. Types of visa and major purpose of your visit to China – please select (L) Tourism, then select Independent Tourist
2. 1. Visa validity – please type '24'
  2. Maximum duration of longest stay – please type '30'.
  3. Entries – please tick 'Multiple' for British passport holders or 'Single' for any other nationality
3. Service – please select 'Normal'

We recommend you select 'Save' before proceeding to Section 3.

Section 3 - Work Information

1. a. Current Occupation – please select from the dropdown list
2. a. Annual income – this needs to be in RMB, so you will need to convert your annual salary from GBP to RMB to complete this section. Use the conversion rate ￡1 = 8.5 RMB (approx.), e.g. if you earn ￡30k annually, you should work it out as follows; ￡30k x 8.5 = 255,000 RMB.
3. a. Work experience – please complete details of your current employer first, followed by your previous employer. If you are retired, please list your last employers - dates can be approximate.

We recommend you select 'Save' before proceeding to Section 4.

Section 4 - Education

1. Language Skills – please type any language skills you have, including English (written and verbal).
2. Education since High (Secondary) School – please type details of previous, college, university or any other form of education you have attended since leaving Secondary School. If you tick 'Not Applicable' please give details.

We recommend you select 'Save' before proceeding to Section 5.

Section 5 - Family Information

1. 1. Country of current address – please select 'United Kingdom' (You must be a permanent resident of the UK to apply in the UK.)
  2. State/Province of residence – please type your county of residence (e.g. Kent)
  3. City of residence – please type your city of residence (e.g. Canterbury)
  4. (there is no 5.1D field on the application form)
  5. Postcode – please type your postcode
  6. No./Street/Avenue – please type the first line of your address
2. Phone Number – please type your home number with no spaces.
3. Mobile number – please type your mobile number with no spaces.
4. Email – please type your email address.
5. 1. family member/spouse details - please give details of your spouse(there is no 5.5A field on the application form if you have selected single)
  2. family member/fathers details – please give details of your father or tick 'Not Applicable' if you tick 'Not Applicable' please give details
  3. family member/mothers details – please give details of your mother or tick 'Not Applicable' if you tick 'Not Applicable' please give details
  4. family member/childrens details – please give details of your children or tick 'Not Applicable'
  5. Do you have any immediate family in China (not including children or parents) – please tick 'Yes' or 'No'. if you tick 'Yes' please give details

We recommend you select 'Save' before proceeding to Section 6.

Section 6 - Travel Information

1. 1. Intended date of arrival – please type your arrival date (yyyy-mm-dd)
  2. Flight/Ship/Train arrival Number – please type your flight number (this can be found on your confirmation invoice)
  3. City of arrival – please type your city of arrival (this can be found on your confirmation invoice)
  4. County of arrival - please type one of the following, Beijing – Chao Yang Qu, Xi’an – Weiyang Qu, Shanghai - Pudong Xinqu.
  5. Intended date of departure - please type the date you leave China (yyyy-mm-dd)
  6. Flight/Ship/Train departure Number – please type your flight number (this can be found on your confirmation invoice)
  7. City of departure - please type your city of departure (this can be found on your confirmation invoice)
  8. County of departure - please type one of the following, Beijing – Chao Yang Qu, Xi’an – Weiyang Qu, Shanghai - Pudong Xinqu
  9. Destinations - please enter hotel details below in order of arrival and departure (if you are entering or leaving a city which is not listed, please contact us for further hotel details)
    - You only need to list a maximum of 3 hotels for this section.
    - Please note the below hotels are not the hotels you will be staying in. These are example hotels for visa purposes only which must be listed.
    - You must list these 3 hotels in the correct order in which you arrive or depart China. If your tour arrives or departs from anywhere other than Beijing or Shanghai, please contact us.
      - Chang An Grand Hotel - Beijing
        
        27 Hua Wei Li
        Chao Yang District
        Beijing, China, 100021
        County - Chaoyang Qu
      - YuLong International Hotel – Xi'an
        
        No.5 West Part of North 2nd Ring Road
        Xian Shi, Shaanxi Sheng,
        China, 710018
        County - Weiyang Qu
      - YaFan Longmen Hotel - Shanghai
        
        777 Hengfeng Rd,
        HuoCheZhan,
        Zhabei Qu,
        Shanghai Shi,
        China, 200000
        County - Pudong Xinqu
2. 1. Name – East Shanghai International Travel Service
  2. relationship to you - Inviter
  3. phone number - 02158885682
  4. email address – administrator@eshtravel.com
  5. state/province - ShangHai
  6. city - Shanghai
  7. county – Pudong
  8. postcode - 200122
  9. serial number – leave blank
3. emergency contact – please give the following details of your emergency contact
  - Surname
  - Middle name (or leave blank)
  - Given name
  - Relationship to you
  - Contact number
  - Email address
  - Country of residency
  - County of residency
  - City of residency
  - Post code of residency
4. Who will pay for your travel – please select 'organization' and give details of the 'inviter'. Please enter address - 1F Esit Plaza, 1877 Pudong Nan Road, Shanghai
5. domestic or foreign sponsor – please tick 'Not Applicable'
6. travel companion – if you are travelling with anyone, please give details

Section 7 - Travel Information in the past

1. previous visits to China – if you have travelled to China previously, please give details
2. previous China visa(s) – if you have been granted a China visa in the past, please give details
3. valid other countries visa – if you have any other valid visas for any country, please give details
4. countries visited in the last 5 years – if you have travelled to any other country in the last 5 years, please give details

Section 8 - Other Information

1. have you ever been refused a Chinese visa? – if yes, please give details
2. has your Chinese visa been cancelled? - if yes, please give details
3. have you ever entered China illegally, overstayed, or worked illegally? - if yes, please give details
4. do you have a criminal record in any other country? - if yes, please give details
5. do you have any serious mental disorder or infectious diseases? - if yes, please give details
6. have you ever visited any countries or territories where there has been an epidemic in the last 30 days? - if yes, please give details
7. Have you ever been trained, or do you have any special skills in the field of firearms, explosives, nuclear devices, biological or chemical products? - if yes, please give details
8. have you ever served in the military? - if yes, please give details
9. Have you served or participated in any paramilitary organisations, civil armed units, guerilla forces or rebellion organisations, or been a member thereof? - if yes, please give details
10. is there anything else you want to declare? - if yes, please give details

Section 9 - Email Information

1. 1. Do you choose to send your passport to the visa centre? – please tick ‘No’, all applications must visit a visa centre in person to give fingerprints
  2. Are you collecting your passport? – if you would like Wendy Wu Tours to collect your passport on your behalf (London centre only) or you would like to collect your own passport please tick ‘by visiting the visa centre’ if you would like your passport to be posted back to you, please tick ‘By post’ and give details

On Section 9, you will see a 'save' or 'submit' button. Please ensure you click the SAVE button and email us your application reference number, so we can check this and make any changes on your behalf.

Section 10 - Declaration/Review

Please review all your answers on the application before declaring all information is correct. Please note once the visa form is completed, you will not be able to make any amendments. Any incorrect information will result you needing to complete a new application.

1. 1. Declaration – please select ‘personal application’ if you are over the age of 18 years old. If you are under 18 years old, please select ‘Assisting another application’ – further details need to be completed by a parent

Once we have checked your form, if all is correct we will submit it on your behalf and email it back to you.

You will need to print this in colour, sign and date.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

Mandatory

Passport - your physical current passport (6 months validity from arrival date to China and two blank pages).
Application Form - your fully completed and signed visa form printed in colour.
Photograph - even though you upload your photograph online, please also take the original with you
Passport Photocopy - coloured copy of your passport photo information page.
Entry/Exit details to/from China - a copy of your flight confirmation.
China invitation support letter - we will send you this once we have pre-checked your form.
Your appointment confirmation - you must have an appointment confirmed

If Applicable

Non-EU passport holders will need to provide original proof of UK residency (UK visa or residence permit)
Coloured copy of any previous Chinese visas
If applicable, if you work in Government, Charities, Religious, Media or passengers under the aged of 18, then additional documentation will be required - please contact us.

Where are the Visa Centres Located?

London

China Visa Application Service Centre
12 Old Jewry
London
EC2R 8DU

tel: 0207 776 7888
email: ukcentre@visaforchina.org

Online Appointment System

*Please note appointments can only be made for the London Visa Centre.

Manchester

China Visa Application Service Centre
Ground Floor
71 Mosley Street
Manchester
M2 3HR

tel: 0161 236 1070
email: manchestercentre@visaforchina.org

Edinburgh

China Visa Application Service Centre
2nd Floor, Exchange Tower
19 Canning Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EG

tel: 0131 229 2519
email: edinburghcentre@visaforchina.org

Guide Photograph Specifications

The Chinese Embassy is extremely strict with regards to photographs, please ensure that you read the below specifications as this may result in your application being rejected when you attend the Visa Centre. See further detailed photo specifications issued by the China Visa website.

Must be taken in a photobooth or by a professional photographer.
You cannot take this photo yourself.
Must be on a white background.
The photo must be different to the one in your passport and must be taken within 6 months.
Passport size photo.
Your fringe must be off your forehead.
Your head should be positioned in the centre of the photo.
It should show your full face (without smiling) and your face should be in the centre of the frame.
Your hair should be tucked behind your ears.
No sunglasses.
No glasses.
No jewellery.
No hats or scarves.

Once you have taken the photo in a photobooth/photographers, this will need to be scanned and uploaded to your computer as a JPEG file only and the file size must be 40KB-120KB. If you are having difficulty with meeting the above requirements and your photo is not uploading, please email through to ChinaVisa@wendywutours.co.uk and we can resize and correct the file type for you. Please allow 7 working days for this to be actioned.

Even if your photograph is accepted on the online application form, if your photo does not meet the above requirements, the visa centre may ask you to have a new photograph taken on the day of your appointment. There is a photobooth available at the centre at an additional cost.

If you have any queries that are not listed on this page or the FAQ's below, then please do not hesitate to call us on 0808 274 8594 or email visa@wendywutours.co.uk.

This page has been designed to help answer your questions regarding your Chinese Visa Application.

Chinese Visa - Fingerprint FAQs

How do I pre-book my finger print appointment online?

London: Please click 'here' to pre-book your appointment at the London Visa Centre.

Everywhere else: please visit www.visaforchina.org to make an appointment.
How do I get my passport back?

London: We will collect your passport on your behalf and return to you by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Everywhere else: The service centre will advise you when to collect your passport which does not require another appointment to collect. You will need to make two trips, one to drop off and one to collect.
How long will I be without my passport?

London: Approx. 2 weeks (London is a much busier service centre).

Everywhere else: Approx. 1 week.
Can I cancel my booking due to the new finger print rules?

Unfortunately, this change is completely out of our control and our normal booking conditions and charges apply.
Can I change my holiday to a different destination?

Yes, this may be possible. Amendment fees and additional costs may apply.
Do you cover travel expenses/overnight accommodation to the relevant visa centre?

We will not be able to cover any travel expenses/overnight accommodation.
How much is the visa refund for those visiting Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast?

The nett cost of the visa for a group tour is ￡151.00 per person for British passport holders - this cost will be removed from your invoice, if it is included in your tour, visas are not included in the price of our Essential Tour range. If you booked through a travel agent, they will do this for you. If you are travelling to China on an international cruise liner (i.e Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean etc) then the refund may be higher.
Can we meet you at your office in London on the day of our appointment?

A member of our team will meet you at the London Visa Centre and not our office.
What do I do upon arrival at the London visa centre?

Identify yourself to the Wendy Wu Tours staff member and not at reception. The staff member will be wearing a Wendy Wu Tours branded shirt and will have a sign. If you are lost, then please contact our office on 0844 875 2434.
What is the process If I am over 70 years old?

Please view our below page which explains the procedure if you're aged 70 or over.

https://www.wendywutours.co.uk/help-and-advice/passports-and-visas/china/
Do all applicants have to apply together at the same visa centre?

No, applicants can apply at different visa centre's at different times.

Can I book my appointment at any time?

London - you can book your appointment as far in advance as you wish. However, it must be no earlier than 11 weeks prior to your arrival date into China, otherwise your application will be refused.

Everywhere else - We recommend you check the relevant visa centre website for their live availability. You cannot submit your application more than 11 weeks prior to arrival date into China.
What happens if one (or more) applicants require fingerprint and the other applicant doesn't?

The applicant under 70 will need to apply at the visa centre to provide fingerprints. The applicant over 70 can post their applications to us.

Alternatively, you can both apply together at the visa centre.
I have had a Chinese visa before but I am not sure what the visa type is?

Please click 'here' to view the different types of visa - they are categorised by letters. The online application form will ask for this.

The above information is subject to change.

Chinese Visa - General FAQs

Does the visa form have to be typed?

Yes, the online form must be completed.
What happens if I do my own visa?

In most cases, we would refund you the cost of the visa, which is included within your tour cost, excluding our Essential Tour range. Once we have been informed of this, we will then send you an invitation letter which is to be presented along with your visa application as supporting documents.

You will have to make an appointment to submit your application at your nearest service centre to you (London, Manchester and Edinburgh). You will need to visit twice, once to submit then again to collect at a later date.
Will I be staying at the same hotels that I have listed on the application form?

No, you will receive your confirmed hotel list 2-3 weeks prior to departure with Final Document pack.
Will my occupation affect my application?
Occupation does not tend to be an issue unless you work as one of the following:
- Government Officials
- Charity Workers
- Media (TV, Journalist, Writer, etc)
- Religious Worker
- Photographer / Videographer
If you work as any of the above, please call us on 0844 875 2434, as this may also affect when you can apply for the visa.
What if I make a mistake?

If you make a mistake on the application form, then you will need to redo the form correctly.
What happens if I do not hold a British or EU passport?

Please call us on 0844 875 2434 to discuss further.
I was born outside of the UK and EU, will this affect my application?

Yes, this can affect your application, even if you have a British passport.

Depending on where you were born or what passport you currently hold, it varies on what supporting documents are required so please contact us on 0844 875 2434.
What if I don't have a UK address?

We cannot process any applications unless you have a UK address. Please speak to the Chinese embassy in your country of residence.
What if I have no Major Family Members?

This section cannot be left blank. If you do not have any major family members then please list the details of your solicitor, doctor or close family friend.

You only need to list at least one person’s details.
What do I need to do if I have had a Chinese visa previously?

If your Chinese visa is no longer valid, please send a coloured photocopy to us along with your application.

If you have renewed your passport and have an unexpired visa in your old passport, then you need to submit both old and new passports.
What happens if I have a criminal record?

If your criminal record is spent then you do not need to declare it on the form. If it is still ongoing then please call us on 0844 875 2434.
Do I need to list Hong Kong on my Chinese visa application?

No, there is no need to mention this on the Chinese visa application as Hong Kong is not part of Mainland China. This also applies to Tibet.
How can I find out my arrival date into China?

This is usually the day after you depart from the UK as flights to China are overnight. So for example if you depart London on the 11th March you will arrive Beijing on the 12 March.

Your full flight information can be found on your confirmation invoice.