Applying for a Chinese Visa in Manila, Philippines
Traveling to China soon?
First step: Download the Visa Application Form here.
Read the instructions carefully and fill all boxes up. For those that are not applicable to you, fill the box in with n/a. I made sure to use a black pen and wrote in block all caps letters as indicated in the form.
Second step: Attached your passport photo (white background) on the box provided.
Third step: Collect the necessary documents
For Travel/Tourism Visa (L Visa type) --
- Applicant's passport with blank pages and at least 6 months validity left before expiration.
- Your accomplished Visa Application form
- A copy of the round-trip plane ticket
- Hotel reservation / invitation letter with a copy of the inviter's valid Chinese residence visa and passport information page of inviter's or Chinese national identity card.
- The emergency contact information page (last page) in the applicant's passport should be filled out and photocopied. This is really important! I've seen a lot of applicants who were requested to go back or were turned away as they do not have this available.
- Photocopy of the first page of your passport
- Previously used China visa in old or new passport (Only visa stickers will be accepted. Those with stamped visas must submit additional documents for first time China visa applicants. Please refer to the list below.)
For first time applicants to China (Philippine passport holders, 18 years old and above), they are required to provide the following:
a) original NBI clearance valid for travel abroad
b) original bank certificate with receipt or original passbook, updated within the month that you are applying
- If a company will sponsor the trip, provide the company's bank certificate, sponsorship letter from the company and the company's business registration. - If an individual will sponsor the trip, provide his bank certificate, sponsorship and invitation letter, copy of sponsor's valid residence visa and passport information page or Chinese national ID.
c) If you're employed, provide the following: an employment certificate, company ID, SSS ID and contributions, TIN ID and latest ITR
d) For students, also submit your valid school ID
e) For businessmen, provide business registration of company, TIN ID and latest ITR
f) Personal appearance is required for those who are 16-21 years old.
For those who are applying for a Business/Employment/Student or other types of visas, please visit this site.
Fourth step: Wake up early and head to the Chinese Embassy. The visa office is open from 9AM to 11AM, Mondays to Fridays however I highly recommend that you go early. On the day that I went to submit my documents I was there at 830AM and I had to wait till past 11AM for my number to be called.
Fifth step: Upon arriving, get a number. This is very important as they won't accommodate anyone without this. Also, the doors automatically closes at 11AM so they will only finish filing for those with number stubs inside the Visa hall.
Sixth step: Wait and make sure you won't miss your number. You really wouldn't want to know what happens when you miss your turn (hint: you get a new number and wait all over again). While waiting, make sure to read the reminders posted all over the visa hall anddouble triple check your documents.
Seventh step: Head to the window as your number flashes on the screen. The consul staff will check all your documents. It took me less than 5 minutes and in an instant, I was handed a pink slip which is my passport claiming form. Chatting with the travel agents present that day, I was told that a way to know if you're surely getting your visa is when there's a specific claiming date written on the slip. Lucky for me, I was told to come back two working days after to claim my passport.
Note: Normal processing takes four working days but I applied for a rush processing thus cutting the wait time by half.
Eight step: Go back to claim your passport. Once again, go early to be able to get an early number. Wait for the number to flash on the screen and head to window #7. Pay for your visa fee.
Single-entry Visa: Php. 1,400
Double-entry Visa: Php. 2,100
Multi-entry with 6 months validity: Php. 2,800
Multi-entry with 12 months validity: Php. 4,200
Rush fee: Additional Php. 1,100 on top of your visa fee.
Tenth and final step: Head to Window #6 to claim your passport. Make sure to double check on the following information: Name, Validity, Passport number and Visa type.
Here they are in 10 easy steps! All it takes is to be careful in filling out the form, complete all documents needed and to be on time all the time and you'll surely be on your way to China!
Enjoy your trip!
For more information visit the Official Website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Philippines.
image credit: http://beijingbeijing.info/beijing_photos.html
First step: Download the Visa Application Form here.
Read the instructions carefully and fill all boxes up. For those that are not applicable to you, fill the box in with n/a. I made sure to use a black pen and wrote in block all caps letters as indicated in the form.
Second step: Attached your passport photo (white background) on the box provided.
Third step: Collect the necessary documents
For Travel/Tourism Visa (L Visa type) --
- Applicant's passport with blank pages and at least 6 months validity left before expiration.
- Your accomplished Visa Application form
- A copy of the round-trip plane ticket
- Hotel reservation / invitation letter with a copy of the inviter's valid Chinese residence visa and passport information page of inviter's or Chinese national identity card.
- The emergency contact information page (last page) in the applicant's passport should be filled out and photocopied. This is really important! I've seen a lot of applicants who were requested to go back or were turned away as they do not have this available.
- Photocopy of the first page of your passport
- Previously used China visa in old or new passport (Only visa stickers will be accepted. Those with stamped visas must submit additional documents for first time China visa applicants. Please refer to the list below.)
For first time applicants to China (Philippine passport holders, 18 years old and above), they are required to provide the following:
a) original NBI clearance valid for travel abroad
b) original bank certificate with receipt or original passbook, updated within the month that you are applying
- If a company will sponsor the trip, provide the company's bank certificate, sponsorship letter from the company and the company's business registration. - If an individual will sponsor the trip, provide his bank certificate, sponsorship and invitation letter, copy of sponsor's valid residence visa and passport information page or Chinese national ID.
c) If you're employed, provide the following: an employment certificate, company ID, SSS ID and contributions, TIN ID and latest ITR
d) For students, also submit your valid school ID
e) For businessmen, provide business registration of company, TIN ID and latest ITR
f) Personal appearance is required for those who are 16-21 years old.
For those who are applying for a Business/Employment/Student or other types of visas, please visit this site.
Fourth step: Wake up early and head to the Chinese Embassy. The visa office is open from 9AM to 11AM, Mondays to Fridays however I highly recommend that you go early. On the day that I went to submit my documents I was there at 830AM and I had to wait till past 11AM for my number to be called.
Fifth step: Upon arriving, get a number. This is very important as they won't accommodate anyone without this. Also, the doors automatically closes at 11AM so they will only finish filing for those with number stubs inside the Visa hall.
Sixth step: Wait and make sure you won't miss your number. You really wouldn't want to know what happens when you miss your turn (hint: you get a new number and wait all over again). While waiting, make sure to read the reminders posted all over the visa hall and
Seventh step: Head to the window as your number flashes on the screen. The consul staff will check all your documents. It took me less than 5 minutes and in an instant, I was handed a pink slip which is my passport claiming form. Chatting with the travel agents present that day, I was told that a way to know if you're surely getting your visa is when there's a specific claiming date written on the slip. Lucky for me, I was told to come back two working days after to claim my passport.
Note: Normal processing takes four working days but I applied for a rush processing thus cutting the wait time by half.
Eight step: Go back to claim your passport. Once again, go early to be able to get an early number. Wait for the number to flash on the screen and head to window #7. Pay for your visa fee.
Single-entry Visa: Php. 1,400
Double-entry Visa: Php. 2,100
Multi-entry with 6 months validity: Php. 2,800
Multi-entry with 12 months validity: Php. 4,200
Rush fee: Additional Php. 1,100 on top of your visa fee.
Tenth and final step: Head to Window #6 to claim your passport. Make sure to double check on the following information: Name, Validity, Passport number and Visa type.
Here they are in 10 easy steps! All it takes is to be careful in filling out the form, complete all documents needed and to be on time all the time and you'll surely be on your way to China!
Enjoy your trip!
For more information visit the Official Website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Philippines.
image credit: http://beijingbeijing.info/beijing_photos.html
