Online filing becomes the first step, with a 30-day window to submit documents in person.
From October 26, the Chinese Embassy in India and the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai will accept and process Chinese visa and consular legalisation applications themselves. The Mumbai Consulate General announced the change in an official notice dated October 22 on its website.
The notice says the Embassy in New Delhi will temporarily handle services within the Kolkata consular district. It refers applicants to three companion notices, covering visa procedures, consular legalisation of documents and the schedule of consular fees.
How The New Process Works
Applicants must first complete the visa application form on the online portal of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and upload the required documents. There is no payment requirement during the online review. When the online review is cleared, the applicant receives an email and has 30 days to submit the passport, application form, and supporting papers at the designated mission. Fingerprints are collected where required. Fees are paid on the collection date printed on the pick-up slip.
The mission an applicant must approach depends on where they live. Residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka apply to the Mumbai Consulate General. Residents of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal are directed to the New Delhi Embassy for now. People living elsewhere in India also apply in New Delhi.
Documentation
All applicants need a passport valid for more than six months with at least two blank pages, along with the information page and any passport issued in the past five years. Two photographs measuring 48 mm by 33 mm, taken within the previous six months, are also required.
Tourist visa applicants must show bank statements for the past six months with a consistent average monthly balance of at least INR 1 lakh. A bank deposit certificate of a similar amount, issued at least three months before applying, is an alternative.
Business visa requirements are stricter. The notice calls for handwritten Chinese endorsements on copies of the inviting company’s business licence and the inviter’s identity document. The invitation letter must carry the company’s official seal. The cover letter must describe the company and state the specific purpose and duration of the trip. General descriptions such as “business meetings” may not be accepted.
Fingerprints And Processing Time
Fingerprint collection remains waived until December 31, 2026, for short-term visas with a stay of up to 180 days. Applicants for longer stays, multiple-entry visas, and certain categories, including D, J1, Q1, S1, X1, and Z, are generally expected to give fingerprints. Children under 14 and adults over 70 are exempt.
Regular processing takes seven working days and express processing four, counted from the day after the passport is submitted. The Embassy takes visa applications from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and handles collection from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In Mumbai, applications are accepted from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and collection runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Consulate says that where earlier guidance conflicts with the new notice, the new notice prevails. Applicants and travel agents are advised to review the latest instructions before filing.
What Changes for Applicants
- Submission: From October 26, the Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai accept and process visa and consular legalisation applications directly.
- Process: Applicants file and upload documents online first, then visit the designated mission within 30 days of the approval email to submit their passport and papers.
- Jurisdiction: Services for the Kolkata consular district are temporarily handled by the Embassy in New Delhi.
- Payment: Visa fees are paid at the mission when the visa is collected, not at the online stage.
- Fingerprints: The exemption for short-term visas of up to 180 days continues until December 31, 2026.
- Precedence: The October 22 notice overrides any earlier guidance that conflicts with it.
Also Read: China Visa Guide 2026: Types, Requirements and Application Process
