Govt consular fee (+ CVASC service charge)
Standard timeline (Express: 2-3 days)
Minimum 6-month stamped bank balance
Enrolled at CVASC center (ages 14–70)
1. Sovereign Entry Framework for Indian Nationals Travelling to China
Indian passport holders intending to visit the People's Republic of China for tourism, sightseeing, cultural exploration, or family reunions must obtain a physical Category L (Tourist) Visa or Category M (Business) Visa. Unlike certain neighboring nations, mainland China does not operate an electronic tourist visa (eVisa) or Visa on Arrival (VoA) for Indian regular passport holders.
The visa is issued as an engraved sticker affixed permanently to an available page in your Indian passport booklet by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai and Kolkata. While the initial filing is conducted via the official China Online Visa Application (COVA) portal, physical submission of documents and biometric fingerprint collection must be completed in person at an authorized Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC).
2. Step-by-Step Application Procedure (COVA to Passport Retrieval)
Securing a Chinese visa in India follows an orderly 6-stage protocol:
Complete Online Form on the COVA Portal
Navigate to cova.mfa.gov.cn and select your jurisdictional location (New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata). Complete all 10 sections covering your personal identity, passport details, travel itinerary, employment history, and educational background. Review all inputs carefully; once submitted, COVA forms cannot be edited online. Print out the completed application form (typically 8 to 9 pages) and the COVA Confirmation Sheet.
Schedule an Appointment on the AVAAS Portal
Once your COVA form is generated, visit the Appointment for Visa Application Submission system at avaas.mfa.gov.cn. Enter your application number and passport details, then select an available date and time slot for your biometric submission at the designated CVASC center.
Assemble the Consular Document Dossier
Organize all required physical documents according to the consular checklist: signed COVA form, two compliant physical photos, original passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, photocopy of passport bio-pages, proof of financial stability, flight reservations, confirmed hotel bookings, and a detailed daily itinerary.
In-Person Submission & Biometric Enrollment at CVASC
Attend your appointment at the CVASC center. Staff will verify your document package, review your photographs for compliance, and collect optical scans of all 10 fingerprints. Applicants under 14 years or over 70 years are legally exempt from fingerprint enrollment.
Settle Government and Service Center Tariffs
Pay the applicable fees at the counter. The center accepts payment via credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and bank demand drafts. A stamped payment receipt and collection token with an estimated delivery date will be issued.
Passport Collection
Track your application progress on the CVASC tracking portal. When marked 'Ready for Collection', present your original receipt token at the center to collect your passport containing the stamped Chinese visa sticker.
3. Statutory Fee Schedule (INR) for Indian Passport Holders (2026)
Visa tariffs consist of the Embassy consular fee plus the CVASC service center handling charge. Fees are payable in Indian Rupees (INR):
| Visa Subcategory | Entries Allowed | Consular Tariff (INR) | CVASC Service Fee (INR) | Total Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist (L) / Business (M) | Single Entry | ₹3,800 | ₹1,770 (incl. GST) | ₹5,570 INR |
| Tourist (L) / Business (M) | Double Entry | ₹5,700 | ₹1,770 (incl. GST) | ₹7,470 INR |
| Tourist (L) / Business (M) | 6-Month Multiple Entry | ₹7,600 | ₹1,770 (incl. GST) | ₹9,370 INR |
| Tourist (L) / Business (M) | 1-Year Multiple Entry | ₹11,400 | ₹1,770 (incl. GST) | ₹13,170 INR |
| Express Service Surcharge | Expedited (2–3 Days) | +₹2,000 | +₹1,180 | +₹3,180 INR |
* Note: Consular tariffs are subject to reciprocal revisions by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Surcharges apply for optional courier passport return.
4. Mandatory Document Checklist & Financial Solvency Criteria
Failure to provide verified financial and travel documents is the leading cause of delays and interview summons. Indian applicants must furnish:
- Original Indian Passport: Must possess at least 6 months of validity beyond the planned departure from China and contain at least 2 consecutive blank visa pages. Previous expired passports containing foreign visas must also be submitted.
- Printed COVA Application & Confirmation Page: Complete signed hard copies with identical signatures matching your passport.
- Compliant Biometric Photographs: Two color photos (33mm x 48mm) taken against a pure white background within the last 6 months. Glasses, heavy jewelry, uniform garments, and headwear (except religious head coverings) are strictly prohibited.
- Original 6-Month Bank Account Statements: Must show consistent cash flows with an ending closing balance of at least ₹1,50,000 to ₹2,00,000 INR per traveler. Statements must carry the official seal and signature of the bank branch.
- Income Tax Return Verification (ITR-V): Acknowledgments for the last 2 assessment years demonstrating taxable personal income.
- Employment Evidence: Official employment letter, leave approval on corporate letterhead, or business registration certificate (GST registration, Certificate of Incorporation) for self-employed individuals.
- Confirmed Round-Trip Aviation Bookings: Verifiable airline tickets showing departure from India and return/onward journey out of China.
- Confirmed Accommodation: Hotel vouchers corresponding precisely to each night of your stay across Chinese cities, matching the names of all traveling individuals.
- Day-by-Day Travel Itinerary: A logical, realistic travel plan detailing tourist attractions and intercity transit (e.g., high-speed rail between Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai).
5. Chinese Visa Application Service Centers (CVASC) in India
Applications must be submitted to the CVASC center governing your state of residence:
New Delhi CVASC (Embassy Jurisdiction)
Address: Concourse Floor, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001
States Covered: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and all other states not covered by Mumbai or Kolkata.
Mumbai CVASC (Consulate General Jurisdiction)
Address: 8th Floor, Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 / BKC Center
States Covered: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry.
Kolkata CVASC (Consulate General Jurisdiction)
Address: BI Wonder 2nd Floor, 2/1 Park Street, Park Circus, Kolkata 700016
States Covered: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
6. Cashless Payments, Connectivity & Logistics in China
Mainland China features the world's most advanced digital payment infrastructure, where physical cash (RMB notes) and international plastic credit cards are rarely accepted at street-level merchants:
- Alipay & WeChat Pay Integration: Indian travelers can download the international version of the Alipay app, complete real-name passport verification, and link their Indian Visa or Mastercard credit/debit cards. This enables instant QR code payments at convenience stores, taxis, metro turnstiles, and restaurants without foreign bank accounts.
- Mobile Data & Firewalls: Major international services (Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube) are inaccessible in mainland China via local Wi-Fi due to internet restrictions. Travelers should purchase an international roaming package from Indian telcos (Airtel, Jio) or activate a global travel eSIM (e.g., Airalo, Nomad) which routes traffic through overseas gateways, bypassing local restrictions legally.
- Navigation & Transit: Apple Maps functions accurately in English inside China. For ride-hailing, use the integrated Didi mini-program within Alipay, which supports English destinations and auto-charges linked foreign cards.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (China Visa for Indians)
Bidirectional Consular & Travel Cross-Links
Explore authoritative destination roadmaps, reciprocal visa protocols, and consular documentation across Hidden Routes: