If you are planning a trip from the UAE to China, you are now required to follow a new visa process introduced by the China Application Visa Service Centre located in Dubai. The new China visa rules for UAE residents have come into effect immediately. It includes the two easy steps, including applying online and in-person submission at the centre.
This change is expected to streamline the visa process and minimize document mistakes in the visa process. Moreover, it is going to provide a more structured application experience for tourists and business owners.
Step 1: Online Application is Now Mandatory
Previously, anyone could directly go to the Chinese visa centre in Dubai to apply for the visa. However, the new rules have removed this requirement as the first step. Now, you must complete your form via the portal of official China Visa Application. Besides the digital form, you must upload the following documents:
- A valid passport copy
- A recent passport-sized photograph
- A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer or sponsor
- Confirmed flight tickets
- Valid hotel bookings
After the submission, your application will undergo the initial review. If everything goes well, you will get the visa application certificate at your email address. Remember, this certificate will help you to proceed to the second step.
Step 2: Visit the Visa Centre With the Original Document
Once your visa application gets approved, you should visit the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Dubai with your passport, signed visa application, and all original documents that you have uploaded at the time of submitting an online application.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil, a visa expert at Wisefox Tourism, said, “Earlier, we submitted the application directly to the Centre and received the passport within four days. Now, we must apply online, wait for review, and only then go for submission. The processing time after the submission still takes around four months”.
Visa Fees and Processing Timeline
You must pay the visa fees in person at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Dubai using a card or cash. However, the processing time will start from the day of the passport submission. As we told you before, it will take around 4 working days to approve. Still, it would be best to learn about the following timing:
- Application submission and payment: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Passport collection: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Fingerprint Exemptions Under New China Visa Rules for UAE Residents
Submitting your fingerprints is one of the important things to do to get this visa. However, the new rules have provided some people with an exemption from this step. The following is the list of those people who are free from the fingerprint submission:
- Children under 14 and adults over 70
- Holders of diplomatic or service passports
- Applicants whose fingerprints were already recorded at the Dubai centre within the past five years
- Applicants unable to provide fingerprints
- Short-stay applicants (under 180 days) from September 2, 2024, to December 31, 2025
It is important to learn that the Chinese consulate has reserved the fingerprint for those who need it.
What Documents Are Required?
We have already clarified the list of documents you need for a China visa. However, we want to clarify that you need a flight ticket and a hotel reservation if you are a tourist. Similarly, business travelers need an invitation letter from the Chinese counterpart.
Why the Change?
This revised rule is focused on boosting efficiency, reducing paperwork, and ensuring better documentation control over the visa process. Subair said, “We have noticed an increase in the visa inquiry for tourists and business travelers. This new structure brings clarity and decreases the chances of missing or incorrect documents”.
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