Your China visa, handled start to finish.
From documentation to visa collection we manage your entire Chinese tourist visa application, so you don’t have to. Trusted by applicants across the UK for fast, accurate, stress-free China visa processing.
Expert visa support: choose your service package.
Our specialised visa services are built around flexibility: pick the level of support that matches your needs, from appointment booking alone to full end-to-end assistance.
China Application Form Assistance
Your COVA form completed and your documents reviewed you attend or courier the appointment yourself.
China Visa Consultation
Document review and a personalised checklist before your appointment.
China End to End Visa Assistance
Everything handled, from your first document to your visa collection.
Government and visa-centre fees the consular fee and the CVASC service charge are paid separately at the centre and are not included in our service fee. Fees follow a reciprocity principle and vary by nationality; we confirm the current figure for your passport against the Chinese Consular Services website (cs.mfa.gov.cn) before you commit to anything. Not sure which package is right for you? Get in touch and we’ll recommend the right level of support for your travel plans.
One application, multiple trips to China.
Beyond the standard single-entry L visa, many applicants with a genuine travel history can be granted multi-entry visas valid for 2, 5 or even 10 years, allowing repeated visits without reapplying each time. Validity and permitted stay are two different things: a 10-year visa does not mean ten years in China it means you can enter repeatedly within that period, typically staying up to 60 or 90 days per visit depending on what is granted.
This is the single most misread thing about a Chinese visa. The validity period is how long you may keep entering; the stay is how many days you may remain on each visit, typically 60 or 90. Planning a long trip against the validity figure rather than the stay figure is how people end up overstaying a visa that looked generous.
A 5 or 10-year grant goes to applicants who can show a genuine, documented travel record which is why we ask for your old passports before anything else. If the history is not there yet, we say so and build the strongest single-entry case instead of gambling your fee on a request that will not land.
Short-term single and double-entry applications have had periods of exemption; multi-entry applications usually require fingerprinting at the centre. That decides whether an authorised submission is possible or whether you need to attend in person, so we settle it before booking anything.
Exact visa type, validity and length of stay are determined by the Chinese authorities on a case-by-case basis, and multi-entry visas usually require fingerprinting. We’ll advise on realistic expectations once we review your circumstances.
London to China every step through the recognised channels.
China’s process is different from most destinations: applications are not made at the embassy, and they cannot be completed entirely online or by post. Every applicant, unless using an authorised agency submission, attends an approved Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person with their physical passport. Your form goes through the official COVA system at visaforchina.cn, your appointment is at a real CVASC in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast, and the decision belongs to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General behind it. We never submit through unofficial third-party portals.
Flight time London → Beijing: about 10 hours. Time you’ll spend on your visa paperwork with us: about 20 minutes.
- London · Manchester · Edinburgh · BelfastApplication prepared and your CVASC appointment attended
- Chinese Embassy/Consulate, UKApplication assessed and the visa issued
- Passport collectionTracked to the decision we tell you exactly when it is ready
- Beijing · Shanghai · Guangzhou · ChengduYour China arrival. We’re still one message away.
Submit your documents once we handle the rest.
To complete your China visa application online, you need a set of required documents. Our experts ensure accuracy to avoid delays or rejections.
Start your China visa journey today.
Our simplified process ensures your apply-for-a-visa online experience is smooth and stress-free. Keep scrolling the plane leads the way.
We assess your travel plans, your passport and your China visa history to confirm which visa type and validity to apply for including whether a multi-entry request is realistic for you.
Send us your documents once. We review everything for accuracy and completeness, and tell you exactly what is missing rather than sending you back and forth.
We complete your application through the official visaforchina.cn portal and book your CVASC appointment at the centre that suits you.
You attend your CVASC appointment with your physical passport and documents or we arrange authorised submission where you are eligible. You are briefed fully beforehand, so there are no surprises at the counter.
We track your application status and tell you exactly when your passport and visa are ready for collection.
Start your China visa journey today.
Our simplified process ensures your apply-for-a-visa online experience is smooth and stress-free.
We assess your travel plans, your passport and your China visa history to confirm which visa type and validity to apply for including whether a multi-entry request is realistic for you.
Send us your documents once. We review everything for accuracy and completeness, and tell you exactly what is missing rather than sending you back and forth.
We complete your application through the official visaforchina.cn portal and book your CVASC appointment at the centre that suits you.
You attend your CVASC appointment with your physical passport and documents or we arrange authorised submission where you are eligible. You are briefed fully beforehand, so there are no surprises at the counter.
We track your application status and tell you exactly when your passport and visa are ready for collection.
Best time to visit China.
Spring
Mild weather across most of the country, blooming landscapes through the south, and a good balance of comfort and lower crowds. The air is at its clearest in the northern cities, and it avoids the national holiday crush.
Summer
Hot and humid through much of eastern China, and the domestic travel peak but the ideal window for the cooler highlands of Tibet, Yunnan and Xinjiang. Expect the major sites at their busiest.
Autumn
Widely considered the best season: clear skies, comfortable temperatures and striking colour in places like Jiuzhaigou and Beijing. Avoid the first week of October Golden Week is the single busiest travel period of the Chinese year.
Winter
Cold in the north, which is exactly the point for Harbin’s ice festival, and mild and pleasant in the south through Yunnan and Hainan. The quietest, cheapest time to see the headline sights without queues Chinese New Year excepted, when the country effectively moves.
China is vast, so the right window depends heavily on the region tell us where you are going as well as when, and we will build the itinerary around it. Apply at least 3–4 weeks before your intended travel date: standard processing is typically around 4 working days once submitted at CVASC, but allow time for document preparation, appointment availability and peak-season delays, particularly around Chinese New Year and the national holidays.
The advantage of professional China visa services.
| Feature | When other visa agents do | Schengen Visa Consultancy |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type & validity selection | Risk of applying for the wrong type, or missing multi-entry eligibility entirely | ✓ Correct type and validity strategy confirmed by a specialist upfront |
| COVA online form | Self-navigated, easy to make formatting or detail errors | ✓ Completed and reviewed by visa specialists |
| Document requirements | Self-researched, easy to miss nationality-specific rules | ✓ A tailored checklist for your exact situation |
| Itinerary & supporting documents | Written from scratch, easy to under-document | ✓ Professionally prepared to meet CVASC expectations |
| Appointment booking | Booked independently, with limited slot visibility | ✓ Booked and managed on your behalf |
| If the visa centre requests more information | You respond alone, against the clock | ✓ We manage correspondence with the visa centre on your behalf |
| Time investment | Many hours researching and preparing, plus queue time on the day | ✓ Minimal send your documents once, we do the rest |
Things people always ask.
Do UK citizens need a visa to visit China?
Yes. As of 2026 the UK is not included in China’s visa-free entry programmes, so British passport holders need a full L (Tourist) visa before travelling, arranged in advance. China does not offer visa-on-arrival for general tourism.
Can I apply for a China visa entirely online?
Not entirely. You complete the initial application form online through the official COVA system (visaforchina.cn), but you or an authorised representative must then attend a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person to submit your physical passport and documents.
How long does a China Tourist (L) Visa take to process?
Standard processing is typically around 4 working days once your application is submitted at CVASC, though this can extend during busy periods. Express processing is usually available for an additional fee. Our own side takes 7–15 working days to have the file appointment-ready.
Where can I apply for a China visa in the UK?
At a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) currently London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. You cannot apply directly at the Chinese Embassy; the centres operate on behalf of the Embassy and Consulates-General.
Do I need to provide fingerprints?
It depends on the visa type and the policy in force. Short-term single- and double-entry applications have had periods of exemption, while multi-entry visas the 2, 5 and 10-year grants usually require fingerprints. We confirm what applies to your application before you attend.
What does a China Tourist (L) Visa cost?
Fees follow a reciprocity principle and vary by nationality. For UK citizens, single-entry fees are currently around £151, covering the consular fee and the CVASC service charge, paid at the centre. Our service fees are separate and depend on the package you choose from £99 for documentation only to £299 for the full service.
Can I visit Tibet on a standard L visa?
No. Tibet requires an additional Tibet Travel Permit and travel as part of an organised, guided tour. If it is part of your itinerary, tell us at the consultation and we will advise on it separately it changes what your travel plan has to show.
What happens if my application is incomplete or incorrect?
Incomplete or poorly documented applications are a leading cause of delay or refusal. This is exactly what our document review and preparation service is designed to prevent and on this route the most common problem is not a missing document but two documents that disagree with each other.