Visa application to enter China

[YJL1984]

Hi guys, anyone tried to apply visa to enter China yet? How is the process like? My boss arrow me to go Beijing in June. Hope to have some info here before proceeding to apply.

 

[beanstalk6]

https://mothership.sg/2023/04/china-visa-long-queue/

 

[YJL1984]

Yeaaa, I read about this so would like to see if any fellow member have first hand experience to share.

 

[revebek]

Yeaaa, I read about this so would like to see if any fellow member have first hand experience to share.

I went to queue at 10 Apr, one day before the report.

TL DR: I waited from 7am and was done by 11am on the same day. Collection on another day.

To give you some idea of what to do.

Pre-Application:
1. Fill up the application form at https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn.
a. For work should be M-Visa
b. Alot of things to fill up, will take some time, especially your Chinese counter party who invited you
c. You may be able to book a slot if well in advance (around 2-3 weeks), though I notice the wait is similar too but it's confirmed on that day you can apply.

2. Prepare a copy of
a. Application form - MUST print out
b. Invitation letter from China side
c. passport copy
d. passport photo (if photo in application form clear enough then don't need)
e. original passport
f. If non-Singapore residency then have residence permit too
g. COVID vaccination certificate (though they didn't check)

Application Day:
1. Go down early to 80 Robinson Road (Centre opens at 9 but I arrived at 7am and there's 20+ ppl in front)
2. Wait at downstairs at Walk-in queue or Appt queue depending if you have appt
3. At around 8:30am, their staff will come down to give pink slip ask you come back at 10, 10:30am to directly go upstairs 16th floor. I was in walk-in queue so not sure if the appt queue get to go up immediately or not. You can choose to continue to queue or go breakfast (i went breakfast because need toilet break).
4. When return to 16th floor at stipulated time, they will check if you have all the documents printed and ready, if yes then go queue at front counter to get queue number.
5. Get queue number, wait for counter, they will collect your passport and documents and tell you your extent of visa and if you want express or normal service.
6. Pay at payment counter (also queue). I chose normal service but because walk-in +$60. So ended up I paid around $157. Express service for me at that time was only half a day earlier so no point.

Collection Day:
1. For my normal service, I applied on Monday and able to collect on Thursday.
2. Went to collection counter at 16th floor straight, if no queue then it's a 5 min thing. Your visa will be in your passport.

Hope this helps.

 

[YJL1984]

I went to queue at 10 Apr, one day before the report.

TL DR: I waited from 7am and was done by 11am on the same day. Collection on another day.

To give you some idea of what to do.

Pre-Application:
1. Fill up the application form at https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn.
a. For work should be M-Visa
b. Alot of things to fill up, will take some time, especially your Chinese counter party who invited you
c. You may be able to book a slot if well in advance (around 2-3 weeks), though I notice the wait is similar too but it's confirmed on that day you can apply.

2. Prepare a copy of
a. Application form - MUST print out
b. Invitation letter from China side
c. passport copy
d. passport photo (if photo in application form clear enough then don't need)
e. original passport
f. If non-Singapore residency then have residence permit too
g. COVID vaccination certificate (though they didn't check)

Application Day:
1. Go down early to 80 Robinson Road (Centre opens at 9 but I arrived at 7am and there's 20+ ppl in front)
2. Wait at downstairs at Walk-in queue or Appt queue depending if you have appt
3. At around 8:30am, their staff will come down to give pink slip ask you come back at 10, 10:30am to directly go upstairs 16th floor. I was in walk-in queue so not sure if the appt queue get to go up immediately or not. You can choose to continue to queue or go breakfast (i went breakfast because need toilet break).
4. When return to 16th floor at stipulated time, they will check if you have all the documents printed and ready, if yes then go queue at front counter to get queue number.
5. Get queue number, wait for counter, they will collect your passport and documents and tell you your extent of visa and if you want express or normal service.
6. Pay at payment counter (also queue). I chose normal service but because walk-in +$60. So ended up I paid around $157. Express service for me at that time was only half a day earlier so no point.

Collection Day:
1. For my normal service, I applied on Monday and able to collect on Thursday.
2. Went to collection counter at 16th floor straight, if no queue then it's a 5 min thing. Your visa will be in your passport.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the detailed information! Appreciate it lots. Am im sure many others will benefit from this too.

I wonder why China put SG with other countries where visa is needed.

 

[beanstalk6]

I wonder why China put SG with other countries where visa is needed.

Singapore was in the visa-free list before Covid-19. Visa-free arrangements with all countries were revoked and has not been restored with any country, not just Singapore.

 

[YJL1984]

Ohhhh didnt know that other countries are not restored too

 

[beanstalk6]

The PM pointed to this when he requested the resumption of visa-free entry from the Chinese PM.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...relations-pm-lee-hsien-loong-li-qiang-3390376

 

[bwaysaikryptonite]

tiagong gotch peepur say they are trying to use this as leverage to make sinkie give tiong visa free too…so be prepared to keep donating tis $85 if chiu wan to go….

 

[seantan101]

hi i just found out the 15day hasn't resume and currently scrambling to apply as i've bought my flight tickets and hotel bookings....was navigating through the site to apply but its down (https://www.visaforchina.cn/web/res...SGP21&request_locale=en_US&site_alias=SGP2_EN)
...any advice....my trip is on 9th May.....just saw the Q at robinson rd and its long ...don't know for now if its still long....thx

seems like i have to go down

 

[Johnpierpontmorgan]

Hi guys, anyone tried to apply visa to enter China yet? How is the process like? My boss arrow me to go Beijing in June. Hope to have some info here before proceeding to apply.

Your company no HR to settle?

 

[DealuxTravel]

hi i just found out the 15day hasn't resume and currently scrambling to apply as i've bought my flight tickets and hotel bookings....was navigating through the site to apply but its down (https://www.visaforchina.cn/web/res...SGP21&request_locale=en_US&site_alias=SGP2_EN)
...any advice....my trip is on 9th May.....just saw the Q at robinson rd and its long ...don't know for now if its still long....thx

seems like i have to go down

You can try go down to queue. If you early enough to be in queue, and if you already prepared all docs , passport photo and submit successfully ( and make payment by paynow or cash ) , it will be ready in 4 working days ( excluding collection ).

If you cannot queue, can pay to apply through an agent. The visa center has slots for agents every day, so no need take queue number. Once docs submitted to agent, the agent will tell u to go down at appointment time to take fingerprint and sign. Visa also ready in 4 working days after appointment. I did mine in Mar 2023 and overall took 7 working days, total cost was $400+. My agent was CIBT https://cibtvisas.sg/

 

[alesstan]

You can try go down to queue. If you early enough to be in queue, and if you already prepared all docs , passport photo and submit successfully ( and make payment by paynow or cash ) , it will be ready in 4 working days ( excluding collection ).

If you cannot queue, can pay to apply through an agent. The visa center has slots for agents every day, so no need take queue number. Once docs submitted to agent, the agent will tell u to go down at appointment time to take fingerprint and sign. Visa also ready in 4 working days after appointment. I did mine in Mar 2023 and overall took 7 working days, total cost was $400+. My agent was CIBT https://cibtvisas.sg/

Hi So sorry for free n easy just to go china visit some friends can also apply for visa right? As in not work related stuff.. Thank you.

 

[DealuxTravel]

Hi So sorry for free n easy just to go china visit some friends can also apply for visa right? As in not work related stuff.. Thank you.

Yes, just apply the tourist visa.

 

[alesstan]

Yes, just apply the tourist visa.

Thanks for your advice

 

[seantan101]

Wow 400 bucks through an agent ic.....thx ....I actually filled up the form online and fixed an appointment for tml....hope it goes well.....form and photo on it printed out with passport photocopied .......

Uses to travel China for tourism 15day visa free and this is my first time encountering that the 15day hasn't resume....what to do ......haha thx for all the help here

 

[alesstan]

Wow 400 bucks through an agent ic.....thx ....I actually filled up the form online and fixed an appointment for tml....hope it goes well.....form and photo on it printed out with passport photocopied .......

Uses to travel China for tourism 15day visa free and this is my first time encountering that the 15day hasn't resume....what to do ......haha thx for all the help here

So exp... any one know if go Hainan need to apply for visa? As I read it somewhere still need to summit some document to the local authorities..

 

[beanstalk6]

If you have credible, verifiable information, add to this thread->
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...who-bought-tickets-direct-from-scoot.6883286/

 

[DealuxTravel]

Wow 400 bucks through an agent ic.....thx ....I actually filled up the form online and fixed an appointment for tml....hope it goes well.....form and photo on it printed out with passport photocopied .......

Uses to travel China for tourism 15day visa free and this is my first time encountering that the 15day hasn't resume....what to do ......haha thx for all the help here

Payment is via paynow or cash. When I was down there, it was the day DBS internet banking was down for whole day. So everyone was trying to borrow cash from others on the spot. And those who only have DBS account couldnt even go ATM to withdraw.

 

[DealuxTravel]

ok Visa settled...now is pcr test to be taken 48hrs pre-landing....anyone knows of the step? self-test and self report online I read(wechat or something) or need to go to clinic to test be be certified by doc?

appreciated....

No need pcr. ART also can. But no one checks at china. Just self declare using the WeChat mini program when you land in china. Don't do too early as the qr code will expire.

And u must put your 14 days travel history before your travel date. Just put all days in SG it you are in SG.