1. Basic application materials:
a. Passport: an original passport valid for more than 6 months with a blank visa page and a copy of the personal information page.https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/ceuk/chn/qzfw/zyxx/t1418132.htm

b. Visa application form and photo: one "Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China" with a recent full-faced colour (with a light background) passport photo pasted on the application form. Please see photo specifications here.

c. Legal stay or residence certificate (for non-UK citizens): original and copy of valid certificate or valid visa for lawful stay, residence, work, or study in the UK.

d. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (for those who once had Chinese nationality and then obtained foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide a copy of the original Chinese passport and passport photo information page; if you have obtained a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a new foreign passport, you must provide the personal information page of the original foreign passport and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name on the new passport is not the same as the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of the change of name issued by relevant authorities).

e. COVID-19 vaccination certificate (if any).

* To apply for an emergency humanitarian visa, if you are going to China to attend a funeral or to visit a critically ill patient, you must submit the identity document of the deceased or critically ill patient (such as a Chinese identity card or a foreigner's passport, etc.), the death certificate or the diagnosis issued by the hospital, the notice of critical illness, the proof of kinship, and other materials.

* To apply for an emergency humanitarian visa, if you are going to China to attend a funeral or to visit a critically ill patient, you must submit the identity document of the deceased or critically ill patient (such as a Chinese identity card or a foreigner's passport, etc.), the death certificate or the diagnosis issued by the hospital, the notice of critical illness, the proof of kinship, and other materials.

3. Acceptance Method: 
Please go to the Chinese visa application service centre website (https://www.visaforchina.org/) to complete the online form and make an appointment. Submit your application to the visa centre by the appointment date and provide fingerprints for all ten fingers. Minors under the age of 14 and adults over the age of 70 do not need to go to the visa centre to collect biometric information. To know more about specific procedures, visa application requirements, time limits, and standard costs, please contact the visa centre.

4. Applicants for diplomatic, official, and courtesy visas should fill in and print the application form in advance using the online form on the China visa application service centre website, and submit the visa application directly through the visa application centre without making an appointment. 

5. Foreign citizens applying for visas to Hong Kong and Macau SAR of China can submit their applications directly during office hours at the visa centre without making an appointment.   

6. Other types of visa applications will not be accepted for the time being.

Please note that the notice above is a translation of an update shared by the Chinese Embassy in London.