Chinese Visa Online Application System processing steps-News

Chinese Visa Online Application System processing steps

2025-09-12

The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Calgary and the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Calgary (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Visa Center’) will officially launch the Chinese Visa Online Application System on September 23, 2025. The details are as follows:

Important Information for Visa Application:

1. Visa Application Details:

The Calgary Visa Application Service Center only accepts visa applications from residents within its jurisdiction (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories).
For humanitarian reasons, you must provide the Chinese ID or passport of the deceased or critically ill person in China, the death certificate/critical illness notice, and proof of kinship. Please email Chinese vosa center in advance. Calgarycenter@visaforchina.org
Visas issued before March 28, 2020, can be reinstated for entry into China.
The fee reduction measure for visas at Chinese embassies and consulates abroad (charging 75% of the current visa fee for travel to China) will be extended until December 31, 2025.
For Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR visas, please do not use the new online system and continue to follow the existing procedures. Please refer to the Visa Center’s website FAQ section.

Please prepare the document as required format as following. Core materials (highlighted in red)

are incomplete, which may result in the inability to process the application.

For Non- Canadian passport applicant, please apply for a Chinese visa 1-2month before your trip. （we suggest Non-canadian passport applicant email us for a doucment list

FAQ：

Application Form section 6.5

1. In most cases, accompanying persons are not considered as traveling companions. Please fill in “No” in this column.

2. If the applicant was born in Mainland China:

---Application Form section 1.1D must be completed with the Chinese name.

---If applying for a visa for the first time, please upload a screenshot of the Chinese passport in the supporting documents section.

---If you have previous visa records, please upload a screenshot of the visa. If the relevant record cannot be found, you must provide a handwritten statement with the relevant information (place of issue, date of issue, whether there has been a name change, etc.) and upload it.

2. New Application Procedures (4 STEPS)

Online application process instruction:

https://www.visaforchina.cn/YYC3_EN/qianzhengyewu/jichuzhishi/changjianwenti/426075916108697600.html

STEP 1: Submit the application online.
Follow the instructions on the Visa Center Website and wait for the preliminary review result after submission.

STEP 2: Check the application status.
You will receive an automatic notification email from the system if the application is returned for revision. If the Visa Center requests modifications or additional documents, please revise and resubmit as instructed.

STEP 3: Submit the passport to the Visa Center.
Once the application status changes to ‘Awaiting Passport Submission’ or similar language, please visit the Visa Center between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on working days to submit your original passport, have your fingerprints collected, and make payment. No appointment is required.

Please note:
——The address of the Visa Center is Suite 200, 855 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, T2P 3P1. This is different from the Consulate-General of China in Calgary.

——For holiday closures, please check the ‘Notices’ section on the Visa Center’s website. (Please note: On September 30, 2025, the Visa Center will be open for pick-up only but will not accept new applications. The office will be closed from October 1 to 5 and will reopen on October 6.)

——In principle, applicants must appear in person to have fingerprints collected. Exemptions apply to the following cases, where another person may submit the materials on their behalf:

1. Applicants under 14 years old or over 70 years old;
2. Applicants applying before December 31, 2025, for a single-entry or double-entry short-term visa (stay of no more than 180 days);
3. Applicants who have had fingerprints collected at the Visa Center within the past five years using the same passport;
4. Applicants who are physically unable to provide any fingerprint;
5. Holders of diplomatic passports or those eligible for diplomatic, service, or courtesy visas.

——Required documents to be submitted to the Visa Center:
1. The original passport;
2. One visa photo (taken within the past 6 months, white background, bareheaded, color, 48mm × 33mm, with the date of the photo indicated on the back);
3. Original documents explicitly required by the application form (e.g., applicants who were formerly Chinese citizens applying for the first time after acquiring foreign citizenship must provide their most recent Chinese passport; applicants for long-term family visit visas Q1 or S1 must provide the original proof of relationship with the inviter);
5. If you choose to receive your passport by mail, a Canada Post Xpresspost envelope must also be submitted.

——Currently, only debit card payments are accepted at the counter. Cash and credit cards are not accepted. For fees, please refer to the Visa Center’s website.

STEP4: Pick up your passport.
Pick-up can be done either in person or by mail (additional fees apply for mailing). For in-person pickup, another person may collect the passport on your behalf with the original pickup form. For mailing, you have to provide the envelope in advance. Applicants at the same mailing address may share one envelope (maximum 4 passports).

3. For inquiries, please contact the Visa Center:
Phone: 403-930-2288 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; if the line is busy, please try again later or send an email)

Email: calgarycenter@visaforchina.org

The new system will go through a transition and adaptation period. We appreciate your understanding and support.