China Visa Rules Change From October 26: What Indian Travellers Need To Know

Starting October 26, the New Delhi Visa Application Centre will no longer accept visa and consular legalisation applications for Indian travellers going to China. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India has shared latest updates on the visa application process for Indian tourists as well as business professionals planning a trip to China.

With changes to service fees, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India has also requested applicants for Chinese visas and consular legalisation services to submit their documents directly to the Chinese embassy from October 26, 2026. Applicants who have already shared their documents like processed passports and other documents can continue collecting processed documents until 12 pm on October 30, 2026.

According to a notice issued by The Chinese Embassy in India on their website, depending on your place of residence, new applications starting October 26, 2026, need to made directly with the Chinese Visa Application centres across Mumbai, and New Delhi.

For residents of states and territories including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, which are handled by Delhi on a temporary basis need to go to New Delhi Embassy. Whereas, residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka need to go to the Mumbai Consulate.

• Apply online first. Complete the form on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' online visa portal, upload your documents and submit for review. No payment is needed at this stage.

• Wait for the email. After preliminary approval, you will be notified by email.

• Visit the embassy or consulate in person. You must submit your passport, application form and supporting documents within 30 days of approval. Fingerprints are collected where required, subject to exemptions.

• Pay at collection. Visa fees are payable when you collect your passport.

Most applicants need a completed visa form, a passport valid for over six months with at least two blank pages, copies of the passport information page and any passport issued in the last five years, and two recent colour photographs (48 mm x 33 mm).

Tourist visa applicants have an extra requirement: six months of personal bank statements showing a consistent average monthly balance of at least ₹1 lakh, or an eligible deposit certificate of a similar amount issued at least three months before applying.

Business and student applicants need invitation letters, permits or admission documents.

Those apply for a single entry visa need to pay ₹2,900, whereas the cost for a double entry visa fee is ₹4,400. For six-month multiple entry it is ₹5,900, multiple entry (12 months or longer) it is ₹8,800 and group visa (per person) it is ₹1,800.

Express processing costs an extra ₹1,800 and urgent processing ₹2,700, where available. The embassy says payments are temporarily accepted only by demand draft, with your name, collection slip number and phone number written on the reverse.

Online applications submitted after 5 pm on October 23, 2026 do not attract the visa centre service fee, though fees already paid on earlier applications are non-refundable.