MY STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHINA TOURIST VISA IN MANILA

MY STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHINA TOURIST VISA IN MANILA

1. First, have photo taken.

- You need to have your photo taken first because you can't fill up the application form and proceed to page 2 of the online form without uploading your photo in page 1.

- The size of the photo should be 48mm x 33mm, white background, in colored shirt with collar.

- You need a soft copy for uploading to the application form and at least 2 pieces photo print to be included with your printed application form. 

- Have your photo taken at Great Image. They are very reliable in taking visa photos. 

2. Fill up the application form online at https://cova.mfa.gov.cn/qzCoCommonController.do?show&pageId=index&locale=en_US

- Fill up the application form in all capital letters. It doesn't say so at the start of the online application form but it is said in the instructions after have submitted it online.

- You can save and edit the same application for a month. But once you have submitted it online, you cannot edit the application form anymore. You need to fill up a new one.

- You cannot edit the application form once you have submitted it.

3. Book an appointment HERE after submitting the application form online. 

- You will need the application ID of the form you submitted to access the appointment calendar.

- Print the application form then sign it. 

- Print the confirmation of appointment 

4. This is the checklist of the documents you need to submit:

FOR ALL APPLICANTS

A. Current passport with 6 months validity, with at least 2 pages free

B. Old passport with other valid visa

C. Photocopy of the information/photo page of your passport 

D. Photocopy of the emergency contact page of your passport

E. Printed visa application form with signatures

F. Printed appointment confirmation page

G. 1 pc photo as stated above

H. Confirmed flight itinerary

I. Hotel booking

I. Daily schedule of activities or itinerary: flight dates, daily activities, hotel address and contact information 

FOR FIRST TIME APPLICANTS, in addition 

A. Certificate of employment (detailing salary and length of employment)

B. Bank certificate indicating account balance, date of opening and average daily balance of the past 6 months, together with receipt of payment for the certificate

C. Bank statement of the past 6 months

D. Photocopy of ITR: Form 2316

E: Other Other relevant documents proving the applicant's economic condition/ employment/study, or supporting the applicant's travel to China, or explaining the travel purpose. 

FOR THOSE WITH EXPIRED CHINESE VISA, in addition

A. Old passport with expired Chinese visa

B. Photocopy of the expired Chinese visa

5. Arrive at the Chinese embassy before 8:00 am on the date of your appointment then get a number immediately. 

Checkout my post: My experience applying for a Chinese tourist visa in Manila

- Regular processing time is 4 working days. Apply on a Monday and pick up on a Thursday.

- After submission of documents, you are given a piece of paper stating the date of claiming of your passport

6. On the date of claiming, arrive at the Embassy before 8:00 AM to get your number.

- When they call your number, pay for your visa at the cashier, then claim your passport (current and old) from another window.

Checkout my post: My experience claiming my passport with visa at the Chinese embassy

8. After claiming, check the details of your Chinese visa BEFORE LEAVING THE EMBASSY if everything is correct.

Here is the link of the the requirements from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines: http://ph.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/visas/201208/t20120814_1336195.htm

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My experience claiming my passport with visa at the Chinese embassy in Manila

MY EXPERIENCE CLAIMING MY PASSPORT WITH VISA AT THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN MANILA

I arrived at 8:05 AM and there's already a line at the embassy for people waiting to get in. Office hours at the visa office of the embassy is from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM but they open the embassy at 8:00 AM and let people in to get their number. The number I got is 41.

My number was called out on the display on top of the cashier and I paid the visa fee before claiming my passport on another counter. I finished at 9:45 AM. 

MY TIP: Bring cash and the exact amount to pay for the visa. They only accept cash. The visa you applied for is the amount you need to pay before the passport is released to you. Whether or not the visa is issued, you need to pay a visa fee before claiming your passport.

WHERE TO PARK: There's a parking lot across the building where the embassy is located. 2 hours parking cost 90 pesos.

My Experience Applying for a Tourist Visa at the Chinese Embassy in Manila

MY EXPERIENCE APPLYING FOR A TOURIST VISA AT THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN MANILA 

ON GETTING AN APPOINTMENT 

You can book an appointment HERE. From my experience, the earliest available appointment slot for submitting your application for a Chinese visa at the Chinese embassy in the Philippines is ONE WEEK from the time you open a request for booking. Other people experienced a longer wait time for availability of slots. That's why most travel agencies recommend that you submit to them all documents at least 3 weeks from the intended travel date to give them time to get an appointment. So plan your trips accordingly with this in mind.

Appointment calendar

There are 2 time slots: 

9:00 AM, 10:00 AM

Other things to note:

1. You can't request for an appointment without submitting a completed application online. Only then can you use your application ID to open a request for booking.

2. The feedback on the timetable for approval is 4 working days. This means that if you submit your application form at the Chinese embassy on a Tuesday, you can already pick it up on a Friday. But take note on holidays in China thay

3. The Chinese embassy in the Philippines is still not collecting fingerprints from applicants of a tourist visa. This means you can have a representative submit your application and pick up your passport afterwards.

ON SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION AT THE EMBASSY 

I arrived at 9:40 AM for my 10:00 am appointment at the 2nd floor of the World Centre in Makati, where the Chinese Embassy is located. Immediately upon entering the embassy, I got a number from the lady manning the reception at the right side of the entrance. I was no. 114. I was told to wait for my number to be called by watching out for the numbers displayed on 3 counters in front, dedicated to receiving the documents. Each counter received documents 5 people at a time. You line up when you see your number displayed on the window. When I arrived, numbers 21-25, 41-45, 46-50 was displayed. Apparently, one counter receiving the documents ask a lot of questions so the line moved slower than usual on that counter. 

There are about 8 rows of seats with 20 seats per row in the waiting area. And they are all full, with some people still standing. It took me 2 hours of waiting until it was my turn. Receiving my documents took only two minutes. The person receiving got my current passport and 2 old passports, 1 photo, all the documents attached like flight booking, hotel confirmation, itinerary, certificate of employment, bank certificate, bank statements and stapled them together. Then I was issued a pink slip stating when I can pick up the passports.

WHERE TO PARK : There's a small parking lot across the World Centre building. If it's full, another option is to park at SM Jazz mall at Nicanor Garcia and then walk to the building.

LOCATION:

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