China Visa New Rules for Indian Citizens: Apply Directly at the Embassy or Mumbai Consulate from 26 October 2026
The visa centres are out. Here is where your application now goes, what it costs, the Rs 1 lakh bank balance rule for tourists, and the small mistakes that can now get a file rejected at the counter.
For years, getting a China visa from India followed the same routine. You filled in the form, booked a slot at the visa application centre, paid the centre's service charge on top of the visa fee, and waited. That routine ended on Monday, 26 October 2026. From that date, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi and the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai accept visa applications directly, and the outsourced centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata no longer take new files.
For most travellers, this is welcome news. The centre's regular service fee of Rs 3,910 no longer applies, and you now deal with the office that actually decides your visa. The trade-off is that the new system leaves less room for error. Payment is by demand draft only for the time being, the 30-day submission window after online approval is strict, and the embassy has said that applications missing required documents will be rejected. Below, our visa desk in Thane explains what changed, where you apply, what it costs and which documents matter most.
What Changed on 26 October 2026
The Chinese Embassy in India announced the change in a notice dated 22 October 2026. In plain terms, the embassy and the Mumbai consulate have taken visa and consular legalisation work back in house. Services that the Chinese Consulate General in Kolkata used to cover are temporarily handled by the embassy in New Delhi.
This is a change to where and how you submit, not a move to an e-visa. You still apply online first, and you still hand over your physical passport. Here is how the old and new processes compare.
| Area | Before 26 October 2026 | From 26 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Where you submit | Chinese Visa Application Service Centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata | Chinese Embassy, New Delhi or Chinese Consulate General, Mumbai |
| Centre service fee | Rs 3,910 for regular service, on top of the visa fee | Not charged on online applications submitted after 5 pm, 23 October 2026 |
| Online application | Required since 22 December 2025 | Still required; in-person submission only after approval by email |
| How you pay | At the visa centre | Demand draft only, for now; no cash or cheques |
| West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh | Kolkata centre | Embassy in New Delhi, temporarily |
Already applied through a visa centre?
If your application was processed under the old system, the New Delhi and Mumbai centres hold processed documents for collection only until 12 noon on 30 October 2026. Service fees already paid on earlier applications are not refunded.
Key Dates at a Glance
- 22 December 2025Online visa application system launched in IndiaThe embassy and the Mumbai consulate move the form and document upload online.
- 22 October 2026Embassy publishes the direct-acceptance noticeNew jurisdictions, payment rules and a revised fee schedule are announced.
- 23 October 2026, after 5 pmVisa centre service fee stops applyingOnline applications submitted after this time carry no centre charge.
- 26 October 2026Direct submission beginsCentres stop accepting new files; the embassy and consulate take over.
- 30 October 2026, 12 noonLast chance to collect old applicationsProcessed documents still at the centres must be picked up by then.
- 31 December 2026Fingerprint waiver for short stays ends, unless extendedApplies to stays of up to 180 days. Watch for a further notice.
Where to Apply: State-by-State Jurisdiction
Your application goes to the office that covers the state where you live, not the city you happen to be flying from. A Pune resident cannot walk into the New Delhi embassy because a Delhi slot looks convenient, and a file at the wrong office will not be accepted.
Maharashtra or Karnataka
Submit at the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai. This covers Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Mysuru and every other city in both states.
Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh and most other states
Submit at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, 50-D Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. This is the default for every state and union territory not listed in the other two cards.
West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha or Chhattisgarh
Submit at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi for now. The Kolkata consulate's district has been temporarily moved to the embassy.
How to Apply for a China Visa from India: Step by Step
The process now has two clear halves: an online review, then a personal visit. Nothing is charged during the online stage.
- Confirm your jurisdictionCheck which office covers your state of residence using the cards above. This decides where you submit and who your demand draft is made payable to.
- Complete the online applicationFill in the form on the official portal, consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA, and upload scans of your supporting documents: itinerary, hotel bookings, financial proof and anything specific to your visa type.
- Wait for preliminary approval by emailOfficers review the online file first. Once it clears, you receive an email confirming you can submit your passport.
- Submit in person within 30 daysVisit the designated embassy or consulate with your passport, the printed application form and your supporting documents. Fingerprints are taken where required. Diplomatic, official and courtesy visa applicants book their appointment by phone.
- Pay by demand draft and collect your passportRegular processing takes 7 working days, counted from the day after you hand in your passport. Express processing takes 4 working days for an extra Rs 1,800. Applications by post or fax are not accepted.
The 30-day window is easy to miss
The clock starts when the approval email arrives, not when you planned to travel. If you approve online in early November and then leave the passport visit until December, you may have to begin again. Put the deadline in your calendar the day the email lands.
China Visa Fees for Indian Passport Holders
With the centre fee gone, what you pay now is mostly the consular fee itself. Reports on the embassy's revised schedule indicate the reduced rates for Indian passport holders stay in place until 31 December 2026.
| Visa type | Consular fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Single entry | Rs 2,900 |
| Double entry | Rs 4,400 |
| Multiple entry, valid 6 months | Rs 5,900 |
| Multiple entry, valid 12 months or longer | Rs 8,800 |
| Express processing surcharge (4 working days) | Rs 1,800 |
Paying by demand draft: get the details right
For now, the embassy and the Mumbai consulate accept fees only by demand draft. Cash and cheques are not accepted. Reported guidance on the drafts is specific:
- The draft should be bank-printed and made payable to the mission handling your file, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi or the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai.
- Write the applicant's full name, the collection slip number and a contact number on the back.
- Fees are paid when you collect the passport, so confirm the exact amount for your visa type before your bank prepares the draft.
Documents You Need, Including the Rs 1 Lakh Rule
Every China visa file starts with the same foundation. Then each visa category adds its own requirements, and these are where most rejections come from.
Core documents for every applicant
- Original passport with at least six months of validity left and blank visa pages, plus a copy of the data page.
- The printed online application form and confirmation.
- A recent colour photograph, 33 mm x 48 mm, on a white background.
- Round-trip flight itinerary and hotel bookings covering your stay.
- Copies of previous Chinese visas, if you have held any.
Tourist visa (L): the Rs 1 lakh financial requirement
Tourist applicants must submit six months of personal bank statements showing a consistent average monthly balance of at least Rs 1 lakh. As an alternative, you can submit a deposit certificate, but it must have been issued at least three months before your application date.
From our side of the desk, the important word is "consistent". A large transfer into the account a week before you apply does not show what the embassy wants to see, which is stable funds over time. If your balance runs close to the limit, talk to us before you file, not after a rejection.
Business visa (M)
Business applicants must provide an Invitation Letter (PU) or an Invitation Verification Notice issued in China by the inviting company or organisation. Supporting letters from your Indian employer still help, but they do not replace the invitation from the Chinese side.
Student visa (X)
Students must carry the original Admission Notice from their Chinese university and the original JW202 form. Copies alone will not do.
Hong Kong and Macao
These changes cover mainland China only. Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR have their own entry rules, so check them separately if your trip includes either.
Fingerprints and Photographs
Applicants for short-term visas, meaning stays of up to 180 days, are exempt from fingerprint collection until 31 December 2026. That covers most tourist (L) and business (M) travellers. The waiver does not apply to long-term work (Z), long-term study (X1) and resident journalist (J1) visas, and anyone whose earlier fingerprints cannot be matched in the system may still be asked to give them in person.
On photographs, Chinese visas use a 33 mm x 48 mm format. The 35 mm x 45 mm photo that many studios print by default for other visas is the wrong size and can hold up your online review.
Mistakes That Can Now Cost You Time
Without a visa centre in the middle, there is less chance that someone catches a problem before your file reaches an officer. These are the issues we expect to see most in the first weeks.
- Going to the wrong office. Jurisdiction follows your state of residence. A Bengaluru resident files in Mumbai, not New Delhi.
- Arriving with cash. Only demand drafts are accepted for now. Arrange the draft in advance.
- Letting the 30-day window lapse. Your online approval does not wait for you indefinitely.
- Using the wrong photo size. China asks for 33 mm x 48 mm on a white background.
- Last-minute bank deposits. The tourist rule asks for a consistent average balance across six months.
- Posting documents. Applications by post or fax are not accepted.
- Booking non-refundable travel first. Hold flight and hotel bookings that can be changed until your visa is stamped.
Our advice to clients this season is simple: start four to six weeks before you fly. The new process is fair and cheaper, but the first weeks of any switch are busy, and November is already a heavy month for China travel. A complete, correct file submitted early is still the fastest visa you can get.
Beyond Travels Visa Desk, Thane
For Business Travellers, Corporates and Travel Agents
The timing of this change matters for anyone heading to the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, scheduled for 5 to 10 November 2026. Travel managers have been advising corporate travellers to submit complete applications at least ten calendar days before departure while the new workflow settles, and to stagger large group submissions rather than sending every delegate on the same day.
For travel agents and corporate travel desks, the message on the ground is to make sure every new application goes through the direct process from 26 October. Files prepared to the old centre's format, payment method or jurisdiction map should be checked again before anyone travels to the counter.
How Beyond Travels can help
We review your online application before you submit it, check your documents against the current requirements for your visa type, flag financial proof that may raise questions, and tell you exactly what to carry and how to prepare the demand draft for your submission visit. Our team works from Thane for clients across Maharashtra and Karnataka, and supports applicants in every jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
From when do the new China visa rules for Indian citizens apply?
From 26 October 2026. From that date, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi and the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai accept and process visa applications directly, and the visa application centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata no longer accept new applications.
I live in Mumbai, Pune or Bengaluru. Where do I submit my China visa application?
Residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka submit at the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai. Residents of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh go to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi for now, as do residents of all other states and union territories.
What is the bank balance requirement for a China tourist visa?
Tourist (L) visa applicants need six months of personal bank statements showing a consistent average monthly balance of at least Rs 1 lakh. Alternatively, you can submit a deposit certificate for a similar amount, issued at least three months before the application date.
How much is the China visa fee for Indian passport holders?
Rs 2,900 for single entry, Rs 4,400 for double entry, Rs 5,900 for a 6-month multiple-entry visa and Rs 8,800 for a multiple-entry visa valid 12 months or longer. Express processing adds Rs 1,800. The former visa centre service fee of Rs 3,910 does not apply to online applications submitted after 5 pm on 23 October 2026.
How long does China visa processing take under the new system?
Regular processing takes 7 working days and express processing takes 4 working days, both counted from the day after you submit your passport. These are stated timelines, not guarantees, so allow extra time before travel.
How do I pay the China visa fee now?
For the time being, only demand drafts are accepted at the embassy and the Mumbai consulate. Cash and cheques are not accepted. The draft should be payable to the mission handling your application and carry the applicant's full name, collection slip number and contact number on the back.
Do I need to give fingerprints for a China visa?
Applicants for short-term visas covering stays of up to 180 days are exempt from fingerprint collection until 31 December 2026. The exemption does not cover long-term Z, X1 and J1 visas, and applicants whose fingerprints cannot be matched in the system may still need to provide them.
Is the China visa now fully online, like an e-visa?
No. You complete the form and upload documents online, but after preliminary approval you must visit the designated embassy or consulate within 30 days with your original passport, printed form and supporting documents.
I applied through the visa centre before 26 October. What happens now?
Processed documents can be collected from the New Delhi and Mumbai centres until 12 noon on 30 October 2026. Service fees already paid for earlier applications are not refunded.
Can Beyond Travels help with my China visa application?
Yes. Our team reviews your online application and documents before submission, checks your financial proof against the tourist visa requirement, and guides you on the demand draft and what to carry for your visit to the embassy or consulate. Call +91 9372895892 or +91 9987562218, or email [email protected].
Get Your China Visa File Right the First Time
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Information in this article is based on the Notice on the Direct Acceptance and Process of Applications for Chinese Visas and Consular Legalization issued by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India on 22 October 2026, and related published guidance, as checked on 27 October 2026. Visa rules, fees and payment arrangements can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the embassy or consulate, or with our team, before applying.