China-Visa needed?

totallybored

I got mine from the Embassy in London. Short queue to hand in passport and then picking it up the following morning only took a couple of minutes. This was a few years ago though and no good if you're not in London.

Marmaduke123

There's a lot of misinformation on here! The Chinese have a special visa processing centre, separate from the embassy. This is a link to the London one, I think there's also one in Manchester:

http://www.visaforchina.org/LON_EN/

You can fill out the application form online, but then you have to print it off and either go in person with the other documentation they require, or send your application by post. The visa itself is quite expensive, and its even more expensive to do it by post.

You can't apply too long in advance, as the normal tourist visa is only valid for entry to China within 3 months of the date it was issued, not from the date of travel although they ask for this. Stay not to exceed 30 days.

We took our applications and passports to London, and went back to collect them a week later. You need to make an appointment to take them in, which you do online. No appointment needed for collection.

mvteng

As well as London, Manchester, you can also apply in person at Edinburgh Chinese Embassy.

No appointment needed to drop off or collect.