How to apply and get China visa in Pakistan

china visa for pakistani passport — How to apply China visa in Pakistan

Visiting China on Pakistani passport is not that easy. You can not get visa without a proper Invitation letter. I have faced lot of hurdles in getting my first Chinese Visa so this blog will help you in planning and getting your visa.

https://youtu.be/0xL2SSGsm5I

VIDEO: China Visa Guide + Travel Expenses

TYPES OF VISAS

There are several types of Chinese Visa Categories

D-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently

F-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities

L-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist

M-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities

Q1-TYPE: Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion

R-TYPE: Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China

S1-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days

X1-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days

Z-TYPE: Issued to those who intend to work in China

TOURIST VISA (L-TYPE) V/S BUSINESS VISA (M-TYPE)

You can not get tourist visa just like other countries. For Pakistani passport, you must apply tourist visa in a group of 5 people and all your trip should be pre-booked with a Chinese Travel company. That Travel company will send you an official Invitation letter to apply the visa. Hence getting tourist visa for a single traveler like us is not possible. Even you gather 5 of your friends, still it becomes so expensive that you can not afford it.

However, being a Pakistani, you can travel to china alone on the basis of Business Visa. Don’t think that it would be easy.

FIRST TIME VISITOR

The process is long and tough for first time visitors. You have to apply Police Character certificate and also get it attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs office. Read detail Blog on How To get Police Character Certificate

*(MOFA ATTESTED POLICE CHARACTER CERTIFICATE)*

OPTIONS OF APPLYING BUSINESS VISA

Getting Business visa is also very tricky. The most crucial document is getting Invitation letter that must be attested by Chinese Foreign Ministry by the Inviting Company in China. Companies in China usually give you a simple invitation letter on their business letter head, however they do not take any hassle of attesting that letter from their Foreign Ministry.

However, Business Chambers of big cities like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi provide an alternate solution for businessmen. They provide GUARANTEE LETTER which is a replacement of Chinese “Foreign Affairs Stamped Invitation”

1. USING CHAMBER’S INVITATION LETTER ON CANTON FAIR + GUARANTEE LETTER

Canton Trade Fair comes twice a year in Guangzhou province of China. If you are a member of Lahore/ Khi/ ISB Chamber of commerce, they will help you to arrange Invitation letter from China and will apply business visas in group. However GUARANTEE letter payment of 9000 Rs to be paid.

2. SELF ARRANGED INVITATION + GUARANTEE LETTER FROM CHAMBER (as owner of company)

In case Chamber is not arranging group visas, you can apply on your own basis. and chamber will provide you a “Guarantee Letter”. You must ask any company in China to send you a simple invitation letter along with their Company registration certificate (in Chinese + English language). Chamber LCCI has 2 steps process to get this GUARANTEE LETTER and its fees is 9000 Rs

STEP-1 : GET VISA RECOMMENDATION LETTER FIRST

– Request letter on your company letter head
– Passport copy
– CNIC copy
– Picture with white background
– Chinese company Invitation letter
– Chamber membership certificate copy

– A pay order of 200,000 Rs in favor of LCCI which is refundable upon returning from China. This pay order should be made from your company bank account that is registered member of LCCI.
– Fees of 4000 Rs for recommendation letter

You will get the recommendation letter within couple of hours.

*(VISA RECOMMENDATION LETTER BY CHAMBER)*

PERSONAL OPINION: This recommendation letter by chamber has nothing to do with the process and taking 4000 Rs fees from people is totally unjustified. As per LCCI, they will not give you guarantee letter until you get the recommendation letter. In my opinion when embassy is demanding only GUARANTEE letter then Chamber should only charge fees for the Guarantee Letter.

STEP-2 : GETTING GUARANTEE LETTER

This is the main document required for visa. Once you have got the Recommendation letter, go to Floor#2 and apply for this letter with following documents

– Copy of Visa Recommendation letter (obtained in Step-1)
– Copy of Passport
– Chinese company registration letter in chinese language
– Chinese company Invitation letter
– Chamber membership certificate copy
– Corona vaccination certificate (with Chinese vaccine)
– Fees 5000 Rs

3. USING RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM CHAMBER (as salaried employee)

The whole process will remain same as above, however you will provide below documents as extra:
– Designation letter from your company explaining you Job description plus request for Visa Recommendation letter
– Last 3 Tax payment slips (deducted from your salary) transferred in National bank

4. GET INVITATION LETTER FROM TRAVEL AGENT

If you do not own any company then the last solution is left which is most expensive. Travel agents in Pakistan charge a fee of 500 USD and arrange an Invitation Letter for you which would be attested through Chinese Foreign Affairs.

PERSONAL SUGGESTION: If you have ample time and have someone who can arrange an Invitation Letter then i suggest to follow Chamber process and get the visa within 30,000 Rs

STEP-1: Register a business firm on your name = 2000 Rs (Takes 5 days)

STEP-2: Become member of LCCI Chamber = 10,000 Rs (Takes 2 days)

STEP-3: Apply Recommendation Letter = 4000 Rs (Same day)

STEP-4: Get Guarantee Letter = 5000 Rs (Same day)

VISA APPLICATION ONLINE FORM

FILL THE ONLINE FORM USING THIS LINK AND TAKE ITS PRINT: https://cova.mfa.gov.cn

https://youtu.be/TqhJvhARxXY

(STEPWISE GUIDE OF APPLYING AND FILLING CHINA VISA FORM ONLINE)

TAKING APPOINTMENT

When the form is completed it will next sow you a window of available slots to submit your documents. Your documents re submitted in Gerrys’ Offices of Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi. Select the date and time and take print of Appointment page + Application along with all the documents mentioned above.

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS AT GERRYS OFFICE

On your selected date and time, visit the Gerrys visa center. You will be only allowed to enter if you have the print of Interview appointment otherwise you are not allowed (even for information purpose).

Once you enter at Chinese section, you will be given a token and on your turn, Gerry’s officer will check all your documents one by one. If you have any document missing, you will not be allowed to proceed further.

If your all documents are OK, then you will be sent to next window to pay your fees 12,200 Rs. Some time they ask you to give a short interview which directly connected to embassy through camera. The ask company name of Invitation and your personal things.

I had previous Turkey visits which comes under HOTE REGION for China, so my interview was conducted aswel.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR BUSINESS VISA

DETAIL CHECKLIST GIVEN BY GERRYS’S CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM HERE. However i am summarizing all the documents below for ease.

1. Original Passport (6 month validity)
2. Copy of Passport (1st and 2nd page)
3. Print of visa application (filled online)
4. Appointment page for documents submission
5. Photo with white background 48 x 33mm
6. Invitation letter by Chinese organization + their Registration certificate in China
7. Visa request on your company letter head (sign and stamped)
8. Last 3 years FBR tax returns
9. Copy of your Chamber membership certificate
10. Bank statements 6 months (closing balance around 300 KRs)
11. Copy of police character/clearance certificate attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan for first time visit to China within the last five years,
12. Round-trip air tickets reservation (reservation only)
13 Hotel booking reservation (first time visit to China)

14. Guarantee Letter issued from Chamber LCCI

15. NTN certificate of your company

CHINESE VISA FEES

There is no Visa Fee charged by Chinese embassy however you need to pay 12,200 Rs (40 USD) to Gerry’s for their visa handling services.

VISA APPROVAL/PROCESSING TIME

Once your document are submitted the visa approval rate is 99.9% and you get the call from Gerrys to pick your passport within 7 to 10 days. You can always track your Passport status at: BIO.visaforchina.org/

*SLIP GIVEN BY GERRY’S AFTER SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS*

HELPLINE FOR CHINESE VISA INFORMATION

GERRY’S HELPLINE FOR CHINA VISA:+92-51-8439385
E-mail: islamabadcenterforchina@gerrys.com.pk

USING INTERNET/ SOCIAL MEDIA IN CHINA

As you are aware that no social media website works in China (due to rivalry with USA) and all Instagram, Facebook, Youtube are ban. You can only access them by using VPN on your mobile. Although i have tried many VPN but recommend EXPRESS VPN. Make sure that you must download and signup before entering China.

Get first 3 months free when you signup through below link: