1. Application Procedures

    1.1 Online Application: Please log in to and complete your China Online Visa Application Form through the China Online Visa Application system（https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/). After registering and logging in to your email address, please click “Step-by-step Guidance” to learn more about visa application process through guidance, and then click “Start an Application” to apply and submit. Each applicant (including minors) is required to complete the online application form.

    1.2 Waiting for the Approval: Please check the assessing result of your application. The assessing result will be shown in the system after one to two working days. Applicant can find the assessing result in Track My Application once submitting the application. You can modify the application form or reload missing docs in “Track My Application” once you need. The Embassy of China in Bulgaria will only notify the applicant in the system whether the visa application is approved or not. Under certain circumstances, the Embassy will contact the applicant for some questions. Please be sure to pay attention to your email and phone number that you left when applying for the visa.

    1.3 Submit passports and other documents: There is no need to make an appointment to submit passports and other documents. If the "Track My Application" in the system shows "Passport to be submitted", you can come to the Embassy in person every Tuesday or Thursday from 9:30-12:00(except for holidays). Individuals who are exempt from fingerprint collection can entrust others to submit documents and passports.

    The following application materials must be submitted when arriving at the Embassy:

    1. Passport. Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages.

    2. A recently-taken color passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a white background. (If the uploaded photo is not qualified)

    3. Original Chinese passport (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later became a foreign national). If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page.

    4. Originals or copies of other application materials required by the Embassy (If applicable).

    *The following applicants can be exempted from fingerprint collection (and they can authorize other persons to submit visa applications on their behalf):

    (1) Applicants under the age of 14 or over the age of 70;

    (2) Diplomatic passport holders, or applicants eligible for diplomatic, service or courtesy visas; 

    (3) Applicants who have applied for visas at the same Chinese embassy, consulate or Chinese Visa Application Service Center with the same passport, with fingerprints already collected, within the past five years;

    (4) Applicants with all ten fingers amputated or the fingerprint of none of whose ten fingers can be collected;

    (5) Applicants for single- or double-entry visas (within 180 days of stay) are exempted from fingerprint collection before and on December 31, 2025, according to the announcement of the Chinese Government.

    1.4 Payment

    You will be given a pickup form when submitting your passports at the consular office. Applicant is required to make payment to the designated bank. Applicant should ask for Invoice from bank after making payment. The number of pick-up form should be borne in the invoice.

    1.5 Pick-up

    Applicant collect his passport in the Embassy by showing the pick-up form and the invoice.

    2. Documents Required

    2.1 Passport: the original of a passport with over 6 months’ validity and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the information page of the passport

    2.2 Visa Application Form and Photo: a printed copy of the Visa Application Form completed online, and a paper photo that is the same as the one uploaded in the application form

    2.3 Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for visas in their country of citizenship)

    2.4 Previous Chinese passport (applicable to foreign citizens who used to be Chinese citizens) or previous Chinese visas: 

    2.4.1 If a foreign citizen who used to be a Chinese citizen is applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, the original of the previous Chinese passport and a photocopy of its information page should be submitted.

    2.4.2 If a foreign citizen who was issued a Chinese visa before is applying for a Chinese visa with a different foreign passport, a photocopy of the information page of the previous passport and a photocopy of the previous Chinese visa should be submitted.

    2.4.3 If the name on the current foreign passport differs from that on the previous Chinese passport or the previous Chinese visa, an official document issued by competent authorities on the name change should be submitted.

    2.5 Other documents required for different visa types are listed as follows:

    2.6 For visa applications for emergency humanitarian reasons (such as attending a funeral or visiting a person critically ill), relevant proof documents should be submitted.

    3. Special Reminders

    3.1 On filling in the form online:

    Please read the system prompts carefully and fill in the form in a truthful, complete, and accurate manner, and upload the the photo of the applicant in line with the standards. If such information as the name, gender, date of birth, passport number, passport issuance country, etc. is incorrect, or the photo is of someone else, or the key information in the application form is intentionally concealed or falsely stated, the application will be rejected or returned, and the applicant will need to submit a new application form online.

    3.2 On the invitation letter:

    The invitation letter can be a fax, photocopy, or printout, unless otherwise specified. The invitation letter should contain:

    3.2.1 Information on the applicant: name, gender, date of birth, and nationality, etc.

    3.2.2 Information on the visit: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) of visit, relations between the applicant and the inviter entity or individual, and financial sources for expenditures in China, etc.

    3.2.3 Information on the inviter entity or individual: name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, nationality and signature of the inviter individual or of the legal representative of the inviter entity, etc.

    3.3 If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant on a case-by-case basis.