China Scraps Visa Application Centres in India: New Direct-to-Mission Process Starts October 26
Updated: 2 minutes ago
NEW DELHI, October 27, 2026 — Indian travellers applying for Chinese visas will no longer deal with outsourced application centres in three cities, after the Chinese Embassy confirmed that processing is moving in-house from 26 October 2026.
The notice, issued by the embassy on 22 October, affects tourist and business visa applicants as well as those seeking consular legalisation of documents. Applications previously channelled through centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata will now be handled directly by the embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai.
What Is Closing
Location | Status From 26 October |
New Delhi centre | No longer accepts new visa or legalisation applications |
Mumbai centre | No longer accepts new visa or legalisation applications |
Kolkata centre | No longer accepts new applications; jurisdiction temporarily served by New Delhi |
Existing applications | Documents can be collected until noon on 30 October 2026 |
Anyone who submitted an application before the cutover and has not yet collected their passport should do so before that deadline. After 30 October, uncollected documents will presumably transfer to the handling mission, though the notice does not specify the process.
Where to Apply Now
Jurisdiction is determined by where the applicant resides — or, for legalisation, where the document was issued.
Applicant Location | Mission |
Maharashtra, Karnataka | Consulate General in Mumbai |
West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh | Embassy in New Delhi (temporary arrangement) |
All other states and Union Territories | Embassy in New Delhi |
The Kolkata arrangement is the one most likely to cause confusion. Applicants in those five eastern states would previously have dealt with the Kolkata centre. They now file through New Delhi — a change that adds distance for anyone who needs to submit documents in person.
For consular legalisation, the test is different: the relevant jurisdiction is where the document was issued, not where the applicant lives. A company headquartered in Mumbai seeking to legalise a document issued in Kolkata would need to check which mission handles the latter.
The Two-Stage Application
The process now has a mandatory online review before any physical submission.
Stage one — online. The applicant completes the visa form through the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal and uploads supporting documents for review.
Stage two — in person. Only after receiving an approval email does the applicant submit their passport, printed application form and supporting papers to the designated mission. This must happen within 30 days of the approval.
The sequencing matters. Turning up at the embassy with documents in hand, without an approved online review, will not work. And the 30-day window is a deadline, not an invitation to delay.
On the positive side, the online review has removed a cost. Applications submitted after 5pm on 23 October 2026 no longer attract the visa application centre service fee. Fees already paid before that cut-off are not refunded.
The service fee is separate from the visa fee itself, which remains payable.
What It Still Costs
The reduced fee schedule for Indian passport holders runs until 31 December 2026.
Visa Type | Fee |
Single entry | ₹2,900 |
Double entry | ₹4,400 |
Multiple entry — six months | ₹5,900 |
Multiple entry — one year or longer | ₹8,800 |
Group visa | ₹1,800 per applicant |
Expedited options add to the base fee:
Express processing (2–3 working days): +₹1,800
Urgent processing: +₹2,700
Payment follows the mission’s instructions, which specify bank-printed demand drafts. The applicant’s full name, collection slip number and contact number must be written on the reverse. Fees are paid at passport collection, not at submission.
The Fingerprint Exemption Has an Expiry Date
Applicants for short-term visas — stays of up to 180 days — are currently exempt from fingerprint collection. That arrangement runs only until 31 December 2026.
It also does not cover every category. Long-term study, work and family reunion applicants may still need to attend in person for biometrics regardless of the temporary exemption.
Anyone planning travel in early 2027 should assume the exemption may lapse and check the position before booking appointments.
Two Document Requirements That Catch People Out
Photographs. Chinese visa photos must be 33mm × 48mm on a white background. The Schengen standard of 35mm × 45mm does not comply. Applicants who reuse photographs from a European visa application will have their file returned.
Financial evidence for tourists. The published guidance calls for bank statements covering the previous six months, showing a consistent average monthly balance of at least ₹1 lakh — or a deposit certificate for a similar amount held for at least three months.
These requirements vary by visa category, so the official checklist for the specific visa type should be consulted rather than assumed.
How Long It Takes
Standard processing runs about four working days from submission. That figure does not include the online review stage, which sits in front of it and can extend the total.
The practical advice is to begin four to six weeks before departure. That allows time for document corrections, the online approval cycle, and the in-person submission within the 30-day window.
One Geographic Limit Worth Restating
These arrangements apply to mainland China only.
Hong Kong and Macao operate separate immigration systems with their own entry requirements. Travellers whose itineraries include either destination should check those rules independently — a mainland Chinese visa does not cover them.
What Applicants Should Do Before Filing
Confirm your jurisdiction. Residence determines the mission for visas; document origin determines it for legalisation. Getting this wrong means a wasted trip.
Complete the online review first. Do not book travel to a mission until the approval email arrives.
Check the photo dimensions. 33mm × 48mm, white background. Not the Schengen size.
Prepare the demand draft correctly. Bank-printed, with name, collection slip number and contact number on the reverse.
Collect old documents before 30 October if you submitted through the closed centres.
Watch for updated embassy notices. The arrangements are new, and the Kolkata jurisdiction is explicitly described as temporary.
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Item | Detail |
Effective Date | 26 October 2026 |
Notice Issued | 22 October 2026 |
Centres Closed | New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata (new applications) |
Handling Missions | Embassy New Delhi; Consulate General Mumbai |
Kolkata Jurisdiction | Temporarily handled by New Delhi |
Existing Document Collection | Until noon, 30 October 2026 |
Process | Online review, then in-person submission within 30 days of approval |
Service Fee | Removed for applications after 5pm, 23 October 2026 |
Single-Entry Visa Fee | ₹2,900 |
Express Surcharge | +₹1,800 |
Urgent Surcharge | +₹2,700 |
Fingerprint Exemption | Short-stay visas until 31 December 2026 |
Photo Size | 33mm × 48mm, white background |
Standard Processing | ~4 working days after submission |
Recommended Lead Time | 4–6 weeks |
Coverage | Mainland China only; Hong Kong and Macao separate |
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