US Embassy China Now Requires Advance Appointments for Passport Pickup

Xavi
2 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

BEIJING, August 13, 2026 — The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China have introduced a new requirement effective August 1, 2026, mandating that applicants schedule an advance appointment to pick up their passports at designated collection locations in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Wuhan .

The change applies to applicants who choose the free passport pickup option at standard collection sites. Appointments can only be scheduled after receiving a notification email confirming that the document is ready for pickup, and collection times are available daily from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

US Embassy China passport pickup appointment required 2026 – infographic showing new requirements: advance appointment needed, collection hours 9am-1pm, QR code required, collector ID must match, 30-day hold period. — US Embassy China now requires advance appointments for passport pickup from August 1, 2026

Key Requirements

Requirement	Details
Advance Appointment	Mandatory for passport pickup at standard collection sites
Eligibility	Only upon receiving the "document ready for pickup" email
Collection Hours	9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. daily
Appointment Website	https://schedule.gtspremium.com/
UID Requirement	Individual appointment for each UID number

Critical Rules to Follow

Collector Information Must Match

When booking an appointment, applicants must enter the last six digits of the collector's identification number. If another individual will collect the passport, that person's information must be used when scheduling. Chinese nationals must provide a National ID Card number, while non-Chinese nationals must provide a passport number. Passports will not be released if the collector's identification does not match the appointment record .

QR Code and Appointment Confirmation

A QR code will be generated upon successful booking and must be presented at pickup. Individual appointments are required for each UID number. Once confirmed, appointments cannot be canceled or rescheduled. Applicants arriving more than 30 minutes late will have their appointments canceled and must schedule a new appointment .

30-Day Passport Hold Period

Passports will be retained for 30 days starting from the date of the initial collection notification email. Unclaimed passports after this period will be returned to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

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Official Resources

U.S. Embassy & Consulates in China: china.usembassy-china.org.cn
U.S. Visa Information – China: ustraveldocs.com
Appointment Scheduling: schedule.gtspremium.com

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