China Visa for Indians: Applications Move to Embassy From Oct 26
Image: Travel Trade Journal
Indians applying for a China visa will have to submit their papers directly at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai from 26 October 2026, because the Chinese Visa Application Centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata stop taking new applications that day. Applicants must first file an online application on China’s foreign ministry visa portal, Travel Trade Journal and Dainik Jagran English reported on 22 and 23 October, citing a notice issued by the Chinese missions on 22 October.
Where You Apply Depends on Your State
The Mumbai Consulate will handle residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The New Delhi Embassy will take all other states and territories, and, temporarily, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, which were served by the Kolkata centre. After online approval, an applicant has 30 days to hand in the passport and documents. Diplomatic and official applicants must book an appointment by telephone.
Demand Draft Only, For Now
Fees for Indian passport holders are Rs 2,900 for a single-entry visa, Rs 4,400 for double-entry, Rs 5,900 for a six-month multiple-entry visa and Rs 8,800 for multiple-entry of 12 months or longer. Express processing adds Rs 1,800 and urgent processing Rs 2,700. Payment is temporarily accepted only by bank-printed demand draft, payable to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai. Online applications submitted after 5 pm on 23 October carry no visa-centre service fee, while fees already paid for earlier applications are not refundable.
Visa Centres Close for Collection on 30 October
The Chinese Embassy in India announced an online visa application system in December 2025, according to Tribune India. Under the new arrangement the centres stop accepting applications on 26 October, and processed passports can be collected there until noon on 30 October. The notice also says the Hague Apostille Convention does not apply between India and mainland China, so documents still need consular legalisation. Applicants with travel dates close to the changeover should check the Embassy and Consulate websites for the full notice. See more in IPB’s Daily Updates.
Source: China’s foreign ministry online visa application portal. Also based on reporting by Travel Trade Journal and Dainik Jagran English.
Image: Travel Trade Journal.
