I got many messages and emails regarding how to get a China visa from Pakistan as I posted my stories of the China-Pakistan border crossing. Getting a China visa on a Pakistani passport is very hard. You need to get an invitation letter from China either a tourist visa or business visa. In this blog, we mentioned details about tourist visa, business visa, and student visa. Also, how can you apply for any specific category China visa from Pakistan, fees, and required documents, and the step-by-step process?
A very famous slogan heard in Pakistan that “Pak Cheen Dosti Zindabad”, which means that Pakistan and China have a long friendship. Also, we heard that China loves Pakistan more than the USA. But these are only slogans. But in reality, it is very different. China does not provide China visa to Pakistani nationals without an invitation letter. I got my China visa from Pakistan and now sharing my experience with you and mentioning here how you get yours.
Types of Visas
Table of Contents
- 1 Types of Visas
- 2 China Tourist Visa from Pakistan
- 3 China Business Visa from Pakistan
- 4 How to Apply China Visa from Pakistan
- 5 Police Clearance Certificate
- 6 China Visa Application from Pakistan
- 7 Online visa application for China from Pakistan
- 8 TAKING APPOINTMENT
- 9 How to get Appointment
- 10 Submission Documents at Gerrys Office
- 11 Documents Required for Business Visa
- 12 China Visa from Pakistan Price
- 13 Visa Processing Time
- 14 China Yuan to PKR
- 15 FAQs
- 16 China Visa Fee
There are several types of visas that China issues, but we mention only here tourist, business, and study visa.
L – TYPE: China issues L – TYPE visas for those who has intentions to go to China as a tourist.
Pakistani nationals must b make a group of more than 5 people and should arrange an invitation letter through an authorized Chinese travel agency.
M – TYPE: This visa category is for trade and commercial purposes who want to do business related activities in China.
X1 – TYPE: This type of visa issues to those who wants to do study in China for a period of more than 180 days.
Original and photocopy of Visa application for study in China usually Form JW201 or Form JW202. For more details about China visa categories and details click the official website link.
China Tourist Visa from Pakistan
Pakistani passport holders cannot get tourist visa like other countries. Getting a tourist visa for an individual or solo traveler like me is not possible. Pakistani nationals must apply for tourist visa in a group of five people and all your tour itineraries should be pre-booked with an authorized Chinese travel company. And that Chinese travel company will prepare an invitation letter attested by the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a bar code and QR code mentioned on it, for you to apply for the China visa.
This trip will cost you very high and even if you are five members of a group. You must travel in a group and with the Chinese travel agency. This group visa will not let you travel solo.
Conversely, you can solo travel to China based on a Business Visa. But getting a Business Visa is very hard on a Pakistani passport.
In conclusion, it means we cannot get a China tourist visa on a Pakistani passport.
China Business Visa from Pakistan
Getting a China Business Visa from Pakistan is also a hectic process. You should contact any Chinese embassy to get an invitation letter or contact to authorized travel agency in China.
1Getting Invitation Letter from Travel Agent
An invitational letter must require that you are applying business visa, tourist visa, or study visa on a Pakistani passport. Getting an invitation letter from China is hard but not impossible.
If you are doing business, then you should contact Chinese companies to intend to visit the company for business purposes. The company will issue a simple invitation letter on the company’s letterhead. Tell them, it must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs China. A QR code and bar code will be displayed after the attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. And this will be Free of cost from the Chinese company.
Some Pakistani agents provide an invitation letter for you but it costs very high, approximately 500 USD. I met one of the businessmen from Lahore in the Wenzhou, China exhibition, he told me that I got an invitation letter that cost me PKR 225,000.
How to Apply China Visa from Pakistan
As I got a China visa from Pakistan, I received many messages from people about how to apply China visa from Pakistan. First, gather all the required documents for a China visa and follow the step-by-step procedure.
Police Clearance Certificate
The process of getting a China visa from Pakistan is long and tough. First, apply for a Police Clearance Certificate, and after that, it should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
China Visa Application from Pakistan
When you collected all the required documents for a China visa from Pakistan. Fill out the online application form. (link is given below).
Online visa application for China from Pakistan
Fill out the online application form by using the below link and take its print copy.
Visa Application Online Form Link: https://cova.mfa.gov.cn
TAKING APPOINTMENT
Chinese Embassy in Pakistan doesn’t deal visa directly, so they deal via third-party agent. In 2016, one of my friends applied visa directly to the embassy no appointment was required. Just a few documents: an invitation letter, passport, and picture and that’s it. And they have ZERO fees, and the visa was granted in just 3 days. No degree attestations are required even when applying for a student visa.
But now things have changed, and third-party agent demands a huge list of documents and charge heavy fees. I am dam sure. The embassy doesn’t ask for the extensive list of documents that are showned by third-party agent.
How to get Appointment
After filling out the online visa application form, you need to submit all your documents to the Gerrys Office (third-party agent) in Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad. Open this link Select the date and time and take the printout of the appointment page, application, and all the required mentioned documents.
Appointment for Visa Application Submission: https://avas.mfa.gov.cn
Submission Documents at Gerrys Office
As I mentioned above, the Chinese embassy doesn’t deal direct visa process, you must submit your application to a third-party agent.
Visit the Gerry Office on the selected date and time mentioned on the appointment page. You can’t enter without an appointment printout page.
When you enter the office, you should collect your token number, Gerry office will check all the required documents one by one. Please bring all the required documents, they will be not allowed to proceed further if any documents are missing.
In the beginning, they refused me to further because I had an expired police clearance certificate. I came back from the office and made a new police clearance certificate, and they proceeded further.
If all the documents are fine, then you should be going to the next counter to pay your China visa fee of PKR 13,400 (US$ 50). Sometimes they can conduct a short interview which directly connected to the Chinese embassy through the camera. So, remember your all things especially, the invitation letter and company name.
I also gave them a short interview and that was my first time.
Documents Required for Business Visa
Here is the list of documents you need to apply for a China visa from Pakistan. The following documents are required for a Business visa.
- Print of visa application form (dully filled online)
- Appointment printout page
- Original Passport (6 Months Validity)
- Copy of Passport (first and second page)
- Photo with white background (48 x 33 mm)
- Invitation letter of Authorized travel company and their registration certificate
- Visa request letter from your company letter head (sign and stamped)
- Last 3 years of FBR tax returns
- NTN certificate of your company
- Copy of Chamber membership certificate
- Bank statement of last 6 months
- Copy of Police clearance certificate attested from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan (MOFA), if first time visit to China
- Flight ticket reservation only (not confirmed ticket)
- Hotel booking reservation
China Visa from Pakistan Price
As I mentioned above China doesn’t issue individual visit visa for Pakistani passport. A minimum group of five people can apply China visa from Pakistan by getting an invitation letter from an authorized travel company in China. Below is the Pakistan to China by road visa price:
Also, the Chinese embassy doesn’t deal with direct visas, so you must apply through a third-party agent that charges a huge amount and requires a lot of documents. Well, the China visa from Pakistan price for the third-party agent (Gerry’s) charged me PKR 13,400 (US$ 50) for issuing a visa.
Visa Processing Time
The China visa processing time is about 7 to 10 working days. China visa status can be tracked online at: https://www.visaforchina.cn
Gerry’s Helpline for Chinese Visa Information
Gerry’s helpline for China visa: +92-51-8439385
Email Address: islamabadcenterforchina@gerrys.com.pk
China is a visa-free country for Pakistan’s Diplomats and Official passport holders and may stay up to 30 days in China, 14 days in Hong Kong SAR, and 14 days in Macao SAR respectively.
China Yuan to PKR
The latest China Yuan to PKR is: 1 Yuan = 43.50 PKR. I recently, convert some PKR to Chinese at 40.20 PKR for my trip to China.
FAQs
How to get a China visa from Pakistan?
Getting a China visa from Pakistan is hard. You forgot if you want to apply for an individual visit visa. Because the Chinese Embassy doesn’t issue individual tourist visas to Pakistani nationals. A minimum group of five people needed an invitation letter from an Authorized travel agency in China and then apply.
Can I apply China Visa application from Pakistan?
Yes! You can apply China Visa Application from Pakistan in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi in a third-party agent office. Chinese Embassy doesn’t process visas directly.
China Visa Fee
Chinese Embassy doesn’t get any fees, but third-party agent gets huge fees. I paid PKR 13,400 (US$ 50) as a China visa fee.
