A . Please read the following guides carefully before submitting your application:
1. The Chinese Embassy in Ireland reserve the right to interpret, amend and change the Chinese Visa requirements in accordance with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China. We also reserve the right to review, delay, refuse and cancel your visa without providing specific reasons. Base on the individual circumstances, the validity of a visa, length of stay and number of entries are decided on a case-by-case basis. The Chinese Embassy in Ireland is not liable for any financial losses resulting from any of the above scenarios.
You are fully responsible and liable when your visa becomes invalid or unused due to change of personal or unforeseen circumstances. The Chinese Embassy in Ireland will not refund any fee in relation to your visa application.
2. New China Online Visa Application System was officially launched by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland starting from August 26th, 2024.
All applicants, including diplomats, government officials, but excluding visa applications for Hong Kong SAR of China and Macao SAR of China, are required to access and complete China Visa Application Form through China Online Visa Application （COVA） （https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/).
After the approval of online visa preliminary review, the applicants can come to the Embassy to submit the passport and qualified photo (if not passed in the process of application), and collect biometric information without making an appointment.
Your application will be declined or you can be refused entry permission to China if you provided inaccurate, false or misleading information. If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.
3. All applicants must have your fingerprints collected, and the following applicants are exempted from collecting fingerprints.
①Those who are less than 14 years old or more than 70 years old;
②Effective from August 9, 2023 until December 31, 2024, qualified applications for single or double entries Chinese visa in M, L, Q2, G, C categories will be exempted from fingerprints collection.
③The head of state or government and the accompanying family members;
④Those who are eligible to be issued diplomatic, service or courtesy visas;
⑤Members of the diplomatic and consular posts in China, and the accompanying spouses, parents and minor Children;
⑥Those who suffer from mutilation of all ten fingers or whose fingerprints cannot be collected.
4. After the visa application is submitted online, it normally takes 1 to 2 working days for the preliminary review and approval. After the applicants come to the Embassy and submit the passport and other materials, it normally takes 5 working days to process visa applications and make the visa. There is still a possibility to prolong the processing time. If you are asked to provide further documents, we will contact you and inform you of the processing time. You may request express service but it must be approved by a consular officer.
5. The Embassy of China in Ireland does not accept documents by mail and payment online.
B. Steps to apply for a visa to China
STEP ONE: Prepare Documents
Please read Part C "Materials and documents required for China visa application" carefully and prepare relevant materials and documents as required.
STEP TWO: Complete China Online Visa Application Form
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/. Hereinafter as “system”). 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.
Please note:
Each applicant (including minors) is required to complete the online application form.
Your visa application will be submitted successfully only after you click “Confirm and Submit” shown below. In the “Track My Application” of the system, it is displayed as “In checking...Please follow up your application”.
STEP THREE: 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 Ireland 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.
STEP FOUR: 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 during the office hours of the Embassy (Office Hours of the Embassy: Monday to Thursday 9:00-11:30am). Individuals who are exempt from fingerprint collection can entrust others to submit documents and passports (please refer to Part A).
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.
(Click the following links for standard sample)
http://is.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/201903/P020210702733193683439.jpg
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).
STEP FIVE: Payment and Collection
You will be given a pickup form when submitting your passports at the consular office. You must bring the pickup form for passport collection and make the payment for your visa application. You may ask someone else to collect your passport. Your nominated person must present the pickup form and his or her ID for passport collection and make the payment for your visa application. The payment will only be made when picking up the passports.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PAYMENT SHOULD BE PAID BY POST ORDER OR BANK DRAFT(AIB OR BANK OF IRELAND)
C. Materials and documents required for China visa application:
1. Basic Documents
(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.