Footprints Recruiting

Fees and Processes for Chinese Visas for Australians

G'day everyone, here are the simple steps in how Australians get visas to teach or travel in China. First you have to find out where you are supposed to go.

Note that some consulates accept mail in applications. Be sure ALL your documents are in order. You only get one chance with this and one mistake can mess up the whole process. The Chinese Embassy and various Chinese Consulate in Australia strongly recommend that you apply for your visa in person of that you have a friend, family member or agent apply on your behalf. Some applications have been known to go missing or mysteriously "never get there". Note also that the processing time is longer.

General Chinese Visa Information

• single standard entry visa fee of $30AUD
• standard processing time of 4 business days
• general China Visa application form download

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Please refer to remarks below Chinese Consulate and Embassy information for the procedure to apply for your visa to teach or travel in China

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• Brisbane Chinese Consulate

  - jurisdiction over Queensland
  • accepts mail in applications
  • standard processing time is 4 working days
  • standard mail in application processing time is 6 working days
  • same day or next day service is available for $50AUD - application must be lodged by 10:30am
  • express service is also available for you to pick up on the third processing day and this costs $30AUD
  • Payment by cash, personal cheque, bank cheque, company cheque, money order and all major credit cards. If paying by cheque please make it payable to the Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane.
  • NOTE - invalid cheques will result in cancellation of your visa.
  • download China Visa Application Form for Chinese Consulate in Brisbane

• Canberra Chinese Embassy

  - jurisdiction over ACT, Northern Territory and South Australia
  • same day service is available for $50AUD - application must be received by 9:30am.
  • next day (2nd) day service is available for $50AUD
  • 3rd day service is available for $30AUD
  • accepts mail in applications (post marked from jurisdictional area only)
  • mail in application will be processed in 4 working days - total typical time from sending to receiving back is generally about 8 working days.
  • accepts payment by cash, bank cheque, money order or company cheque. The "payee" should be the CHINESE EMBASSY.
  • NOTE THAT CREDIT CARDS are NOT ACCEPTED
  • download China Visa Application Form for Chinese Embassy in Canberra

• Melbourne Chinese Consulate

  - jurisdiction over Victoria and Tasmania
  • ***NOTE*** the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne accepts MAIL IN applications only from persons in Tasmania.
  • ***NOTE*** also that the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne also does NOT accept credit cards for payment - Only cash, company check, bank check or money order. Cheques made payable to the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne.
  • Same day service is NOT available. Fastest turn around time is second day service (next day). Applications must be received before 11am on the day of application and the fee is $50 AUD.
  • download China Visa Application Form for Chinese Consulate in Melbourne.

• Perth Chinese Consulate

  - jurisdiction over Western Australia
  Please call the Chinese Consulate-General in Perth directly for instructions on processing times. For our experience, the standards and policies are the same as in Canberra except that the "payee" would be the CHINESE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN PERTH. No website is currently available.
  • download China Visa Application Form for Chinese Consulate in Perth

• Sydney Chinese Consulate

  - jurisdiction over New South Wales
  • same day processing service is available if received before 9:30am - cost is an additional $50AUD
  • next day (2nd day) service is also available for $50AUD
  • third day service is available for $30AUD
  • accepts mail in applications (post marked from jurisdictional area only)
  • mail in application will be processed in 4 working days - total typical time from sending to receiving back is generally about 8 working days.
  • Payment is accepted by cash, bank cheque, money order or company cheque. The "payee" should be CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN SYDNEY.
  • download China Visa Application Form for Chinese Consulate in Sydney

Mail In Chinese Visa Application Instructions

You only get one chance for this. Any mistake, a missing blank on the application form or failure to include a certain original form can screw everything up and cause senseless delays.

Also, it is very important to make sure you send your Chinese Visa Application and documentation by registered mail or courier (EXPRESS MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL or DHL, TNT) so that you have tracking ability to ensure the Chinese Embassy or Consulate receives the informaton. Make sure you also include a pre-paid return envelope with your address so that the Chinese Embassy or Consulate can send it back to you.

• Send the following:
  1. Passport
     • make sure it is signed
     • make sure it is valid for at least 6 more months
     • make sure there are at least 2 blank pages
  2. Chinese Visa Application form for Australians
     • download the form appropriate for the consulate or embassy you will be applying to.
       Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
     • make sure this is filled out properly. Any questions call your Footprints Placement Coordinator or the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
     • note that a missing field here or the wrong info can result in a visa being rejected.
     • fields that are not applicable should be filled in with N/A
     • note that some fields are SPECIFICALLY for the VISA OFFICER - do not put N/A in these fields.
     • attach a COLOR passport sized photo - get proper passport photos done and send one.
  3. Appropriate original documentation from China
     • Alien Employment License or Foreign Expert Work Permit
       • include a photocopy of the original Employment Permit, please ask for it back. The original will be of further use in China. Attach a little note to the photocopy requesting they return it. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
       • Visa Notice or Visa Notification Letter or Invitation Letter
     • include the visa fee and the handling fee - $40AUD
       • Visa fee is $30.00 AUD
       • Mail In handling fee is $10.00 AUD
       • please refer to information above for terms of payment specific to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate you will be applying with.

Important to note: If you mail in your application they do NOT allow you to pick it up in person.

In-Person China Visa Application Process

1. Visit the Chinese Embassy or Consulate Visa Office to Apply in Person.
   ---CLICK HERE--- to find a Chinese Consulate or Embassy near you.
   • If you cannot visit personally, you may entrust a friend or relative or a travel/visa agent to go to the visa office of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the consular jurisdiction where you live to apply for the visa on your behalf.
   • No appointment is required but if you are hoping for same day service you need to submit your application before 11:00am and in some cases you need to be there before 9:30am please review the specific information provided above for the Chinese Consulate or Embassy you will be visiting.
2. Z Visa Applicants Need the Following:
   1. The "Alien Employment License" issued by the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources. This must be the original that is issued by the Public Security Bureau in China.
      OR
      The "Foreign Expert Work Permit" issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs. This must also be the original.
      • After presenting the original Employment Permit or the Employment License at the counter, please ask for it back and leave the photocopy with the application only. The original will be of further use in China. Most times they do not have a problem with this. If you FORGET to do this right at the beginning they WILL NOT give it back to you.
   2. A "Visa Notice", "Visa Notification Letter" or "Invitation Letter" from an authorised department in China provided to your school then forwarded to you.
   3. Passport with at least 6 months validity
   4. Passport must have at least two completely empty pages
   5. Passport must be signed (required to make it valid)
   6. download the form appropriate for the consulate or embassy you will be applying to.
      Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
   7. Colour passport sized picture attached to application form
   You will be required to pay the visa application fee when you pick up your visa. Note that you, or the person who submits your application on behalf of you, will be issued a chit with a number. DO NOT LOSE THIS. You will need to bring this back to reclaim your passport. If this is lost, only the person who owns the passport will be able to collect the passport/visa application.

If you are planning on having a spouse or dependant travel with you to China you will need to bring proof of kinship (marriage certificate, birth certificate).

NOTE: If the visa application form is not filled out completely, correctly, and legibly, this can cause a delay in processing or the refusal of the requested visa.

Now that you have your visa you have 3 months to arrive in China

When you arrive in China apply for your residence permit in the local Public Security Office within 30 days of entering China.

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