UAE residents planning a trip to China must now complete a revised visa application procedure, which includes an initial online submission followed by an in-person appointment, according to a recent report by Khaleej Times.
The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Dubai announced that walk-in applications are no longer accepted. Instead, travelers must first fill out their visa application online and upload key documents, such as a passport copy, photo, hotel reservations, flight bookings, and a no-objection certificate. Once the application is reviewed and approved, a Visa Application Certificate will be sent via email—only then can the applicant proceed to the visa centre for the next step.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil of Wisefox Tourism noted the impact of the changes in the same Khaleej Times report: “Earlier, we prepared the application and submitted it directly at the VFS China visa centre. We would get the passport back in four days. Now, we need to apply online, upload documents, wait for the application to be reviewed, and only then go to the centre. After that, it takes another four working days for the visa to be processed.”
Business travelers are required to submit invitation letters, while tourists must present confirmed flight and hotel bookings. Payments for visa fees must be made in person—either in cash or by card—at the time of submission.
Some applicants are exempt from fingerprinting, including those under 14 or over 70, diplomatic passport holders, and those who have provided fingerprints at the Dubai centre within the past five years using the same passport. Additionally, from September 2, 2024, to December 31, 2025, travelers staying for less than 180 days on single or double-entry visas are also exempt. However, the consulate may still request fingerprinting when needed.
The visa center accepts applications and payments from 9 AM to 3 PM, with passport collection available until 4 PM.
Subair added that the new system is intended to “bring more structure and reduce errors,” especially as interest in travel to China from the UAE continues to grow among business and leisure travelers alike.
