China Scraps Service Centre Fees in Updated Visa Process for Indian Travellers

China has removed Service Centre Fees for new visa applications as the Chinese Embassy in India and the Consulate General in Mumbai began handling visa and consular legalization filings directly on October 26, 2026. The centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata stopped accepting new applications that day.

Online applications submitted after 5 pm on October 23, 2026 do not incur the visa application centre service charge. Fees collected before that cutoff remain non-refundable. The New Delhi centre’s final acceptance window for express applications closed at 12 noon on October 23, 2026.

The Updated Visa Process changes where applicants file, not the requirement to obtain an appropriate Chinese visa or pay government charges. The embassy announced the switch in a notice dated October 22, 2026, posted at 11:43 and signed by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India.

Applicants now file through the mission assigned to their location

The Indian Travellers affected by the change must use the diplomatic mission responsible for their state or Union Territory. The embassy in New Delhi is temporarily covering the Kolkata consular district.

The Mumbai consulate handles applications from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Applicants from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh must apply through the embassy in New Delhi for now.

Applicants from all other states and Union Territories also submit in New Delhi. The same jurisdiction rules apply to consular legalization, based on where the document was issued.

Applicants must pass online review before bringing papers in person

The application begins online. No fee is charged during this review stage.

1. Complete the form and upload supporting documents through the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa portal.
2. Wait for an email notification after the online review is approved.
3. Within 30 days of approval, take the passport, application form and supporting documents in person to the assigned mission. Officials collect fingerprints where required.

Applicants for diplomatic, official or courtesy/special visas must arrange an appointment by phone in advance. The other listed applicants follow the online-review and in-person submission process.

The missions will temporarily accept payments only through bank-issued demand drafts. New Delhi and Mumbai have separate payee details. Cash, personal cheques and other payment methods will not be accepted.

Government visa charges remain after the centre service charge ends

Removing the centre’s service charge does not waive Chinese government visa fees. The listed charges for Indian passport holders are:

The New Delhi centre’s published schedule lists a regular service fee of 2085, inclusive of service tax. It lists 3073 for express service, postal service and premium lounge service. The same schedule gives an “Extra fee for express service” of “2700 / 1800.”

Those charges were separate from government visa fees. The centre’s schedule says application service fees are non-refundable and that the schedule will be adjusted every quarter according to the USD and rupee exchange rate.

Visa categories still carry distinct document and fingerprint rules

Passports must be valid for more than six months and have at least two blank visa pages. Applicants also need recent photographs and copies of relevant passport details.

Tourist applicants need an itinerary, hotel and return-flight bookings. They must provide six months of bank statements showing a consistent average monthly balance of at least INR 1 lakh, or an eligible deposit certificate for a similar amount. The certificate must have been made at least three months before the application.

Business applications require additional paperwork, including handwritten Chinese approval/endorsement notes on documents from the inviting Chinese company. Requirements also vary for transit, employment and student visas. The embassy advises applicants to check its latest notices for category-specific documents and procedural updates.

The fingerprint exemption for short-term visas, covering stays of up to 180 days, runs until December 31, 2026. It does not apply to every visa category. Applicants should check requirements for their particular application.

Legalization requires direct filing for documents intended for mainland China

Applicants must submit legalization requests directly to the assigned mission, without an appointment. They need the prescribed form, identity documents, and the original document for legalization with a copy. Applications by post or fax will not be accepted.

Documents issued by Indian authorities for use in mainland China must first be notarized in India and legalized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs or its authorized offices. The Hague Apostille Convention does not apply between India and mainland China, so relevant public documents require consular legalization.

Regular processing takes four working days. The embassy offers express processing in two to three working days. The revised procedure covers mainland China; Hong Kong and Macao continue under separate immigration requirements.

The closing centres will release completed documents until October 30

Applicants with processed documents awaiting collection at the New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata centres can collect them until 12 noon on October 30, 2026. The embassy’s address is 50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021.