China visa for Indians: apply at the Embassy in Delhi or the Mumbai Consulate from 26 October

What is changing

On 22 October, the Chinese Embassy in India said that from 26 October 2026 the Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai will accept and process visa applications directly. Applications from the Kolkata consular district will be handled by the Embassy for the time being.

Where to apply

Maharashtra or Karnataka: Consulate General of China, Mumbai.

Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh or West Bengal: Chinese Embassy, New Delhi (for now).

Anywhere else in India: Chinese Embassy, New Delhi.

How to apply

1. Apply online. Fill in the Chinese visa application form at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ and upload your documents for review.

2. Submit in person within 30 days. Once the form is approved, you will get an email. Within 30 days of that email, take your passport, the printed form and your documents to the Embassy or Consulate, and give fingerprints if asked.

3. Collect in person. Go back on the date shown on your pick-up slip, pay the fee, and collect your visa.

The embassy says processing takes 7 working days as standard, or 4 working days by express. The count starts from the day after you submit your passport.

Office hours, Monday to Friday except public holidays: New Delhi takes applications 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with collection 3:00–5:30 pm. Mumbai takes applications 2:30–5:30 pm, with collection 10:00 am–12:30 pm.

If a travel agency submits your application, the embassy asks for the agency’s qualification documents and the agent’s ID.

Fees for Indian citizens, and how to pay

These fees are from the embassy’s fee notice dated 22 October: single entry ₹2,900; double entry ₹4,400; multiple entry for 6 months ₹5,900; multiple entry for 12 months or more ₹8,800. Express processing (4 working days) adds ₹1,800, and urgent processing (2 working days, where available) adds ₹2,700.

Payment is by demand draft only. Cash and cheques are temporarily not accepted.

Who to make it out to: “CHINESE EMBASSY, NEW DELHI” or “CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN MUMBAI”.

Printed, not handwritten: the bank must print the draft. Handwritten or incomplete drafts are rejected.

On the back: write the applicant’s full name, the pick-up slip number and a contact phone number.

Documents

For everyone: a passport valid for more than six months, with at least two blank visa pages, plus copies of the information page; two recent photos on a white background, 48 × 33 mm; and any Chinese visas from the last three years.

For a tourist (L) visa: either six months of bank statements showing a consistent average monthly balance of at least ₹1 lakh, or a bank deposit certificate for a similar amount, made at least three months before you apply.

For applicants under 18: a birth certificate, the guardian’s ID and the guardian’s consent letter.

What it means for you

Allow more time. The process now has an online review, an in-person visit to Delhi or Mumbai, and a second visit to collect. Our suggestion is to start at least two to three weeks before you fly.

Eastern India: if you live in the east, your nearest office is Delhi for now.

Demand draft: get it ready in advance, for the exact amount and made out to the right office.

Sources

This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.

• Notice on the Direct Acceptance and Process of Applications for Chinese Visas and Consular Legalization — Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India, 22 October 2026
• Notice on Chinese Visa Application — Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India, 22 October 2026
• Notice on Schedule of Fees for Consular Service — Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India, 22 October 2026