China is changing the visa application process for Indian travellers starting October 26, 2026. The Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVAC) will no longer handle visa applications for Indians.

Instead, applicants in Maharashtra and Karnataka must apply at the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai. Those in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal must apply at the Chinese Embassy in India temporarily.

The new process requires applicants to fill out the visa application form online and submit it for review; no fee is paid during this initial step. Applicants then have 30 days from receiving an approval email to submit their documents. For diplomatic, official or courtesy visas, a phone appointment must be made before submitting documents.

Required documents include: a fully filled China Visa application form; a passport valid for at least six months with at least two blank pages; and two recent colour photos with a white background.