China Visa Update: New Rules for Applicants in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata
China will revamp its visa application process in India from October 26, 2026. Check the latest embassy rules, application procedures, costs, and passport collection deadlines.
Beginning October 26, 2026, Indian travelers asking for a Chinese visa will no longer be able to submit their applications through visa application centers. China is shifting the process directly to its diplomatic missions in India, with candidates having to follow updated submission requirements based on their location.
The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi notified the modification on October 22. The Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai and visa application centers have also sent notices confirming the move.
From October 26, the visa application centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata will no longer accept new Chinese visa and consular legalization applications. The embassy in New Delhi and the consulate in Mumbai will process all applications directly.
There is one significant difference in eastern India. Applicants who were previously served by the Kolkata center will be sent to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi for the time being.
Where Indians Must Apply for a Chinese Visa
The amended regulations divide applications based on the applicant's place of residence.
Mumbai: Residents from Maharashtra and Karnataka must apply through the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai.
New Delhi: Residents of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh must apply at the Chinese Embassy in Delhi.
Applicants from other Indian states and union territories must also apply through the embassy in New Delhi.
These arrangements are applicable to Chinese mainland visa applicants. Visitors to Hong Kong and Macau should examine the respective immigration authorities' procedures independently.
How does the new China visa application process work?
Applicants must first fill out their visa application online through China's official webpage. They must upload the necessary documents and await an email stating that the preliminary evaluation has been approved.
Once authorized, applicants must return to the relevant embassy or consulate within 30 days to submit their passports, application forms, and supporting papers. Fingerprints may also be required, depending on the visa category and whether the applicant qualifies for an exemption.
The embassy's published guidance specifies standard processing as seven working days and express processing as four working days, both measured from the day after passport submission. Travelers should allow extra time for document verification and any requests for additional information.
https://travunited.com/visas/cn
China Visa Fees and Passport Collection Deadlines.
The shift has an impact on service prices as well as applicants waiting for passports.
The New Delhi and Mumbai centers have notified that online applications filed after 5 p.m. on October 23 would not incur a visa application center service cost. The Kolkata center announced an earlier deadline of 5 p.m. on October 22.
Fees paid for online applications received before the necessary deadlines are non-refundable, according to the various center announcements.
Applicants with ongoing cases must pick up their processed documents from the existing centers by 12 p.m. on October 30, 2026. Anyone with an upcoming flight to China should verify the status of their application and make arrangements for pickup before the deadline.
What Change Means for Indian Travelers
The main difference is where candidates will submit their passports and supporting documentation. The online application and preliminary review remain part of the process, so candidates should not expect they can walk into an embassy without first completing the necessary processes.
For travelers outside of Delhi and Mumbai, direct submission may necessitate additional travel and planning. Applicants affected by the temporary transfer of consular activities in Kolkata should confirm the most recent instructions before scheduling an appointment or reserving transportation.
Travunited Take:
We perceive this as an administrative reform, not an improvement in visa access. Applicants should confirm jurisdiction, complete the online assessment, and give themselves extra time before planning travel or expecting automatic visa approval.
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26 Oct 2026
