China Visa Centers in France, Switzerland & Belgium: Locations & Requirements

Securing a visa to travel to China can be a critical yet sometimes complex step. To simplify the process, China visa centers operate across multiple European countries, including France, Switzerland, and Belgium. These centers handle visa applications, document verification, and mandatory biometric fingerprinting for applicants.

China visa centers in France

In France, there are four active China visa application centers. Applications must be submitted at the center corresponding to the applicant’s place of residence:

• China Visa Application Center — Paris: for residents of Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Normandy, Brittany, and the regions of Centre-Val de Loire and Grand Est.

• China Visa Application Center — Marseille: for residents of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Corsica.

• China Visa Application Center — Lyon: for residents of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Pays de la Loire.

• China Visa Application Center — Strasbourg: for residents of the Grand Est region.

Biometric fingerprinting in France

Since 17 May 2019, all first-time China visa applicants aged 14 to 70 must submit biometric fingerprints. The process is completed at the visa center and takes only a few minutes. Appointments must be booked in advance via http://www.visaforchina.org/.

• Chinese Visa Application Service Centre — Paris

  Address: 25 Rue de Bassano, 75008 Paris

  Phone: +33140700401

• Chinese Visa Application Service Centre — Lyon

  Address: 27 Rue de la Villette, 69003 Lyon

  Phone: +33428703879

• Chinese Visa Application Service Centre — Strasbourg

  Address: 19 Rue du Fossé des Treize, 67000 Strasbourg

  Phone: +33374950780

• Chinese Visa Application Service Centre — Marseille

  Address: 165 Av. du Prado, 13008 Marseille

  Phone: +33486879879

⚠️ Note: Some centers have closed. Verify availability before applying.

China visa centers in Switzerland

In Switzerland, two centers are available for applications:

• China Visa Center — Bern: handles applications from residents of Bern, Fribourg, Valais, Neuchâtel, and Jura.

• China Visa Center — Zurich: serves all other Swiss cantons.

Biometric fingerprinting in Switzerland

Applicants aged 14 to 70 must also provide fingerprints when applying for a China visa from Switzerland. The biometric process is completed at the time of submission, after booking online.

China visa center in Belgium

Belgium operates a single center serving all residents:

• China Visa Center — Brussels: processes all visa applications for Belgium-based applicants.

Biometric fingerprinting in Belgium

Just like in France and Switzerland, applicants aged 14 to 70 must submit biometrics during their in-person application in Brussels, following an online appointment booking.

Biometric fingerprinting exemptions

While most China visa applicants aged 14–70 must provide fingerprints, exemptions apply:

• Applicants under 14 or over 70 are exempt from fingerprinting.

• Those who submitted fingerprints in the past five years for the same visa type and passport (except for Z, X1, Q1, S1, J1, D, or R visa categories) do not need to re-submit biometrics.

Global list of China visa application centers

China operates visa centers worldwide. Below is an abbreviated list of available centers. Always confirm the center’s status and procedure before applying.

• Algeria: Algiers

• Angola: Luanda

• Australia: Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide

• Belgium: Brussels

• Canada: Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montréal

• China: Hong Kong, Macao

• Germany: Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Düsseldorf

• Ghana: Accra

• India: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata

• Italy: Rome (some closed — verify before applying)

• Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya

• Netherlands: The Hague

• Nigeria: Abuja, Lagos

• Portugal: Lisbon

• Russia: Moscow, Saint Petersburg

• Saudi Arabia (locations not specified)

• South Korea: Seoul (Namsan Square), Busan, Gwangju, Jeju

• Spain (locations not specified)

• Sweden: Gothenburg, Stockholm

• Switzerland: Bern, Zurich

• Turkey: Istanbul

• United Arab Emirates: Dubai

• United Kingdom: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast

• United States (locations not specified)

• Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City

• Plus additional centers in various other countries — verify locally before applying.