Obtaining a visa to travel to China can be a crucial but sometimes complex step. In order to simplify this process visa centers for China have been set up in several European countries, including France, Switzerland and Belgium. These centers offer services such as visa application registration, document verification and biometric fingerprinting.
China visa centers in France
In France, there are three visa centers for China. They are located in Paris, Marseille and Lyon. French nationals are required to submit their visa applications to one of these centers, depending on their place of residence:
- China visa center in Paris for residents of the Île-de-France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Normandy, Brittany, Hauts-de-France and Centre-Val de Loire regions.
- China visa center in Marseille for residents of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica.
- China visa center in Lyon For nationals residing in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie and Pays de la Loire.
- China visa center in Strasbourg for nationals residing in the Grand-Est region.
Biometric fingerprinting in France
As of May 17, 2019, all Chinese visa applicants aged 14 to 70 inclusive must provide fingerprints when submitting their application. The fingerprinting process takes place at China visa centers and takes just a few minutes. It is essential to make an appointment in advance on http://www.visaforchina.org/.
- Chinese visa application service center in Paris
Address: 25 Rue de Bassano, 75008 Paris
Phone : +33140700401 - Chinese visa application service center in Lyon
Address: 27 Rue de la Villette, 69003 Lyon, France
Phone : +33428703879 - Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Strasbourg
Address: 19 Rue du Fossé des Treize, 67000 Strasbourg
Phone : +33374950780 - Chinese visa application service center in Marseille
Address: 165 Av. du Prado, 13008 Marseille
Phone : +33486879879
⚠️ Please note that some centers are now closed!
China visa centers in Switzerland
In Switzerland, there are two visa centers for China located in Bern and Zurich :
- China visa center in Berne For Swiss and foreign nationals residing in the cantons of Berne, Fribourg, Valais, Neuchâtel and Jura.
- China visa center in Zurich for Swiss nationals and foreigners residing in other Swiss cantons.
Biometric fingerprinting in Switzerland
The biometric fingerprinting procedure is also compulsory for Chinese visa applicants residing in Switzerland, aged between 14 and 70 inclusive. Fingerprinting must be carried out at the China visa centers when the application is submitted, and after making an appointment on the official website.
China visa centers in Belgium
In Belgium, there is only one visa center for China, located in Brussels:
- China visa center in Brussels for all Belgian and foreign nationals residing in Belgium.
Biometric fingerprinting in Belgium
As in France and Switzerland, biometric fingerprinting is mandatory for Chinese visa applicants aged 14 to 70 inclusive and residing in Belgium. Fingerprints must be provided when submitting the visa application to the Brussels center, after making an appointment in advance on the center's official website.
Exceptions and exemptions from fingerprinting
Although biometric fingerprinting is a mandatory step for the majority of China visa applicants, there are some exceptions:
- People under 14 or over 70 are exempt from fingerprinting.
- Applicants who have already provided fingerprints within the last five years for a Chinese visa of the same category and with the same passport do not need to provide them again, except when applying for a Z, X1, Q1, S1, J1, D or R visa.
List of Chinese visa centers worldwide
- Germany Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Duesseldorf
- Algeria Algiers
- Angola Luanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Australia Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide
- Austria : Vienna
- Belgium : Brussels
- Canada Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal
- China Hong Kong, Macao
- South Korea Seoul (Namsan square), Busan, Gwangju, Jeju
- Denmark : Copenhagen
- Egypt Cairo, Alexandria
- United Arab Emirates Dubai
- Ethiopia Addis Ababa
- Finland : Helsinki
- France Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon (Please note that some centers are now closed!)
- Gambia Banjul
- Ghana Accra
- Greece Athens
- India New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata
- Indonesia Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Denpasar
- Italy Rome, Milan, Florence (Please note that some centers are now closed!)
- Japan Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya
- Kazakhstan Astana, Almaty
- Kenya Nairobi
- Kuwait Al Kuwait
- Lebanon Beirut
- Madagascar Antananarivo
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Penang
- Nepal Kathmandu
- Nigeria Abuja, Lagos
- Norway Oslo
- Uzbekistan Tashkent
- Pakistan Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
- The Netherlands The Hague
- Poland Warsaw
- Portugal : Lisbon
- Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa
- Czech Republic : Prague
- Romania Bucharest
- United Kingdom London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast
- Russia Moscow, Saint Petersburg
- Senegal : Dakar
- Singapore
- Suede Gothenburg, Stockholm
- Swiss Berne, Zurich
- Thailand Bangkok, Chiang Mai
- Türkiye : Istanbul
- Vietnam Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City
English 
Français 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Español