Visa to mainland China is required for Philippine passport holders, but it’s not difficult to acquire. They have a list of requirement that when fulfilled, you’ll definitely get your visa. No guessing game. Even during the height of Olympic controversies in 2008, I was able to get visa without problem.
Before I leave for my RTW, our family is going to visit Beijing, first time for everyone. And since we’re applying for visa right now, I thought I’ll include this in my Visa for Pinoy series.
Special Administrative Region of China
- Hong Kong, SAR - Philippine passport holders are allowed entry without visa for a stay of up 14 days.
- Macau, SAR - Philippine passport holders are allowed to visit for 30 days without the need for visa.
Chinese Tourist Visa Document Requirements:
- Applicant’s passport with blank pages and at least 6 months validity left before expiration.
- A completely filled application form affixed with one passport-size or 2×2 colored photo. Photo must have white background, facing front, no hat. Photo must be glued to the application form (not stapled). Scanned photo will not be accepted.
- A copy of the round-trip plane ticket or flight booking.
- Hotel reservation / invitation letter with a copy of the inviter’s valid chinese residence visa and passport information page of inviter’s or Chinese national identity card.
- The emergency contact information page in the applicant’s passport should be filled out and photocopied
- Previously used China visa in old or new passport. (Only visa stickers will be accepted. Those with stamped visas must submit additional documents for first time China visa applicants.)
For first time applicants to China, the following additional documents are needed:
- original NBI clearance valid for travel abroad
- original bank certificate with receipt or original passbook, updated within the month that you are applyin
>If a company will sponsor the trip, provide the company’s bank certificate, sponsorship letter from the company and the company’s business registration.
>If an individual will sponsor the trip, provide his bank certificate, sponsorship and invitation letter, copy of sponsor’s valid residence visa and passport information page or Chinese national ID.
- for employed persons, also provide an employment certificate, company ID, SSS ID and contributions, TIN ID and latest ITR
- for students, provide school ID
- for businessmen, provide business registration of company, TIN ID and latest ITR
- Personal appearance is required for those who are 16-21 years old.
How much is Chinese Visa and how long does it take?
For Philippine Passport, single entry is Php 1200. The normal processing time is 4 days. Other visa options are (1) Double entry is Php2100, (2) 6-mo multiple entry is Php2,800, (3) 12-mo multiple entry is Php4,200. Personal appearance is not required in applying for Chinese visa.
Consular Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Address: The World Center, 330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City.
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 11:00 am
Website: http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/
Visa & Passport section:
0063-2-8482386 (Fax)
0063-2-8482396 (Inquiry)
0063-2-8482395 (Inquiry)
For the other consular affairs:
0063-2-8482460 (Fax)
0063-2-8482409 (Telephone)
photo from http://great-wall-of-china.org
Same things with me and my friend. I mean, i have more than 100k for the last 6mons but they keep on insisting that i follow the format. It’s ridiculous considering the bank cert from my bank is system generated. urgh! BTW, what did you do?
hi! we provided a scanned copy of the Letter of Invitation from our travel agent and we were given pink slip already w/c indicated date of pick-up (nov 06) but to our surprise – we received a call from the embassy wednesday informing that our visa was denied. Its a long holiday so will know what went wrong monday pa….btw, were leaving nov 08 so im loosing hope already :(
may i know what’s the best thing to do coz i am scheduled also to travel to beijing on february next year for 5 days vacation. i’ve heard even if you have an invitation letter from an authorized travel agency in china but still there is a chance that your visa application will be denied.thanks
Better use Panda travel and Pan Pacific travel. These are the pros in handling china visa application.
hi miamuj! we are in the same shoes….we are already leaving 1st week of november but sadly we might just give up this trip unless we can provide an ORIGINAL Letter of Invitation from an Authorized Travel Agent for them to waived the bank requirements. Try contacting ChinaTour.Net they are very accommodating.
It’s frustrating if your bank does not conform to their required format even if all the other compliant information is there. I am currently a frustrated BPI account holder who can’t get a China Visa because of the bank certificate format.
Hi Ms. Wanderlass,
May we seek your best advice regarding our planned trip to Shenzhen early this November?
We are planning to visit a supplier in Shenzhen. Actually, its Huawei.. an Information and Technology company.
We will be four to five persons traveling to Shenzhen and this will be our first time to be there.
Our concerns, which we hope you could help us with, are as follows:
1. Will it be easy to find a 4-5 bedroom Apartment/Apartelle in Shenzhen that is affordable – say around 30-40 USD a day?. We are trying to avoid staying in hotels since we plan to stay there for 5 days and we will be traveling on limited budget.
2. Is the transport system in Shenzhen, specifically taxi service, conveniently available in Shenzhen area? I am 52 with a heart condition that may not allow me to go long distance walking as I heard from friends that long walks in Shenzhen district is an ordinary thing. Can you help me out with this one?
3. How about cheap dining in Shenzhen?
4. Are there areas or districts in Shenzhen where presence of Filipino population abounds?
In a nutshell, may I ask for some tips on how we could survive our first time visit to Shenzhen.
Thanks very much and more power.
Very truly yours,
Oscar G. Gualberto
Alangilan, Batangas City
Philippines
63.926.687.4214
URGENT UPDATE: MUST READ!
Wanderlass, Philippine Passport holders are no longer granted a 5-day Shenzhen visa at Lo Wu border based on reports starting December 2011. Please be advised that there are numerous posts online that might be confusing. This information is from first-hand accounts of Filipinos trying to cross the border. It is possible to cross, though, if you’re in a group package tour. Personally, it would be better if you get a full Chinese visa, at almost the same cost..
Thanks for the info. I’ll put it up to avoid confusion. It’s been a while since I was in China. I hope to travel China extensively soon.
good day… is there a way to check my china visa application?? as they are so strict about the bank statement,.. i already gave them my 2 bank statement and bank certificate.. and untill now they havent return yet my passport if im not mistaken its been 3 weeks or more..
Hi there! Is there anyone here tried to apply for China visa lately or after July 17, 2012 using different or multiple bank accounts for the bank certificate requirment stating adb and the current balance? I heard that these days, a lot has been denied from china visa because of bank certificate and adb requirement issues. I am now a bit worried as I am planning to travel to china to attend business and trade shows for 4days and sight seeing for another 4days. I can provide all the requirements aside from that bank certificate with an adb of atleast 100k for over 6months. My peso savings account has been opened since march 2011 and has only 64k adb but my bank balance since a month ago is higher than 100k so i am thinking if i can include in the bank certificate my dollar savings account, which has been opened since july 2011, but still the adb is lower than 100k when convert to peso. The ADB is only $2100 and my bank balance is more than 100k (when convert to peso). Do you think I be approved?
Hi, just want to know kung ito yung updated na requirements at visa application fee.
thank you.
additional question, if personal appearance is not required, where should i submit all the required documents? what is the best thing to do? is it better to apply directly in the chinesse embassy or better to apply in a travel agency?
just want to ask, is it also required to provide a copy of nbi clearance for a filipino child whose age is 6 yrs old? thanks.
Hi Wanderlass!
I am going to apply for a chinese visa for the 2nd time now. What will be the requirements i need to submit? First time was a success. Just wanna know the requirements i need since ive already been to china. thanks!