Overnight bus Kyiv–Chișinău: ~€30–50. Including one night's accommodation if needed: ~€80–120. Significantly cheaper than €540 in Warsaw.
Biometrics for a Chinese Visa in 1 Day in Chișinău — How It Works
If you're applying for a long-term Chinese visa requiring biometrics — family Q1, S1, student X1, or work Z for 90+ days — personal submission at the consulate is mandatory. The standard route is a trip to Warsaw for 6–7 days with costs around €540. China2Day offers an alternative: one day in Chișinău. You arrive, submit biometrics in 15 minutes, and by afternoon you're already heading back to Ukraine — using your second passport. We send the completed visa to you 4 business days after submission.
Who Needs Biometrics for a Chinese Visa
Most Chinese visas can be processed entirely remotely — without personal appearance. But there are four categories for which the PRC consulate requires in-person biometrics (fingerprints):
- Family Q1 — long-term, for relatives of PRC citizens (180+ days)
- Family S1 — long-term, for relatives of foreigners with permanent residence in China (180+ days)
- Student X1 — for long-term study in China (90+ days)
- Work Z (long-term) — for working in China for 90+ days
Why Warsaw Is an Expensive and Inconvenient Option
The most popular option for Ukrainians is a trip to Warsaw, where the Chinese visa center CVASC operates. But that's 6–7 days out of your life and real expenses: travel Kyiv–Warsaw–Kyiv (~€120), accommodation 3–4 days (~€300), meals (~€120). Total ~€540, plus submission goes through an intermediary CVASC rather than directly to the consulate.
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How the '1 Day in Chișinău + 2 Passports' Scheme Works
The key idea is to use a second passport so you don't have to stay in Moldova while your documents are processed. Step by step:
- Step 1 — Document preparation (before arrival): you send scans, we fill out COVA and verify the invitation. This stage takes up to 4 business days — during which the consulate conducts an online review.
- Step 2 — Arrival in Chișinău: submission days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The consulate operates 9:00–12:00; arrive by 11:30 at the latest. Travel takes 8–12 hours (overnight bus, train, or car).
- Step 3 — Submission at the consulate (15 minutes): a China2Day manager meets you near the consulate with the prepared document package. You only physically bring your passport. You submit fingerprints, get a receipt, hand over the passport — and by 12:00 you're free.
- Step 4 — Return to Ukraine with your second passport: while your first passport is at the consulate (4 business days), you return home with your second. We ship the finished passport with the visa back to you via Nova Poshta.
Comparison: Warsaw vs Chișinău
The '1 Day in Chișinău' scheme saves 3 days and ~€440 vs self-submission in Warsaw:
- Cost: ~€100 (trip to Chișinău) vs ~€540 (trip to Warsaw)
- Time: 1 day vs 6–7 days
- Submission type: directly to PRC consulate vs through intermediary CVASC
- Second passport: required in both cases (document stays at consulate 4+ days)
Practical Information
What to know before traveling to Chișinău:
- PRC consulate submission days (Moldova): Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
- Hours: 9:00–12:00; in practice acceptance ends at 11:30
- Address: 10 Șciusev Street, Chișinău (a China2Day manager will meet you at the entrance)
- Most convenient transport: overnight bus from Kyiv (morning arrival)
- Second passport is mandatory — without it you'd have to stay in Moldova for 4 days
ІВ
10+ years of experience in China visa support and business travel. Author of 40+ articles.
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Yes. Your first passport stays at the consulate for 4 business days after submission. Without a second passport, you cannot cross the border and return home.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The consulate accepts documents from 9:00 to 12:00. We recommend arriving no later than 11:30.
Yes. We advise on transport, book a hotel in Chișinău if needed, and meet you near the consulate with the complete prepared document package.
Submission takes 15 minutes. After that, documents remain at the consulate for 4 business days. We ship the finished passport via Nova Poshta — total ~5–6 days after submission.