EU visa-free (including Poland through 31.12.2026) does not apply to Ukrainian citizens with a Ukrainian passport. Ukrainians always need a full visa (except for 240-hour transit to a third country).
APPLICATION PROCESS
China visa application process for all 5 visa types
Tourist L, business M, family Q/S, work Z, student X. The PRC consulate in Chișinău reviews the application and decides. Since April 2025 a two-stage process applies — fully electronic document submission.
Universal Rules
6 rules that apply to every visa type
These rules are the same for tourist, business, family, work, and student visas. Knowing them helps you avoid the most common problems.
Hong Kong and Macao 'kill' the visa
Crossing into Hong Kong or Macao exhausts a single-entry visa. Plan the route so HK/Macao is the first entry or last exit point, or use a double-entry visa. Applies to all visa types.
Validity windows: single 3 months, double 6 months
The validity window starts from the submission date, not from visa issuance or departure. You must enter China within that window. Often misunderstood. Universal across all visa types.
Biometrics — only for long-stay visas
Biometrics are required only for visas that convert to a residence permit in China: Q1, S1, X1, long Z (90+ days). For L, M, Q2, S2, X2, and short Z (≤30 days) — biometrics are not required. Biometrics from one consulate don't count at another — submission via Chișinău requires biometrics in Moldova.
Electronic submission — standard since April 2025
All documents are uploaded electronically to the consulate website. Originals (other than the passport) are typically not required. This significantly simplifies the process.
Registration upon arrival — 24 hours
Foreigners must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels register automatically. Staying with relatives or in rented accommodation — you go to the police yourself. Especially critical for family visas.
Express processing
Available for all visa types. Important: express only speeds up the visa stamping stage (from 4 business days to 1), not the online review (2–5 days). Realistic express minimum — 7–10 business days.
How it works
The two-stage consulate process
Since April 2025 all PRC consulates use fully electronic document submission. Originals (other than the passport) are not required.
1
Stage 1
Electronic online review
- All documents uploaded to consulate website
- Duration — 2–5 business days (usually 2–4)
- Status: 'Preliminary review in progress' → 'Passport to be submitted'
- If corrections are requested, our specialists help you address them
- This is a preliminary document review, not the final decision
2
Stage 2
Passport submission and stamping
- Client ships passport via Nova Poshta (Ukraine → Moldova)
- Submission on consulate days (Tue, Thu, Fri, 9:00–12:00)
- Stamping — 4 business days (standard) or 1 day (express)
- Passport return to Ukraine via Nova Poshta
- For biometric visas: you visit Chișinău for 1 day
Workflow by visa type
Pick the visa type to see its workflow
The process is the same in structure (2 stages), but details differ: biometrics, submission route, documents. Switch tabs:
Type L
Visa details Tourist Visa
Via the Chișinău consulate
Biometrics
Not required
Submission
Documents submitted electronically; passport shipped to Chișinău via Nova Poshta
Total duration
10–14 days total
Key caveat
Single or double only — no multi-entry L visa
Step-by-step procedure
1
Request and data intake
Free consultation, travel history review, passport, photo, and questionnaire data collected from the client.
2
Maximum-package preparation
We explain which documents the consulate expects: flight and hotel bookings, the day-by-day itinerary, and the Chinese tour operator's invitation and business license.
3
Electronic submission (Stage 1)
We help complete the form and prepare your documents for the consulate portal. Online review takes 2–5 business days.
4
Passport submission (Stage 2)
After status changes, the client ships the original passport via Nova Poshta. The passport is submitted to the consulate, which stamps the visa in 4 business days (standard) or 1 day (express).
5
Passport return
We collect the visa-stamped passport and ship it to the client via Nova Poshta or courier.
Timing & Biometrics
Summary of timelines for all 5 visa types
| Visa Type | Standard | Express | Biometrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist L | 10–14 days from passport receipt | 7–10 days (express processing) | Not required |
| Business M | 10–14 days | 7–10 days | Not required |
| Family Q/S | 10–14 days (Q2/S2 remote) · 14–18 days (Q1/S1 via '1 day in Chișinău' scheme) | 7–10 days (express) | Q2/S2 — not required. Q1/S1 — mandatory |
| Work Z | 10–14 days (short Z remote) · 14–18 days (Z with biometrics via '1 day in Chișinău' scheme) | 7–10 days (express) | Short (≤30 days) — not required. Long (90+) — mandatory |
| Student X | 7–10 days (X2 remote) · 7–10 days (X1 via '1 day in Chișinău' scheme) | X2 — not required. X1 — mandatory |
The consular fee is set by the PRC embassy and paid directly to the consulate. This table is for reference — timelines may be changed by the consulate.
What to avoid
5 typical mistakes when applying yourself
Warsaw does not accept documents with expired temporary protection status. Submission in Poland typically requires a valid residence permit or temporary protection. There are nuances for Ukraine residents who travel to Poland specifically to apply — workable but narrow, with conditions.
Real math from the EU: flights + hotel + taxi + 4–6 days = €600–1200. Nova Poshta courier of the passport round-trip = €35–40 over 5 business days. A personal trip from Europe to Moldova is a very rare edge case.
Realistic express minimum — 7–10 business days. Express only speeds up the visa stamping stage (1 day vs 4), but the online review takes 2–5 days with no acceleration possible. Plus passport courier logistics.
Hong Kong and Macao are not part of mainland China. Crossing into HK/Macao exhausts a single-entry visa. If your plan includes HK mid-trip on a single, returning to mainland China is impossible. Use a double-entry or plan HK as the first/last point.
Frequently asked questions
Standard via Chișinău — 10–14 days from passport receipt (including courier). Express — 7–10 days. Visas requiring biometrics (Q1, S1, X1, long Z) add 1 day in Moldova via the '2 passports' scheme, totalling 14–18 days.
For L, M, Q2, S2, X2, and short Z — NO. Moldova is one of the few countries where the consulate accepts documents without an applicant visit, so for these visa types the process is handled remotely. For Q1, S1, X1, and long Z biometrics are required — the '1 day in Chișinău + 2 passports' scheme means you fly in only for 1 day and return on a second passport.
You need two valid international passports. We prepare the package remotely in advance. On arrival in Moldova you submit biometrics, get the receipt, and fly home on the second passport. We courier the finished passport via Nova Poshta. Real time in Moldova — 1 day, not a week.
Biometrics submitted in Warsaw, Madrid, Berlin, etc. do NOT count for Moldova submissions. Each consulate maintains its own system. For submission via Chișinău, biometrics must be submitted in Moldova.
The visa decision rests entirely with the consulate. If an application is not approved, our specialists help you understand the likely reason and prepare a fresh application where possible. A request to add documents during the online review is not a denial.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CHINA VISA?
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