Talent Visa (R Visa)

How long does it take to obtain a Chinese visa (updated on March 19, 2023)

We calculate our service time from the time you extract your fingerprints at the Chinese visa center and submit documents to embassy staff. Based on this standard, your visa passport will be ready to be collected from our office within 3 working days (including the day of fingerprint issuance) in the afternoon (courier service) or 4 working days (standard service) after fingerprint issuance. Please note that these times may be affected by restrictions on opening hours during the pandemic. For detailed information, please call or email us.

How can I obtain a Chinese visa?

1. Choose one of the following options to order our services – our prices include all embassy fees and Chinese visa center fees. We will send you an email during working hours and inform you of what needs to be done later.

2. Fill out the application form for the Chinese visa center online (click here for the online form). Alternatively, you can fill out the simplified form for the China Visa Direct Card and we will fill out the center’s form for you (additional fee – add the form filling service to your shopping basket and we will contact you).

If you have any questions about filling out the form, please call us or send us an email and we will provide assistance. Please provide your customer reference number.

If you have filled out the form yourself, please send us an email:

(i) A copy of the completed form;
(ii) A copy of your passport photo page;
(iii) The following supporting documents.

These will allow us to thoroughly check your form. If any changes are required, we will suggest and obtain your consent to make these changes. Do not book fingerprints with the center (see below).

After reviewing your form and your situation, we will contact you to learn about the next steps – we will inform you if you need to bring any other documents when you come to the center to obtain your fingerprints. Please note that only applicants aged 14 to 69 (inclusive) are required to provide fingerprints.

6. We will make an appointment for you and inform you when to bring your passport (original) and required documents to the Chinese visa center (please note where the original and copy are required according to the following text and our instructions). Throughout the process, one of our employees will meet with you at the Chinese visa center and greet you. Please note that we may schedule an appointment for the next day (please call us for more details).

7. We will mail or courier your passport and visa back together (additional charge – if you need courier, please add Royal Mail Express to your shopping basket or call us), or you can collect it at our office. Alternatively, you can send us a prepaid Royal Mail Express envelope and we will return it to you in this way.

8. Please remember that the visa type and duration for each stay are always determined by the Chinese Embassy, which will provide you with the most suitable visa based on all circumstances, especially the documents at hand.

Applicants for Talent Visa (R Visa)

The country needs high-level foreign talents and urgently needed specialized talents

Required documents for Talent Visa (R Visa)

1. Passport: Original passport with a validity period of more than 6 months, blank visa page, and 1 copy of passport photo information page.

2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the “People’s Republic of China Visa Application Form” and 1 recent passport photo with a light background and no hat attached to the application form.

3. Legal stay or residence certificate (applicable to visa applicants who are not in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide valid proof of legal stay, residence, work, or study in your country, or the original and photocopy of a valid visa.

4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who previously held Chinese nationality but later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; If you have previously obtained a Chinese visa and applied for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo information page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have previously obtained (if the name recorded on the new passport does not match the original passport, you must also provide relevant official proof of name change).

5. Meet the introduction conditions and requirements for foreign high-level talents and urgently needed specialized talents determined by the relevant competent departments of the Chinese government, and submit corresponding proof materials in accordance with regulations.