Following recent guidance issued by the UK government, the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Edinburgh (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Visa Centre’) will start a partial resumption of service from March 23^rd 2021.

1) The Visa Centre will be open on every Tuesday in March from 09:00 to 15:00 for some specific categories of visa application and legalisation application. Please check our website news section for the updated visa requirements in advance.

2) The processing time for visa and legalisation application will be 7 days from the date of submission. For example, if you lodge your application on 23 March, you can collect your passport on 30 March.

Submission: 09:00 - 13:00

Collection: 13:00 - 15:00.

Express service is not available.

Postal return service will take approximately two weeks from the date of submission.

*The processing time might be longer if the Chinese Consulate requires further documents. In this case, the Visa Centre will contact the applicant for a new collection date.

3) An appointment is required for all visa applications. The Visa Centre will not accept any visa application without an appointment.

Applicants aged between 14 to 70 inclusive must come to the Visa Centre in person to submit their visa application and have their biometric information taken. Applicants under 14 or over 70 can entrust another person to submit their application, but they must book an appointment online in advance.

Please note that the online application form will no longer be valid or retrievable after 30 days from the date when you fill in the form. Please ensure that you book an appointment and submit your visa application within 30 days of filling in your online application form.

4) An appointment is also required for legalisation applications.

5) Please be reminded that since May of 2018, all application fees need to be paid in full after being successfully accepted by the Visa Centre. The Visa Centre will have to terminate and return applications where no fees have been paid on the day of submission. To avoid unnecessary disruption to your application, please make full payment immediately after we accept your documents.

6) Health and hygiene requirements:

To make sure that the Visa Centre is safe for all applicants and staff, please wear a proper face covering and expect obligatory temperature checks. Applicants will be denied entry if they don’t follow the Visa Centre’s guidance. Please leave the Visa Centre after lodging your application as soon as possible so other applicants may enter and submit their applications.

We will keep you updated about any further changes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Chinese Visa Application Service Centre, Edinburgh

            March 16^th, 2021