China Tourist (L) Visa Checklist from Pakistan

China Tourist (L) Visa Checklist from Pakistan

Short answer: Pakistani ordinary passport holders pay no Chinese visa fee — they are exempt from all visa fees. They do pay a centre service fee: PKR 13,200 for regular service or PKR 19,800 for express, both including GST, in cash and non-refundable. The tourist visa is the L category, listed for tourists visiting China in a group of at least five people, with an Invitation Letter for Tourist Group from a tourism office in China. The application starts online, and the passport and originals are then submitted at Gerry's Visa Application Service Center. Processing generally takes four working days after the Embassy receives the passport, or usually three on express service.

This guide is for Pakistani passport holders planning a group tourist trip to China. It covers who the L visa is for, the documents, the charges, and the waiting time. Facts come from the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and the Visa Application Service Center in Islamabad.

Who Needs This Visa?

The L visa is the tourist category for sightseeing as part of a tour group, listed for tourists in a group of at least five people. The file must include an Invitation Letter for Tourist Group from a tourism office in China. If you are not travelling with a group, ask the visa centre before you apply. It is not the right category for work, study, or business. Fingerprints are not needed for short-term visas (180 days or less) from 17 December 2025 until 31 December 2026.

Document Checklist

Every item links to its official source. Rules last checked 4 Nov 2026.

  • Passport valid for more than six months — Valid for over six months, with at least one blank visa page. Submitted at the centre after the online stage. Source: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
  • Copy of the passport personal information page — A clear copy of the bio-data page, matching the form exactly. Source: CVASC Islamabad
  • Printout of the online application form — Fill in the form at bio.visaforchina.cn, with the confirmation page and digital ID photo. All details must match the passport exactly. Source: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
  • Digital ID photo — A recent colour photo, two inches, on a white background, uploaded with the form. A blurry photo gets the application returned. Source: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
  • Visa Application Certificate and original documents — After the "Online Visa Approved" email, bring the certificate and all originals to the centre with your passport. Source: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
  • CNIC copy, front and back — A copy of both sides of your National ID card, clear and consistent with the passport. Source: CVASC Islamabad
  • Police character certificate — Required for applicants aged ten and above, covering birth to the present date. If it has no QR code, it must be apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Scan the QR code yourself first. Source: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
  • Name-change certificate, if your name differs from an earlier passport — An official certificate of the name change, apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Source: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan
  • Invitation Letter for Tourist Group — Issued by the authorised tourism office in China, usually the local Culture and Tourism Bureau, at the request of the local travel agency there. For groups of at least five people. Source: CVASC Islamabad

Fees

There is no visa fee for Pakistani ordinary passports: they are exempt from all Chinese visa fees. The cost that applies is the centre service fee, charged by Gerry's: PKR 13,200 for regular service and PKR 19,800 for express, both including GST, payable in cash and non-refundable. No other fee is given in the official sources used.

Processing Time

The Embassy generally needs four working days after it receives the passport; express service usually takes three. Those periods run from the passport reaching the Embassy, not from the day you complete the online form. Apply about one month before entry, and not earlier than three months before entry. You bear any loss from changing or cancelling flights and hotels if the visa is refused or delayed.

How to Apply

  1. Check your passport is valid for over six months with a blank visa page, and arrange the tour-group invitation through the travel agency in China.
  2. Obtain your police character certificate, covering birth to the present date, for every applicant aged ten or above, and have it apostilled if it has no QR code. Scan the QR code yourself first.
  3. Complete the online form at bio.visaforchina.cn, upload the digital ID photo, and check all details match the passport.
  4. Wait for the "Online Visa Approved" email, print the Visa Application Certificate, then take the certificate, passport, and all originals to Gerry's centre. Punjab and the north use Islamabad and Lahore; Sindh and Balochistan use Karachi.
  5. Pay the centre service fee in cash — PKR 13,200 regular or PKR 19,800 express, including GST — and keep the receipt.
  6. Wait for processing — generally four working days, or usually three on express — then collect your passport and check the visa details.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Form details that do not match your passport. A different name, passport number, or date of birth, a missing mobile number, or a blurry photo gets the application returned.
  • A police certificate whose QR code does not work. If the code does not show your certificate, the case is returned. Scan it yourself first.
  • Choosing the wrong visa type. A mismatch between your real purpose and the visa is a common reason for refusal.
  • Booking non-refundable tickets too early. You bear any loss from changing or cancelling flights and hotels if the visa is refused or delayed.
  • Applying as an individual without checking the group rule. The L visa is listed for groups of at least five. If you are not in a group, ask the visa centre first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the China visa fee for Pakistanis?

Nothing: ordinary passport holders are exempt from all Chinese visa fees. The centre charges PKR 13,200 regular or PKR 19,800 express, including GST, in cash and non-refundable.

Can I get a China tourist visa as an individual traveller?

The L requirements ask for a tour-group invitation letter, and the Embassy lists the L visa for groups of at least five. If you are not in a group, ask the visa centre first.

How long does it take?

The Embassy generally needs four working days after it receives your passport. Express service usually takes three working days.

Can I apply from Lahore or Karachi?

Yes. Punjab residents apply in Lahore or Islamabad. Sindh and Balochistan residents apply in Karachi.

Related guides: See the complete visa document checklist for all routes, how to book a visa appointment, and our document pre-check service if you want a real person to review your file before you submit it.

Urdu Summary

پاکستانی عام پاسپورٹ پر چین کے ویزے کی کوئی فیس نہیں ہے، البتہ سینٹر کی سروس فیس نارمل 13,200 روپے اور ایکسپریس 19,800 روپے ہے، جو نقد ادا ہوتی ہے اور واپس نہیں ہوتی۔
سیاحتی ویزا ایل کیٹیگری کا ہے اور کم از کم پانچ افراد کے گروپ کے لیے ہے، جس کے لیے چین کے سیاحتی دفتر کا دعوت نامہ درکار ہوتا ہے۔
پاسپورٹ چھ ماہ سے زیادہ کارآمد ہو اور ایک خالی صفحہ ہو، آن لائن فارم بھریں، اور منظوری کے بعد پاسپورٹ جیریز سینٹر میں جمع کرائیں۔
دس سال یا زیادہ عمر والوں کے لیے پولیس کریکٹر سرٹیفکیٹ ضروری ہے، اور کیو آر کوڈ نہ ہو تو وزارت خارجہ سے اپوسٹل لازمی ہے۔
سفارت خانہ عام طور پر چار کام کے دن لیتا ہے، ایکسپریس میں تقریبا تین دن لگتے ہیں، اور سفر سے تقریبا ایک ماہ پہلے درخواست دیں۔
فارم کی تفصیلات پاسپورٹ سے ملنی چاہییں، کیو آر کوڈ خود چیک کریں، اور ویزا ملنے سے پہلے ناقابل واپسی ٹکٹ نہ بک کرائیں۔

This guide is general information only, not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules change — always verify the current requirements on the official embassy or visa-centre page before you apply. SA Global Enterprises cannot guarantee any visa decision.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Visa Document Checklist from Pakistan: The Complete Guide

Short answer: Every visa file from Pakistan must prove four things — who you are, why you are travelling, how you will pay for it, and why you will come home. The exact papers change by route; the logic below does not. Visa Document Checklist from Pakistan: The Complete Guide Every visa application from Pakistan rests on the same foundation: a file that proves who you are, why you are travelling, how you will pay for it, and why you will come home. The exact papers change from one country to another, but the logic does not. If you understand the building blocks below, you can prepare any route with far less confusion — and far fewer avoidable refusals. What every visa file needs 1. A valid passport Your passport is the first thing any officer checks. It must cover your whole trip, and many countries ask for extra validity beyond your return date — for example, Schengen states ask for three months beyond your planned departure, with at least two blank pages. Old passports matt...
Read more

Cover Letter Template for Visa Applications

Short answer: Copy the letter below, fill in every blank with facts that are true and supported by your documents, and keep it to one page. If a line does not apply to you, leave it out — never invent an answer. Cover Letter Template for Visa Applications A cover letter is a short note that travels with your visa file. It tells the visa officer, in plain language, who you are, where you are going, why you are going, how the trip is paid for, and why you will come back to Pakistan. It does not prove anything on its own — your documents do that. The letter simply ties the file together so the officer can follow your story without guessing. How to use this template Copy the letter below and fill in every blank with facts that are true and that your documents support. If a line does not apply to you, leave it out rather than inventing an answer. If you do not know something, leave the blank empty and fill it in by hand later — never guess. A blank is honest; a made-up detail can da...
Read more

Visa Appointment Slots: How to Book (VFS, USTravelDocs and Embassies)

Short answer: Book only through the official portal for your route — VFS Global, USTravelDocs, or the embassy's own booking page. Nobody can sell you a slot, and no agent can bypass the booking system. Visa Appointment Slots: How to Book (VFS, USTravelDocs and Embassies) For many routes, the hardest step is not the paperwork — it is getting an appointment. Slots at visa centres fill quickly, especially in peak season, and the frustration pushes many applicants toward risky shortcuts. This guide explains how booking actually works, how to improve your chances, and which offers to walk away from. Book only through official portals Appointments are booked through the official channel for your route: the VFS Global portal for countries such as the UK, the USTravelDocs appointment service for the United States in Pakistan, or the embassy's own booking page where one exists. These are the only legitimate sources of slots. Any other website, agent, or social media page claimin...
Read more