（As of 11 October 2025）

China Online Visa Processing System will be officially launched on October 13th, 2025. Applicants could enjoy convenience of filling out the form and uploading materials online. After passing the online review, you can then proceed to the Chinese Consulate in Cebu to submit your materials (applicants for diplomatic, official, and courtesy visas should still submit the documents to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines when the online review is approved).

Important Notice: Starting from October 13th, 2025, the Chinese Consulate in Cebu will no longer accept Chinese visa application forms completed before October 11th, 2025.

SECTION I: Application Procedures

After the launch of the online visa application, the visa application process will be as follows:

STEP 1: ONLINE SUBMISSION

This website is for those who are going to apply for a Chinese Visa in CEBU.

Please make sure you have chosen the correct location.

1. Visit the China Online Visa Application Website (https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA), register an account（Currently only email registration is supported）. After completing registration, you may log in at any time to submit applications and check progress. Each account can be used to submit applications for multiple individuals with no limit on the number of people. Each person receives one application with a unique number.

2. On the homepage, click “Start My Application”, select Philippines, CEBU

3. Complete the Online Visa Application Form

4. Upload the visa application requirements, including passports, photo, previous Chinese visa (if applicable), required supporting documents

5. Click submit button

6. Wait for the preliminary check and online approval. (Only after approved online should the passport and supporting documents be submitted at the Consulate)

STEP 2: FOLLOW UP ONLINE

Please log in to your account promptly to check the “Track the status of my application” section and take corresponding actions based on the application status.

1.Ensure you have selected the correct form submission date; otherwise, the system will display “No Data.”

2.If supplementary documents or corrections are required, the system will notify you with messages such as “Supplementary Materials to be provided” or “Rejected and to be modified”. 

3.When the status changes to “Passport to be Submitted”, applicants should submit the following physical documents in person (you may also entrust someone else or an agency to submit the application on your behalf):

STEP 3: OFFLINE SUBMISSION AT THE CHINESE CONSULATE IN CEBU

The applicant or authorized representative shall submit the following physical documents to the Consulate General for re-examination: 

1. Submission at the Consulate

（1）Visa Application Form with signature of the applicant or the person on the applicant’s behalf（Print on A4 size paper）;

（2）Original and Photocopy of Passport;

（3）One photo that has been uploaded to the application website and approved；

（4）Original and Photocopy of Old passport containing previous Chinese Visa or residence permit

（5）Original Chinese passport previously held (for applicants who previously held Chinese nationality and are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time);

（6）Other documents uploaded online  (see Section II below)

Important Reminder:

After receiving your documents, the consulate will conduct a re-review and may notify you via email or phone call to supplement more documents or request an interview.

If, after review, the Consulate determines that fingerprint collection is required, we will inform the applicant to visit the Consulate for fingerprint submission. Those that forge fingerprints or use other people's fingerprints will be denied entry into China and bear all the consequences incurred.

2.PAYMENT

Once you submit your passport and documents in the Consulate, the Visa Officer will give you a pick-up form and instructions on how to pay for the Visa Fees. (Please keep the payment slip securely, as you will need it to collect your visa later)

STEP 4: COLLECT VISA OR RETURNED PASSPORT

When the status changes to “Passport to be Collected” the applicant or their authorized representative must present the Pick-up Form and original bank payment slip at the consulate to collect the visa.

When the status changes to  “Review Failed” , the applicant or their authorized representative can retrieve the returned passport.

SECTION II: VISA CATEGORIES AND DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Basic requirements for VISA Application

① Visa Application Form. （Print on A4 size paper）

② Passport – Original passport that is valid for at least another 6 months with at least one blank visa page, and a photocopy of the passport's information/photo page. All the previous old passports are required to be submitted.

③ One ID photo that is: in color, taken within the last 6 months, in full-face view directly facing the camera, in front of a plain white or off-white background, sized 48mm x 33mm.

④ Photocopy of all previous Chinese visas

⑤ Non-Filipino Nationals – Please submit proof of legal stay or residence status in the Philippines. You must also submit a photocopy of the Philippine visa and immigration entry stamp on your passport. (Temporary visitors to the Philippines should apply for Chinese visas from the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in the countries in which they live.)

⑥ Additional documents required as follows according to visa categories:

Visa categories and documents required

Individuals under the age of 18 must provide a birth certificate and be accompanied by a guardian.

*Remarks of the Invitation Letter

The above mentioned invitation letter must contain the following information: 

1) Information on the applicant : full name, gender, date of birth, etc.

2) Information on the planned visit: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, relations between the applicant and the inviting entity or individual, financial source for expenditures, etc.

3) Information on the inviting entity or individual: name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative or the inviting individual.

The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter.

The proofs of kinship refers to marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Chinese Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship.

Additional requirements

1) First Time Chinese Visa Applicant – Please provide the following additional documents:

A) Bank Certificate of Deposit Balance(including the past 6 months bank statement) and the receipt for payment of this certificate;

B) BIR-stamped Income Tax Return Form;

C) Certificate of Employment(detailing the salary and the length of employment );

D) Business Registration Certificate(if you are the owner);

E) Professional ID/Student ID (if applicable);

F) Other relevant documents proving the applicant's economic condition/ employment/study, or supporting the applicant's travel to China, or explaining the travel purpose (if applicable);  

(Note: If children, students, housewives, etc. are unable to provide Bank Certificate of Deposit Balance and BIR-stamped Income Tax Return Form, they can provide Bank Certificate of Deposit Balance and BIR-stamped Income Tax Return Form of their parents or spouses, and please also provide proof of relationship.)

2) Original Chinese Passport – First-time applicant whose former nationality was Chinese, or who was born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), need to submit the original Chinese passport and a photocopy of the passport's information/photo page, and extension page (if applicable). You do not need to submit income tax return form and bank statement.

3) Certificate of Name Change – If the name in the new passport is different from that in the original one, the official document (birth certificate/marriage contract) issued by authorities for name change must be submitted.

4) Visit Xizang(Tibet) – You may join a tourist group organized by Authorized Travel Agency. If you plan to visit Xizang individually, you may contact the Tourism Administration of the Xizang Autonomous Region (Tel: 0086-891-6834313; Fax: 0086-891-6834632) in advance and provide a Visa Notification issued by it.

5) Applicants applying for special tour to China (hiking, cycling, horse-riding, hot air balloon, or other expeditions) should provide an original of Invitation Letter for Tourist issued by Authorized Travel Agency.

Authorized Travel Agency refers to:

a) Tourism administration bureau of Chinese province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

b) CITS Group Corporation, CITS Head Office, CTS Head Office, CYTS, etc.

6) Seafarers from the Philippine shipping companies to join vessels in ports in China and stay in China for less than 10 days, should submit Letter of Guarantee from employers, and the original and copy of Seafarer's Registration Certificate, and should apply for "G" visa. Those who would stay in China for more than 10 days should also submit invitation letters from China, and should apply for "M" visa.

SECTION III: Visa Application Fee (Unit: Peso) and Processing Time

1) Regular processing time is 4 working days

2) Express service (third working day release): an additional fee of 1100 pesos per visa will be charged.

3) Rush service (second working day release): an additional fee of 1700 pesos per visa will be charged.

Attention: During the review process, Consular Officials may find that there are doubts about the application materials that require further verification, which may result in an extension of the processing time, even if you have applied for express or rush services and paid the fees.

For visa type M, F, X1, X2 and Z, express or rush service is not available. Please apply in advance.

The above processing time is calculated from the date of passport submission.

SECTION IV: Other Important Information

1) The application materials must be authentic and complete. The Consulate General will verify the authenticity of the applicant's materials through various channels. Those who forge or incomplete materials will be rejected and will affect future applications.

2) Please be polite during on-site processing. Any language or behavior that offends the staff of the Consulate General may result in visa rejection and affect future applications.

3) The consular officer will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.

4) Please pay the prescribed fees at the bank. Applicants who overpay will be held responsible by themselves. Regardless of whether your visa is obtained or not, the visa application fee must be paid.

5) According to the relevant Chinese law and regulation, the consular officer is not required to give reasons for refusing the issuance of a visa.

6) Please check the visa after obtaining it. Should there be any discrepancy, contact the Visa Office immediately.

SECTION V: Contact us

Address of the Consular Section: 25th Floor, Mandarin Plaza Hotel, Archbishop Reyes Avenue Corner Escario Street,  Cebu City.

Opening Hours: 9AM to 11AM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.　

Email: cebu@csm.mfa.gov.cn

Tel: 032-5051035 or 032-5051040 ( 9AM-11AM&3PM-5PM, Monday to Friday)