Guide for Pinoys: Tourist Visa Application for China

Some friends have asked me about visa application for China and I just remembered this is a long overdue post.  

Yes, we still need a visa going to China kahit beshy-beshy na ang current admin with them, while Taiwan  have granted and even extended visa-free for Filipino tourists. Oooh the ironies of this One-China Policy. 

Anyway,  I went to Beijing and Inner Mongolia last December 2018- January 2019 to visit a dear friend who is taking her PhD in Xishuangbanna.  This supposedly will merit a long post but my lazy self overruled. 😜

So for  fellow Pinoys travelling to mainland China, here are the needed requirements for first-time applicants: 

1. Your passport. Make sure it is valid for a minimum of 6 months upon travel to avoid hassle at the immigration.
2. Filled- out visa application form.  You can download it here: http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/sblhqz_660598/P020130828561586361528.pdf  Type your answers and do not leave any field blank. Put N/A if the item does not apply.  Again, type first your answers before printing! 
3.  Photo – Please provide 2 color photos and affix one of the photos on the Application Form. The photo should be recent (within 6 months), front view, white background, in 48mm x 33mm size without head covering. DO NOT STAPLE YOUR PHOTO!  
4. Bank Certificate of Deposit Balance (including the past 6 months bank statement) and the receipt for payment of this certificate. Just go to your bank and request for this and this usually takes around 3-5 days.  So how much should you have in your bank account? It will depend on the length of stay in China. My modest calculation is around Php 2,000- P3, 000 per day x the number of  days you will stay there.  If you have more, why not coconut?! 😀
5. BIR-stamped Income Tax Return Form (I submitted our company pay slip)
6. Certificate of Employment (detailing the salary and the length of employment
7. Business Registration Certificate (if you are the owner);
8. Professional ID/Student ID (if applicable). 
9. 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); 
10. Copy of your round-trip airline ticket
11. Travel Itinerary.  There are a lot of  online guides already on which area you plan to visit. Tailor fit based on the number of days you are there.  If you are taking a guided tour, then you can ask them to send the itinerary. 
12. Copy of  Hotel reservation.  
13. If you are not staying in a hotel and say your friend invited you over, you have to get an invitation letter* and the photocopy of the inviter's Chinese ID/ Passport with Chinese Residence Permit. 

* 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.


If you cannot personally give your application or if you are travelling as a group, ensure an  authorization letter and photocopy of your ID, for the one who will submit the requirements on your behalf.

You can apply at the Chinese Consular Office in Makati.
Address:
2nd Floor, the World Center,
330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue,
Makati City, Metro Manila

You can now also apply at Chinese Consular Office in Davao City
Address:
Acacia Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City
Tel No.: 082-298-7471

REMEMBER, Visa application is only in the morning, from 09:00 am to 11:00 am, Monday to Friday. 

Regular processing is 4 days to get your visa.
Visa payment for Single entry is Php 1,400 upon claiming. You have to pay in cash! 

Again, you have to collect personally your visa for the consular office. Walang delivery service sila mga mamsh. If you're travelling as a group and just one person will get it, ensure again an authorization letter and photocopy of ID.

CHECK THE DETAILS OF YOUR VISA BEFORE YOUR LEAVE THE CONSULAR OFFICE.

Make sure that the dates are correct. It should cover the date of your arrival and exit.

These requirements are only for tourist visa. If you need other types of visa, you can check more details from the China Embassy in Ph here: http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/visas/t960523.htm


RULE OF THUMB WHEN APPLYING FOR ANY VISA:
Bahala ng sumobra ang dala mong documents, kesa magkulang at pababalikin ka. Oh the hassle!
Better to be prepared, have extra documents rather than scramble for forgetting one seemingly petty document. 

#RaiseYourFlag at one of the original part of Great Wall in Huairou District, Beijing

I hope this helps. Message me if you want clarifications.

And I have a separate post for the must- have apps that will help you around in China. Kanji letters mostly dun mga mamsh and if you go outside of the city centers, konti lang ang nag-Eenglish, so better equip yourself with helpful apps. 😉