Help with China tourist visa application

Question

My partner and I are travelling in South East Asia for a few months, and would like to spend a month in China. However, we dont have time to apply for a visa in our home country (the UK). We are in Vietnam for a few weeks and are hoping to apply in Hanoi. Does anyone have experience of this, or any idea if this is possible?

In addition, I have started filling out the online visa form and its asking for all the locations we are staying at. We have our stay pretty well mapped out but some of the places we are going like Fenghuang and Pingyao are not listed as destinations. As its a drop down menu I dont know how to get round this as I want to honest on the form to avoid issues.

Any help on the above would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Answer

Yes, it is possible to apply for a Chinese tourist visa while you are temporarily in another country, such as Vietnam, but there are some important considerations.

First, you need to ensure that the Chinese embassy or consulate in Hanoi accepts applications from non-residents. Many Chinese consulates require applicants to apply in their country of residence, but some do accept applications from travelers who are temporarily in the country. It is recommended to contact the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi directly via email or phone to confirm their current policy for UK citizens on a short-term stay in Vietnam.

Regarding the online visa application form, the drop-down menu for destinations may not include every smaller city or town like Fenghuang or Pingyao. Here are some practical ways to handle this:

For destinations not listed, you can select the nearest larger city or prefecture that is listed. For example, Fenghuang can be indicated under the nearest recognized city such as Xiangxi or Huaihua; Pingyao can be listed under Jinzhong or Taiyuan, depending on the options available.
Ensure that your travel itinerary clearly lists all the towns and cities you will be visiting in the supporting documents. You can provide a separate detailed itinerary along with your application to show transparency and honesty.
When in doubt, contact the visa application center or consulate for guidance on how to correctly indicate your smaller destinations.

Additional tips for applying from Vietnam:

Bring all required documents including passport, passport-sized photos, completed visa form, proof of legal stay in Vietnam (visa or entry stamp), flight tickets, and hotel bookings.
Allow extra processing time as consulates may take longer for non-resident applicants.
Consider using a reputable visa service in Vietnam to help ensure your application is accepted and complete.

In summary, while applying for a Chinese tourist visa outside your home country is possible, confirmation from the local consulate is essential. For destinations not listed in the online form, choose the nearest recognized city and provide a detailed itinerary to avoid any issues.