TE invitation letter

Question

I'm an Australian PR with a Pakistani passport. I’m supposed to transit at Guangzhou while en route to Pakistan in July. I’ve got a transit time of 22hrs and 14hrs on the way back to Australia. I’ve applied a transit visa here in Australia but the consulate have told me to get a TE invite from Chinese government accredited travel agency.

I’ve emailed several agencies but either I haven’t got a reply or they’ve told me that they don’t give TE invite.

Has anyone else been in this situation before? No Google search tells me what agency is accredited and what isn’t. I really want that letter and that too urgently. Can someone point me in the right direction where can I contact to get the letter?

PS I booked China Southern flight to Islamabad but our ticket category doesn’t allow the free hotel.

Please help me urgently.

Answer

For Pakistani passport holders holding Australian PR who need a TE (Transit without Visa) invitation letter for Guangzhou, the situation is a bit delicate. China requires a TE invitation letter from a government-accredited travel agency for transit passengers whose layover is longer than 24 hours or when the free transit hotel option is not available.

Key points about obtaining a TE invitation letter:

Not all travel agencies provide TE invitation letters. Only agencies accredited by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism can issue them.
The invitation letter usually includes details such as passenger information, flight itinerary, duration of transit, purpose of stay, and the agency’s registration number.
The TE letter is submitted to the Chinese consulate along with your visa application. Some consulates will not issue a TE visa without it.

Recommended steps to obtain the letter:

Contact the Chinese consulate in Australia directly to request a list of accredited travel agencies authorized to issue TE invitation letters. They often have a specific list for transit passengers.
Email or call multiple accredited travel agencies with full flight details, passport information, and your urgent timeline. Specify clearly that you need a TE invitation for a Pakistani passport holder transiting Guangzhou.
Be prepared to pay a service fee, which varies depending on the agency.
If time is very tight, mention the urgency to the consulate—they may provide guidance on which agencies are responsive or even allow you to submit a provisional letter.

Additional tips:

Ensure your airline ticket is confirmed and that you have all flight details, as agencies will require these to issue the letter.
Start contacting agencies at least a few weeks before travel; last-minute requests can be difficult to fulfill.
Keep copies of all correspondence and the official TE letter for submission at the consulate and when entering China.

In short, the most reliable route is to get the official list of accredited travel agencies from the Chinese consulate in Australia, then approach one or more of them urgently with your details. Direct communication with the consulate is essential if time is limited or if previous agency requests have failed.