Visa FAQs

1 WHAT IS A CONSULATE AND WHY DO I NEED TO CONTACT THE CONSULATE?

Before coming to China you will need to contact your local Chinese Consulate. The consulates in some countries are organized similarly to the Chinese "Hukou" system. Not quite as in depth as it is in China but similar. If you are a resident of a certain city, state or province you could be required to apply for your visa at a certain consulate. We have tried to make it easier for you by creating pages that are country specific, each with their own pages for you refer to. You can find more information on Chinese Consulates and links to your embassy on Related Resources page, should you ever have a need to contact them. 

2 WHAT SHOULD I BE ASKING THE CONSULATE?

First you need to find out what it is that you would need to apply for visa. We could supply a basic list of what you may need, but please be aware that each Chinese consulate has their own list of policies and differ from one to another, even if they are in the same country.

3 WHAT WILL MY ASTON SCHOOL PROVIDE ME WITH TO APPLY FOR MY VISA?

After you have been hired, the documents you have submitted to your recruiter will be sent to the school which you have been hired for to be processed with the local and provincial Chinese government. Once successfully processed, the government issues and invitation letter and Work permit which your school will courier to you. Some consulates require a Foreign Experts Certificate. This certificate is usually processed once you have arrived in China. But if the consulate requires it, the school will need to provide it.

4 WILL I NEED TO DO A MEDICAL CHECK?

Most consulates require a medical check, some don't. It is best to check with your consulate. As every consular has their own application policies the local government for your school, your school office and Aston head office will not be able to comment on what the requirement is on any particular consulate. The best would be to check with the consulate first.

5 HOW LONG IS THE VISA PROCESSING TIME?

The visa processing time usually takes five working days but you can have it fast tracked over one day at a higher charge. Please enquire at your local consulate as to what the charges would be.

6 CAN I APPLY FOR MY VISA OUTSIDE OF MY HOME COUNTRY?

Some Chinese provincial governments will allow this, but these days many don't. Some provinces that are able to provide invitation letters to applicants outside of their home country need to provide copies of certain documents.

Visa application guide has been listed on Requirements page.