Tourist visa

Competent Embassy or Consulate General for visa application purposes

The Embassy or Consulate General of the country of the group’s principal destination (i.e. the country in which most time is to be spent). In the event that the same amount of time is to be spent in more than one country, applications should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General of the first point of entry into Community territory.

Visa application

ADS visas are applied for via an ADS-accredited travel agency. Applications are submitted directly (i.e. not by post) by the travel agency’s designated couriers.

Documents that must be submitted by the ADS-accredited travel agency

• A name list of all the group members including the tourleader, with passport numbers and copies of ID cards and hukous (with translation in the language of the country receiving the application or in English).
  
  
• A detailed itinerary (in the language of the country receiving the application or in English), including flight details for the round trip from China, names, addresses, telephone numbers and fax numbers of the hotels to be used by the group during the tour with the dates of stay in each hotel, and details of how the group is to travel between locations during the tour.
  
  
• Flight reservation with confirmation for the China-Europe-China round trip from the airlines (with list of the tourists’ names).
  
  
• Name and contact details of the designated partner tour operator in Europe.
  
  
• Confirmation from the designated partner tour operator in Europe that accommodation and transport within Europe as specified in the group’s itinerary will be provided to all members of the group.
  
  
• For each member of the group: One duly completed short stay application form (Application for Schengen Visa, nr 119031), signed by each applicant, together with 2 recently taken passport size photos (see below).

• Two passport size photos. The photos must be: full face (facing the camera directly with your eyes looking straight at the camera); in colour with a light background; no more than six months old and resemble you; you must be bareheaded, unless you have special religious reasons. Photos that do not conform to these standards will be rejected and may cause delay in processing the application.
  
  
• For each member of the group: A passport or other travel document, including two copies, valid for at least 90 days after expiration of visa. We only accept passports which have been signed by the holders of the passports. Photocopy of the identity page of the applicant's passport.
  
  
• For each member of the group: Medical insurance covering at least 30.000 Euro valid during the entire duration of stay in the Schengen area (until 24:00 local European time on departure date), both original document and a copy of the insurance certificate (only printed insurance certificates will be accepted, not hand-written). Please note! The original Insurance Certificate must be shown to passport control when entering Schengen! You can otherwise risk being denied entrance.
  
  
• For each member of the group: Proof of financial means, e.g. bank statement.
  
  
• For each member of the group: A letter of the working unit or company (with address, telephone and fax of the employer, stamp and signature with name and position of the person who signed) stating:
  a. working position
  b. salary
  c. approval for leave
  d. confirmation of  working relationship after the trip abroad

Additional documents, requirements and information

• All documents should be either in the language of the country receiving the application or in English.
  
  
• The Chinese accredited travel agency may be requested to provide additional documents/information.
  
  
• Individual group members may be requested to undergo an interview.
  
  
• Presentation of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee issuance of the visa.
  
  
• After the travel, boarding pass and passport must be presented to the Consulate General via your travel agency

Fees

For information about application fees, please browse the list of > expedition fees.

Visa processing times

The visa procedure takes normally about 10 working days. Visa processing times will vary depending on the volume of demand for visas. It is advisable to submit applications as far ahead of the intended travel date as possible.

Changes to itinerary

Visas are valid for the pre-determined itinerary as submitted at the time of application. If, for reasons beyond the control of the Chinese accredited travel agency, any changes are made to this itinerary between the application and departure, it is the responsibility of the travel agency to inform the Embassy or Consulate General of the country where the application was made immediately. It should be noted that changes to an itinerary may only concern points of minor detail such as the hotels where the group will be staying. In all circumstances, the group must travel as a group and all members of the group must stay in the same hotels. It is not permissible to change basic elements of the itinerary.