China Visa Guides

China is Pakistan's close neighbour and a major business partner, and interest in tourism there keeps growing. The most important rule for Pakistani tourists is one many travel sites skip: the Chinese missions in Pakistan ask Pakistani nationals travelling for tourism to join a tourist group arranged through a travel agency authorised by China. The tourist L visa is issued against an Invitation Letter for Tourist Group from the relevant tourism authority in China, usually the local Culture and Tourism Bureau, and a self-made itinerary or hotel booking cannot replace it.

If you are not joining an organised tour, pick the visa that matches your real purpose. The embassy lists other categories for non-commercial exchanges, business and visiting relatives, each needing its own invitation. A mismatch between your stated purpose and the visa type is one of the refusal reasons the missions list.

Your mission depends on your permanent residence. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad covers Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and other districts, and also handles Punjab on behalf of the Consulate General in Lahore, which currently does not accept visa applications. The Consulate General in Karachi covers Sindh and Balochistan. Applications are accepted at Gerry's Chinese Visa Application Service Center offices in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, matched to your residence.

The online form differs by district. In the embassy's district, you complete the form and upload every document at bio.visaforchina.cn; Gerry's and the embassy review the uploads first, and you bring your passport and originals only after the Online Visa Approved email arrives. In the Karachi district, you complete the form on COVA or the Gerry's website, print it, sign the required pages by hand and submit everything at Gerry's. Names, date of birth and passport number must match your passport exactly, and fields marked not applicable need a reason.

Every applicant prepares a passport with ample validity and a blank visa page, a copy of the CNIC, a recent photo meeting the visaforchina rules and, above the minimum age the missions set, a police character certificate apostilled by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs where required. A name-change certificate is needed if your name differs from an earlier passport. The embassy's instructions say Pakistani ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa fees, while Gerry's charges its own service fee, and no express service is offered.

Refusals usually follow dishonest or altered documents, wrong form details, invitations missing dates, a signature or a genuine circular seal, or too little money for the stay. The missions are not required to give reasons, so keep flights and hotels flexible.

Guides on this site: our China tourist visa guide for Pakistani passport holders at /china/pakistan explains the group L visa, the consular districts, both online forms, the common documents, fingerprint rules and processing.

Can a Pakistani apply for a China tourist visa alone? The Chinese missions ask Pakistani tourists to join an organised group with an Invitation Letter for Tourist Group arranged through a China-authorised travel agency.

Where do I submit a Chinese visa application in Pakistan? At Gerry's Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore, depending on your permanent residence.

Do Pakistanis pay a Chinese visa fee? The embassy's instructions say Pakistani ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa fees. Gerry's service charge is separate.

Do I need a police certificate for a Chinese visa? Yes, above the age the missions set. It should cover your whole life and be apostilled by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs where required.