Pakistani passport holders generally need a visa before travelling to mainland China. The correct visa depends on the main purpose of travel: business, tourism, family visit, study, work, transit or another approved purpose.
The application now begins online. Applicants upload the form and supporting documents, wait for preliminary online approval, then submit the passport and required originals at the relevant Gerry's Chinese Visa Application Service Centre.
Choose the visa according to your real purpose
| Purpose | Common visa category |
|---|---|
| Trade, commercial meetings, sourcing, Canton Fair | M |
| Non-commercial exchange, inspection, study tour or cultural visit | F |
| Tourism in an approved group of at least five | Group L |
| Short family visit to a Chinese citizen or permanent resident | Q2 |
| Long family reunion with a Chinese citizen or permanent resident | Q1 |
| Short visit to a foreign family member living in China | S2 |
| Long visit to a foreign family member living in China | S1 |
| Study over 180 days | X1 |
| Study up to 180 days | X2 |
| Employment | Z |
| Transit | G |
Do not apply for an L visa when the actual purpose is business, or an M visa when the real purpose is employment. A mismatch between stated purpose and visa category is an official reason for refusal or return.
Common documents for Pakistani applicants
The current Embassy instruction lists common documents that can include:
- Passport valid for more than six months with at least one blank visa page.
- Copy of the passport information page.
- Copy of the front and back of the Pakistani CNIC.
- Previous passport and relevant previous Chinese visas, where applicable.
- Name-change document if the current name differs from earlier records.
- Valid police character/clearance certificate for applicants aged ten and above, covering the required period.
The Embassy states that a police certificate must be apostilled by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs when it does not contain a verifiable QR code. Additional category-specific documents are required depending on the visa.
Category-specific supporting documents
Examples include:
- M visa: Canton Fair invitation, TE Letter, Verification Letter or another permitted invitation route, plus financial and itinerary documents where required.
- Group L: tourist-group invitation issued through the authorized tourism system in China.
- Q and S visas: invitation from the eligible family member, identity/residence documents and proof of relationship.
- X visa: admission and study documents.
- Z visa: work-permit or other official employment authorization.
The Embassy may request additional documents, corrections or an interview in any case.
Step-by-step application process
1. Select the correct application centre
Applications are routed according to permanent residence:
- Islamabad centre: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and other areas assigned to the Embassy.
- Karachi centre: Sindh and Balochistan.
- Lahore centre: Punjab excluding Rawalpindi. The Lahore centre receives applications, while the Embassy in Islamabad handles them because the Consulate General in Lahore does not currently accept visa applications for adjudication.
2. Create an online account
Use the official Chinese Visa Application Service Centre website and ensure the selected location is correct. An application created for the wrong centre may need to be restarted.
3. Complete the application form accurately
Enter names, passport number, date of birth, employment, education, family and travel information exactly as supported by your documents.
For business visas, enter the inviting organization's legal name, not only the contact person's name. It should match the invitation and Chinese business licence.
4. Upload documents
Upload the passport page, photograph and supporting documents. Use clear scans. A blurred photograph or unreadable document is a common reason for return.
5. Submit online and wait for preliminary approval
The official procedure says the application status should show "Approved" before the applicant submits the passport. Print the Visa Application Certificate attached to the approval email.
Online approval is only permission to submit the passport and originals. It does not mean the visa has been issued.
6. Submit the passport and originals
After online approval, take the following to the selected Visa Application Service Centre:
- Visa Application Certificate.
- Original current passport.
- Old passport from within the previous five years, when applicable.
- Photograph if the uploaded image was not accepted.
- Original and supporting documents requested for the category.
The official 2025 process says an appointment is not required after the Visa Application Certificate has been issued.
7. Pay the applicable service fee
The current official visa fee for Pakistani citizens is PKR 0, but the Visa Application Service Centre charges service fees. The current published regular service fee is PKR 13,200 inclusive of GST; express service is PKR 19,800. Optional services are additional.
8. Collect the passport
The Visa Application Service Centre publishes an estimated collection date. The online procedure describes collection on the sixth working day after offline submission, while the Embassy states it generally requires four working days after receiving the case. Extra review, document supplementation or an interview can extend this.
Current fingerprint rule
A notice issued in December 2025 extends fingerprint exemption from 18 December 2025 through 31 December 2026 for short-term visa applicants whose stay is not more than 180 days. The Embassy may still require fingerprints in a particular case.
Applicants outside the exemption or specifically instructed to provide biometrics must appear in person. Never allow another person to provide fingerprints on your behalf.
Financial evidence
For several short-stay categories, the Embassy uses a standard of no less than USD 100 per day of the intended stay, supported by the latest six months of personal bank statements. The closing balance should reasonably cover the trip.
Do not temporarily borrow money only to create an artificial balance. Fake financial documents are an official reason for return or refusal.
Police character certificate and QR code
The Embassy currently requires a valid police character/clearance certificate for applicants aged ten and above as part of the common documents. When the certificate lacks a verifiable QR code, it needs an apostille from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Before submission, scan the QR code yourself. The Embassy has warned that applications are returned when a QR code does not display the certificate, displays another person's record or cannot be verified.
Application-centre contacts
Islamabad
Gerry's Building, Park Road, adjacent to Punjab Cash & Carry, Chatta Bakhtawar, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad. Normal submission hours published by the centre are 9:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday excluding holidays.
Lahore
First Floor, 08 Queens Road, Madina Center Tower, opposite the CCPO Office, Lahore. Check the centre's current notice before visiting.
Karachi
Bahria Complex IV, 9th Floor, Main Chaudhary Khaliq-uz-Zaman Road, Gizri, Clifton, Karachi. Normal submission hours published by the centre are 9:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday excluding holidays.
Public holidays and Ramadan timings can change. Confirm current hours before travel.
Common reasons applications are returned
The official notices identify problems such as:
- Fake or altered invitation letters.
- Incorrect company name or unreachable Chinese contact number.
- Missing arrival/departure dates or purpose in the invitation.
- Invalid or non-compliant company seal.
- False bank statements or insufficient funds.
- QR code on a police certificate not working.
- Passport details not matching the form.
- Blurred photograph.
- Missing signature or required original document.
- Applying under a category inconsistent with the real visit.
When should you apply?
The Visa Application Service Centre recommends applying within three months before travel. For a Canton Fair trip, start document preparation substantially earlier because obtaining invitation documents, police certificates, apostille and online corrections can take time.
Avoid buying a non-refundable flight before the visa decision unless you accept the financial risk.
Can an agent apply for you?
A travel or visa service can help prepare documents and submit where the rules permit, but the applicant remains responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of every document. The Embassy can require personal appearance, interview or fingerprints.
Does ChinaChallo guarantee a visa?
No legitimate private company can guarantee a Chinese visa. ChinaChallo can coordinate the invitation and supporting documents connected with its delegations, review the application file and guide the applicant through the process. The Embassy or Consulate alone decides whether to issue the visa and determines entries, validity and duration of stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chinese visa free for Pakistani citizens?
The official visa fee is currently zero for Pakistani citizens, but the Visa Application Service Centre charges a service fee and applicants may incur additional document and assistance costs.
Do I need an appointment?
Under the current online procedure, submit documents online first. After receiving online approval and the Visa Application Certificate, an appointment is not required for offline submission.
How long does the process take?
The centre describes normal collection on the sixth working day after passport submission. Online review, corrections, interviews and special cases add time, so plan well ahead.
Can I submit in any city?
Use the centre assigned to your permanent residence and the relevant consular district.
Is a previous China visa helpful?
Travel history may simplify certain invitation requirements in specific circumstances, but it does not guarantee approval.
ChinaChallo visa support
ChinaChallo supports applicants travelling on its approved business delegations by coordinating invitation documentation, reviewing the file, aligning travel details and guiding submission. Apply for the delegation first so the visa purpose, itinerary and invitation documents remain consistent.
Official sources for this update
- Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Pakistan, Instruction for Chinese Visa Application, 28 April 2025.
- Chinese Visa Application Service Centre Pakistan, Online Chinese Visa Application Procedure, 23 June 2025.
- Chinese Visa Application Service Centre Pakistan, current fee schedule.
- Fingerprint exemption notice effective through 31 December 2026.
Visa rules change. Verify the latest official instructions for your category and centre. ChinaChallo is not an embassy, consulate or government authority.
ChinaChallo is not an embassy, consulate or government department. Visa rules, fees, processing times and fair arrangements can change. This page is informational and is not a promise of visa approval, supplier performance or customs outcome. See official sources.