China: Extension of Waiver of Fingerprint Requirement for Short-Term Visa Applicants at Certain Consular Posts

In order to facilitate visa application processing from now until December 31, 2026, Chinese consular posts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Macau SAR, New Zealand, the Palestinian Territories, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, will continue to waive fingerprint collection for all applicants applying for short-term visas with a duration of stay of no more than 180 days. Originally, this waiver was set to expire on December 31, 2025. Third-country nationals applying at these consulates are eligible for this waiver as well. Fingerprint collection is still required for applicants of D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z visas, who are required to apply for residence permits after entry into China. For Chinese visa centers that permit third-party submission of applications on behalf of eligible applicants, foreign nationals can save time and transportation costs by authorizing a representative to submit their visa applications in person, eliminating the need for them to appear in person themselves. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.