The Chinese Embassy in Greece does not directly process visa applications from ordinary passport holders. Please go to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Athens (CVASC) to apply for Chinese Visa.
1. Information of the CVASC
(1) Website: https://www.visaforchina.cn/ATH2_EN/
(2) Address: Vrana 25,11525 Athens Greece
(3) Telephone: +30 2106711311(09:00 - 12:00; 13:00 - 16:00)
(4) E-mail address: athenscentre@visaforchina.org
(5) Business Hours: Monday to Friday (except public holidays)
Submission of applications: 09:00 to 13:00
Payment and collection: 09:00 to 16:00 (Collection of Urgent application 12:00-16:00)
2.The application procedures and material requirements
2.1. Application submission
Fill in and submit the visa application form online(https://www.visaforchina.cn/ATH2_EN/), download and print out the full form, then sign on the first and last page of the form. Bring all the nesessary materials in person at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Athens (CVASC) and have your ten fingerprints collected.
2.2. Fingerprint collection
2.2.1 From now to December 31, 2023, applicants for single or double-entry visa for business (M), tourism (L), short-term family visit (Q2), transit (G), and crew (C) purposes are exempted from taking fingerprints.
2.2.2. The following applicants can be exempt from fingerprint collection:
a. Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70;
b. Diplomatic passport holders, or applicants eligible for diplomatic, official and courtesy visas;
c. Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past five years at the Chinese Embassy or the CVASC in Athens with the same passport;
d. Applicants with all fingers mutilated or uncollectible.
2.3. Required documents
(1) A valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page.
(2) Visa application form and 1 recent passport photo (33*48mm).
(3) Proof of legal residence status in Greece (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship). If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of legal entry stamp or valid visa or residence of employment or student status.
(4) A photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas.
If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your previous Chinese passport and a photocopy of its data page (applicable to applicants who were Chinese citizens before and have obtained foreign citizenship).
If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change.)
2.4 Specific materials required for each category of visa
Categories of Visa | Description | Required Documents |
C-Visa | Issued to crew members. | A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China. |
D-Visa | Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. | The original and photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Foreigners Permanent Residence Status issued by the Ministry of Public Security of China. |
F-Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities. | An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China. |
G-Visa | Issued to those who intend to transit through China. | An onward air (train or ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region. |
L-Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist. | Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation, etc. or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China. The inviting entity need a photocopy of The invitation letter should contain: ① Information on the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, passport number etc.) ② Information on the planned visit (arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, financial source for expenditures, etc.) ③ Information on the inviting entity or individual (name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative or the inviting individual) |
M-Visa | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial activities. | Documents on the commercial activity issued by a trade partner in China, or trade fair invitation or other invitation letters issued by relevant entity; registration certificate |
Q1-Visa Q2-Visa | Issued to foreign family members of Chinese citizens or foreign family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China. *"family members" refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren. | ① Certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, household register, certification of kinship issued by Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between applicant and inviting individual ② An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China ③ Proof of the inviting individual's Chinese identity (e.g. Chinese ID card, household register), or foreigner's passport and Chinese permanent residence permit |
R-Visa | Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China. | “Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents” or “Foreigner’s Work Permit” *Spouses and children under the age of 18 submit proof of relationship (e.g. original marriage certificate, birth certificate) to apply for an S2 visa. |
S1-Visa S2-Visa | Issued to spouse, parents, children under the age of 18, parents of the spouse of the holder of a Z or X1 visa or work or study category residence permit. | ① Original certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual ② An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work) ③ A photocopy of the inviting individual's passport and residence permit *If an adult child and his/her spouse apply for a Family Visit (S2) visa, in addition to the above documents, they must submit the appropriate statement of circumstances as required by the consular officer |
X1-Visa | Issued to those students who are going to China for long-term academic education. | "Visa Application Form for Foreign Students in China" (JW201/202 Form); School admission notice (freshmen) or return certificate (senior students). |
X2-Visa | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. | Original and photocopy of Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China and registration certificate. Or “Visa Application for Study in China Form” (DQ form). |
Z-Visa | Issued to those who intend to work in China. | One of the following documents: ① The "Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit" issued by the Foreign Experts Bureau or the original "Foreigner's Work Permit"; ②"Invitation Letter for Foreigners Engaged in Offshore Oil Operation in the People's Republic of China" issued by China National Offshore Oil Corporation; ③ The "Registration Certificate of Foreign Enterprises Permanent Offices in China" issued by the Administration Department for Industry and Commerce, or the "Certificate of Approval of Permanent Representatives of Foreign Enterprises" issued by the Commercial Department; ④The Confirmation Letter on the Qualification of the Representative of the Permanent Representative Office of the Foreign Government Tourism Department issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; ⑤ The original copy of the commercial performance approval document issued by the competent cultural authority (if the performance period does not exceed 90 days, the "Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit" must also be provided). We kindly remind you that Holders of Z Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people's governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners' residence permits. |
Kind reminder:
The invitation letter may be faxed, photocopied or printed, but the visa officer may require the applicant to provide the original invitation letter.
The visa officer may request additional supporting documents or supplementary materials from the applicant or request an interview wherever necessary.
The visa officer decide the period of validity,number of entries and duration of each stay according to the specific circumstance of the applicant.
3. Processing Time
3.1 Regular service: 4 working days. Visa can be picked up on the 4th working day.
3.2 Express service: 3 working days. Visa can be picked up on the 3rd working day.
3.3 Urgent service: 2 working days. Visa can be picked up on next working day
3.4 The above processing time is general, some applications may take longer to process, so the processing time is uncertain. In such cases, applicants need to wait for notification from the CVASC.
4. Fees
