In order to resume international travels between China and South Africa, and also in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa has updated its visa application requirements as follows:

I. Those who intend to either work in China or go to China for commercial and technological activities，can apply for the Z-Visa, M-Visa, F-Visa with routine documents as before but without Invitation Letters (PU or TE). Please refer to the Official website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center.

Family members (including spouses, parents, children under the age of 18, parents of spouses as well as adult children and their spouses who are indeed in need of going to China) of those foreign nationals resuming operation and production in China, can apply for visas with relevant proof of relationship but without Invitation Letters (PU or TE).

II. Foreign family members of Chinese citizens, or foreign family members(including spouses, parents, children under the age of 18, parents of spouses, adult children and their spouses) of foreigners with permanent residence in China, can apply for the family reunion Visa with regular documents.

Ⅲ. Important Reminders

(i) Applicants are required to fill out the online visa application form and make an appointment through the official website of The Chinese Visa Application Service Center before submitting application documents onsite. Applications without the online visa application form and appointment will not be accepted.

Contact information of The Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Johannesburg is as follows：
Address: 14th Floor, Sandton City Office Tower, Corner Rivonia Road & 5th Street, Sandton, 2196
Website: http://www.visaforchina.org
Email:johannesburgcenter@visaforchina.org
Telephone: 0027-11-5059300

(ii) Applicants of the above-mentioned categories of visas are supposed to have been fully vaccinated, with the vaccines that were licensed or approved for emergency use by China or the World Health Organization. Certificates of vaccination are required.

(iii) Holders of diplomatic or service (official) passports, or applicants qualified for the Chinese diplomatic, courtesy, service visas, may still submit their applications directly to the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in South Africa. For further inquiries, eg. information about the other categories of visas, applicants with valid Chinese Residence Permits and etc, please contact the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Johannesburg .

(iv) Travelers are required to apply for the Health Declaration Codes before departure for China. Please refer to the official website of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General.

                 
                                                  The Chinese Embassy in South Africa
                                                           6 July 2022