China

Visas are required by South African passport holders.

Visa applications are made online initially, and applicants must then submit their passport at a Visa Application Centre.

Chinese Visa Application Centres

Website: www.visaforchina.cn

Johannesburg: 14th Floor, Sandton City Office Tower, Corner Rivonia Road & 5th Street, Sandhurst
Tel: +27 11 5059300
Submission Hours: 9:00 to 15:00
E-mail: johannesburgcenter@visaforchina.org

Durban: 45 Zenith Drive, Umhlanga New Town Center, Durban
Submission Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 to 12:30
Tel: 087 802 0460
E-mail: durban@visaforchina.org.org

Cape Town: 2nd floor West Office Building, Canal Walk
Submission Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 to 12:30
Tel: 087 808 5507
E-mail: capetown@visaforchina.org

Requirements:

• Passport: Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least two blank visa pages, a photocopy of the passport's data page, and the photo page if it is separate
• Visa Application Form. Application form to be completed online, printed in colour, and signed.
• Passport photo (48mm x 33mm)
• Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)
• Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas
• 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.

If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials or require an interview with the applicant.

MINORS: Applicants under 18 years old must provide:

• The original and photocopy of the unabridged birth certificate of the applicant
• Photocopy of the parents’ passports or ID cards.
• Notarized Parental Letter of Consent or the Affidavit from non-accompanying parent(s) authorizing the travel. This letter or affidavit should contain the dates of travel and the parents' contact information.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

225 Athlone Street, Arcadia, 0083
Tel: 012 431 6537
Email: chinaemb_southafrica@mfa.gov.cn
Web: za.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng

3-6 working days

Payable on collection

Single entry: R300
Application Service Fee: R1128

S.A Embassy

5 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Beijing, 100600, P.R.C.
Tel: (+86) 010 8532 0000
E-mail: beijingconsular@dirco.gov.za
Web: dirco1.azurewebsites.net/beijing

Compulsory: Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)

Recommended Travel Vaccines: Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis (Not available in SA), Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio

Malaria Risk

2026: Jan 1; Feb 16-22; Apr 5-6; May 1; Jun 19; Sep 25; Oct 1-6