By Sandeep Chaudhary
From Online Submission to Passport Submission: Timeline for China Visa Nepal
After the launch of the new Chinese visa system in Nepal on June 25, 2025, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kathmandu introduced a two-phase process for visa applications — online submission and preliminary review, followed by physical passport submission and formal processing. This new system aims to simplify data entry and reduce crowding at the visa center, but it also requires applicants to strictly follow deadlines and documentation standards. Understanding the timeline between online and in-person submission is crucial for smooth approval.
The first stage begins with online submission through the official portal (https://www.visaforchina.cn/KTM3_EN/qianzhengyewu). Applicants must upload high-quality scanned copies of their passport, visa photo, flight tickets, hotel bookings, itinerary, invitation letter (if applicable), and financial proof. Once submitted, the Chinese Embassy begins preliminary online review based on the order of submission — not on travel date priority. Therefore, it’s wise to apply at least two weeks before your intended travel date.
During this online review stage, if any document is unclear, incomplete, or mismatched, the system automatically rejects the submission. The applicant will receive a rejection email explaining what needs to be corrected. After resubmitting the corrected documents, the application re-enters the queue, meaning the review timeline restarts. This is one of the most common causes of delay for Nepali applicants.
If your application passes the online review, you will receive a confirmation email titled “Visa Application Certificate.” This is an official indication that your file has cleared the online verification and is ready for physical submission. You must print this certificate and bring it to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in Koteshwor, Kathmandu, for the next stage.
The second stage is passport submission and physical document verification. Once you have your Visa Application Certificate, visit CVASC in person with your passport, printed application form, recent photo, and all original supporting documents. The center operates Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for document submission and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for passport collection. Applicants who reach early in the day generally experience faster service and reduced waiting times.
Upon receiving your passport and documents, the CVASC forwards your file to the Chinese Embassy for formal processing. The Embassy typically takes 2–4 working days to process standard visa applications. For urgent cases, you may request priority review at the time of passport submission, provided that your application is complete, error-free, and supported by valid proof of urgency (like an immediate flight, medical appointment, or business meeting). If accepted, your application may enter the Embassy’s formal review on the same day, slightly reducing overall time.
Once the visa is approved, you’ll receive a notification to collect your passport and visa from CVASC. The collection time is generally between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.. Make sure to bring your receipt or authorization letter if someone else is collecting it for you.
In total, if your documents are clean and complete, the process from online submission to receiving your visa usually takes around 3–5 working days. However, if your online submission is rejected due to incomplete or unclear documents, the process may extend to 7–10 working days. Accuracy, clarity, and consistency of your documents determine how quickly your application moves through both stages.
The Embassy also clarified that applicants must be physically in Nepal during passport submission. Even if you began your application from a third country, you must enter Nepal, upload your valid Nepali visa and entry stamp online, and wait for verification before physically submitting your passport to CVASC.
Proper planning makes all the difference. Many Nepali applicants lose valuable time due to avoidable mistakes such as unclear passport scans, mismatched travel dates, or missing invitation details. Submitting perfect documents in your first attempt ensures faster approval and avoids the stress of re-entry into the review queue.
