Question 1: Under what circumstances can Malaysian citizens apply to the visa free policy?
Answer: From 0:00(Beijing time) on December 1, 2023 to 24:00 (Beijing time) on November 30, 2024, the Chinese government will implement 15-day visa free policy for Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.
According to the agreement concluded between the Governments of China and Malaysia in 2011, Malaysian holders of diplomatic and official passports are normally not required to apply for a visa beforehand when travelling to China for a short period of time (not exceeding 30 days).
For other visa free policies, please visit the website of the National Immigration Administration of China (https://www.nia.gov.cn/) or call the 12367 hotline of the local immigration department for more information.
Question 2: Under what circumstances do Malaysian citizens still need to apply for a visa to visit China?
Answer: 1. Holders of Malaysian ordinary passports who travel to China for business, tourism, or family visit, and intend to stay in China for more than 15 days; 2. Holders of ordinary passports who travel to China for study, employment, permanent residence, study visit, news coverage, etc. 3. Other circumstances where a visa is required.
Question 3: What are the requirements for ordinary passport holders applying Chinese Visa?
Answer: Besides visa application form, photo, invitation letter, previous China visa record, there are two more requirements for ordinary passport holders applying for Chinese Visa: firstly, applicants need to fill out the visa application form online; All applicants are required to complete the online application form at least one working day prior to visiting the Consular Affairs Office of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu (hereinafter referred to as Consular Affairs Office) .
secondly, applicants need to submit the application in person at the Consular Affairs Office for fingerprint collection.
The specific websites are as follows:
Online form: https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn
Question 4: After completing the online application form, is it necessary to make an appointment online?
Answer: From November 24, 2023, the Consular Affairs Office canceled the online appointment for China visa application. While, the applicants are required to complete the online application form at least one working day prior to visiting the Consular Affairs Office for visa application processing.
Question 5: After completing the online application form, is it necessary to submit the application at the Consular Affairs Office?
Answer: Yes. Please print out the confirmation page and the complete form (7 pages in total, preferable double sided), and sign the confirmation page and item 9 of the form, and submit the application in person with all the required documents (please refer to the Notice on Visa Application, updated November 2023) at the Consular Affairs Office and retain ten fingerprints.
Upon arrival, please obtain a queue number. When your number has been called, please submit your application at the respective counter.
Consular Affairs Office address: Lot 10, No 3, VIP Lot, Lorong Pokok Palma Rajah, Jalan Lintas,88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Question 6: After completing the online application form, can I appoint someone else to submit the visa application documents for me at the Consular Affairs Office?
Answer: Applicants must present personally to submit the visa application at the Consular Affairs Office on time and retain 10 fingerprints. Applicants who are exempted from fingerprint may entrust another person to submit the visa application.
The applicant must be physically in Malaysia at the time of submission of the visa application documents. If you are not in Malaysia then, please submit your application to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General or visa application centre in the country where you are currently staying, or apply after you return to Malaysia.
Question 7: How may an applicant be exempted from fingerprint collection?
Answer: The following applicants are exempted from fingerprints collection: Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70; Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past five years at the Consular Affairs Office with the same passport; Applications for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas; Applicants with all fingers uncollectible.
Question 8: What are the requirements for visa invitation letter?
Answer: The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original invitation letter.
The invitation letter should contain:
1. Information of the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)
2. Information of the visit (purpose of visit, intended arrival date, place(s) of intended residence, intended duration of stay, arrival and departure dates, relations between the applicant and the inviting entity or individual, financial source for expenditures)
3. Information of the inviting individual (name, contact number, address, official stamp, signature of legal representative or the inviting individual, etc.)
The content of the invitation letter needs to be true and valid, and there should be no missing items, otherwise the applicant will bear all the responsibilities caused by the return or rejection of the application.
Question 9: How long is the processing time after successfully submitting all the application documents?
Answer: Under normal circumstances, the Consular Affairs Office can process the visa within 4 working days (in case of holidays, the processing time will be postponed). The applicant can collect the passport on the collection date listed on the pickup form. For special cases, the Consulate General has the right to extend the processing time of the visa.
Question 10: Is expedited service available for visa application?
Answer: After the visa application materials are successfully submitted, the visa processing time is: 4 working days for regular applications, 3 working days for express applications, and 2 working days for urgent applications (in case of holidays, the processing time will be postponed). If you require expedited service, please inform the front desk staff at the Consular Affairs Office when submitting your visa application and pay an additional expedited fee (Schedule of Fees).
Question 11: Does an APEC card holder require to apply for a visa? Is it required to proceed to the Consular Affairs Office to complete any formalities?
Answer: Since 24 August 2022, traveler with a valid APEC Business Travel Card physical card was allowed to enter China, and does not need to re-apply for visas to China or go through procedures at the Consular Affairs Office. The Consular Affairs Office does not accept APEC card applications, please consult relevant government departments in Malaysia for details.
Question 12: Is multiple-entry visa applicable for Malaysians? Answer: Yes. Besides passport, application form, photo, invitation letter and other visa application materials, Malaysian citizens applying for multiple-entry visas are also required to provide the previous record of Chinese visa issued or the record of corresponding number of visits to China:
L-Visa
(1) 3-month multiple entry L-visa: Itinerary issued by the cruise company.
(2) 1-year multiple entry L-visa: Detailed travel itinerary and corresponding irrevocable air ticket, hotel booking and photocopies of previous Chinese visas and previous records of travelling to China.
M-Visa
(1) 6-month to 1-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa with the same type within 5 years.
(2) 2-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous 6-month to 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa with the same type; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 3 times within 5 years.
(3) 3-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa with the same type within 5 years; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times with the same type within 5 years; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 5 times within 5 years.
Q2-visa
(1) 6-month to 2-year multiple entry Q2-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa with the same type within 5 years.
(2) 3-year to 5-year multiple entry Q2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa with the same type; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times.
S2-Visa
For visiting family members for a short period:
Multiple entry S2-visa with a validity period not exceeding the validity period of the inviting individual's residence permit.
For private affairs such as inheritance, litigation, having real estate in China, etc.:
(1) 6-month to 1-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa with the same type within 5 years.
(2) 2-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 6-month to 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa with the same type; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 3 times within 5 years.
(3) 3-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa with the same type within 5 years; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times with the same type within 5 years; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 5 times within 5 years.
Question 13: Can foreign nationals from third countries who come to Malaysia temporarily apply for multiple visas?
Answer: Unless otherwise specified in bilateral agreements, foreign nationals of third countries who come to Malaysia temporarily can only apply for a single-entry visa.