Travelers from France planning longer visits to China will soon encounter a digital change in the visa application process. Starting March 31, 2025, an online pre-verification step will become mandatory for all Chinese visa applications submitted from France. The change reflects China’s push to modernize its consular systems while enhancing document screening efficiency.

The new process will be implemented at both the Chinese Visa Application Centers in Paris and Marseille. All travelers applying for a Chinese visa—except those visiting Hong Kong or Macau—must now upload their documents online for pre-screening before moving forward with the official visa application.

Temporary Service Pause for System Transition

To prepare for the launch of the new verification system, the Chinese visa centers in France have announced a temporary suspension of form submissions. Applicants are advised not to submit any visa forms between 1:00 p.m. on March 28 and 9:00 a.m. on March 31, 2025, to prevent system errors or data loss during the transition period.

This update only applies to visa-required travel and does not affect French nationals planning short-term trips under the visa-free scheme.

Visa-Free Travel Still Applies to Short Visits

Since November 20, 2024, French citizens have been eligible to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa, thanks to Beijing’s expanded visa-free initiative. This policy, which runs through December 31, 2025, supports short-term visits for tourism, business, or transit.

France is among a select group of European nations included in the visa-free program, which also covers Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Extended or Purpose-Specific Stays Still Require Visas

Despite the visa-free convenience for brief trips, French travelers seeking to work, study, reside, or stay in China beyond 30 days must still apply for a valid visa. Beginning March 31, these applications must go through the new online pre-verification system.

The new step is designed to ensure document completeness and accuracy, allowing visa officers to identify any issues before applicants visit the visa center in person. This change is expected to reduce processing delays and improve overall efficiency.

China Moves Toward a Fully Digital Visa Experience

The introduction of this pre-verification layer marks a significant step in China’s digital transformation of consular services. As more countries integrate online systems to streamline visa processing, China is aligning its procedures with global trends in travel administration.

For French applicants, this means improved service transparency, faster turnaround times, and fewer on-site application rejections. Travelers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the updated requirements and timelines to ensure a hassle-free experience.

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