At present, the Chinese Consulate in Erbil implements the following visa policy and application procedures:
1、Visa Application Procedures
(1) Online Application
Fill in the visa application form online：http://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/
Please prepare the required documents in advance according to the type of Visa you are applying for. Sign in to the Chinese Visa Online Application System (Refer to the Guidelines for China Online VISA Application) to complete the visa application form accurately and in full, and upload all required documents. If any information is incomplete or any required documents are missing, the Consulate General will reject the application. Please check the system notifications regularly and make the necessary additions or corrections before resubmitting your application as instructed.
(2) Submission of Documents at the Consulate General
Online review generally takes 1–3 working days. Once your online application has been approved, no appointment is required, please visit the Consulate General's consular office during public service hours, as instructed by the system, to submit your passport and other required documents.
Consular Office Address: Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, Gulan Street (south of Naz City), Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Republic of Iraq.
Reception Hours: 8:30-12:30 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday（Except for Holiday）.
Tel: 00964 0662103907 (8:30-16:30 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Except for Holiday)
Email:erbil@csm.mfa.gov.cn
(3) Visa Processing and Approval
A visa generally takes 4 working days to process from the date the applicant submits their passport and other application documents to the Consulate General. In special circumstances, including but not limited to requests for additional documents or an in-person interview, the processing time may be uncertain. The final decision on whether to issue a visa rests with the Consulate General. If an application is rejected, any subsequent submission will be treated as a new application, and the processing period will be recalculated from the beginning.
(4) Payment and Collection of Passport and Visa
Please make the payment at the designated bank. For details of the applicable fees and payment methods, please refer to Fees for Consular Documents. After payment, please present your collection slip and bank payment receipt at the Consulate General's consular office to collect your passport and visa. For detailed instructions, please refer to Payment and Collection Procedures.
Designated bank: Trade Bank of Iraq Erbil Branch
Address: Airport Rd, Erbil, Iraq
Reception Hours:8:00-15:00 from Sunday to Thursday (Except for holidays).
Account name: CONSULATE GENERAL OF CHINA
Account number :0003006243003 (Note: Bank payment only charges US dollars. Please be sure to note the applicant's name and order number, such as ZHANGSAN, 2400000010, when making payment.
The above procedures apply to visa applications for mainland China. For travel to Hong Kong or Macao, please refer to Travel to Hong Kong and Macao and visit the websites of the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR.
II、Fingerprint Collection
(1) Until December 31, 2026, the Consulate General will exempt all applicants for short-term visas with a duration of stay of 180 days or less (inclusive) from fingerprint collection.
(2) Applicants for visas with a duration of stay exceeding 180 days are, in principle, required to appear in person at the Consulate General for fingerprint collection. The following applicants can be exempted from fingerprints collection and entrust others to submit visa applications:
①Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70; ②Diplomatic passport holders, or applicants eligible for Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy visas; ③Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past five years at the consulate with the same passport; ④Applicants with all fingers uncollectible
III、Visa Free
1. Foreign nationals holding valid Chinese Permanent Residence Cards or valid Chinese residence permits of any type.
2. Foreign nationals holding valid APEC Business Travel Cards (excluding virtual cards).
3. Foreign nationals transiting through China to a third country or region by international aircraft, ship, or train with a connecting ticket, provided that their stay in China does not exceed 24 hours and they do not leave the port of entry.
4. Foreign nationals covered by various mutual visa exemption agreements. For details, please refer to the Mutual Visa Exemption List.
5. Foreign nationals eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, regional visa exemption policies, or other visa exemption arrangements. For details, please refer to the Visa-Free Transit Policies.
IV、Document Requirement
(1) Printed confirmation page and form;
(2) Original passport and copy of the information page (passport with no less than six months validity and blank visa page)；
(3) Copy of latest visa to China, or latest resident permit in China (if applicative)；
(4) Copy of ID card (for Iraqi citizens), or valid long-term visa to Iraq/resident permit in Iraq (for citizens of other countries who are in Iraq);
(5) Other Required Documents（see the following table）;
(6) Consular officials will require other necessary documents based on specific cases. For your understanding and cooperation.
Visa Type | Applicable Situation | Document Requirement |
M/F | Visits related to economic and Trade, science technology, exchanges,etc | ①ValidInvitation Letter(PU/TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation issued by the central and state organs, central enterprises, authorized foreign affairs and commercial departments of local governments； ②Invitation Letter by the company/institute in China. |
Z | Work | ①Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit in the PRC； ②Physical Examination Record for Foreigner (for intended duration exceeds 90 days, see Annex I)； ③Copy of the Company’s invitation letter. |
X1 (long-term, the intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days） | Study | ①Original and Copy of the Visa Application for Study in China (JW201/202 Form) as well as a Letter of Admission (For new students) / Consent Letter for School Return (For enrolled students)； ②Physical Examination Record for Foreigner (for intended duration exceeds 180 days, see Annex I)； ③Proof of Financial Status (Bank statement, etc. $2500 per school year according to study plan.), or scholarship certificate. |
X2（short-term, the intended duration of stay in China less than 180 days） | Study | ①Information Form for Foreign Students’ Short-term Visa (DQ Form) ②The original and photocopy of the admission notice issued by the recruiting unit in China. |
S1 (long-term, the intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days) S2 (short-term, the intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.) | Family members of foreigners with valid Z/M/F/X1 visa, or valid work/study resident permit. ("Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, and daughters under the age of 18, parents-in-law. Adult child as well as their spouse and unmarried partners may apply for necessary reasons.) | ①Original and Copy of Proof of family memberkinshipbetweenapplicantandinviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, notarised certification of kinship, etc.)； ②Private invitation letter from the inviting foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or study, etc (see Annex II)； ③Copy of the inviting individual's passport, visa, or residence permit； ④Physical Examination Record for Foreigner (for intended duration exceeds 180 days, see Annex I). |
Q1 (long-term, the intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days) Q2 (short-term, the intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.) | Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for the purposes of reuniting with family, visiting relatives, taking care of the elderly, attending funerals, or visiting critically ill relatives. ("Family members" refers to spouses, parents, parents-in-law, sons and daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers and sisters, grandparents, granddaughters and parents-in-law, grandsons and granddaughters.) | ①Original and Copy of Proof offamily member kinship between applicant and inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, notarised certification of kinship, etc.)； ②Private invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China (see Annex II)； ③Copy of ID card of the Chinese citizen/Foreigner’s Passport and Permanent Residence Card in China； ④Death Certificate or a certificate of critical illness notice issued by a hospital（for attending funerals or visiting critically ill relatives）； ⑤ Physical Examination Record for Foreigner (for intended duration exceeds 180 days, see Annex I). |
R | High-Level Foreign Talents | Confirmation Letter for High-Level Foreign Talents (R visa holder’s spouse, or child under 18 years old can apply for an S2 visa with a marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) |
C | Crew Member | A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity in China |
L（Group） | Foreign nationals traveling to China as an organized tour group of five or more peoples | ①A Tourism Invitation Letter for Group Visa Applications issued by a Chinese travel agency authorized to handle inbound tourism; ②A qualification certificate/license of the Iraqi travel agency; ③Round-trip flight reservation and hotel reservation. |
AnnexⅠ: Physical Examination Record for Foreigner
AnnexⅡ: Statement of the Private Invitation for Family Visiting