China Visa

Two steps before visiting a visa centre.

1. Request the official invitation from the centre. Without it the consulate will not accept an S2 application. The invitation lists the child's full name, diagnosis, course dates, and NeuroLife China business details; it travels together with the centre's medical licence and the treating doctor's identification. We assemble this package and send it via WhatsApp within 2–3 business days after the dates are agreed.

2. Contact the PRC consular office in your country. The required documents and submission procedure change periodically — verify the current information on the embassy or regional visa-centre website. If anything is unclear, ask questions in advance, before assembling the package.

A centre manager accompanies you through both steps: suggests wording, checks dates, and requests clarified data from partners when needed.

China issues several visa categories, but only one fits a child's medical course — S2.

M (business) — issued to a parent during a long course of treatment combined with consultative meetings on invitation from the Chinese side.

L (tourist) — short visits up to 30 days without an invitation. Not suitable for treatment (see warning below).

S2 (short-term medical / family) — the principal visa for treatment of foreigners in the PRC. Stay of up to 180 days per entry. This is the visa we recommend for a rehabilitation course.

Q2 (visit to relatives) — a rare option, applicable only if the family has PRC-citizen close relatives.

We determine the specific type for your case after a short conversation on WhatsApp or Telegram.

Documents fall into two groups: what you prepare and what the centre supplies.

Before submission, check the current list on your regional visa-centre website — requirements change. A NeuroLife China manager sends an updated checklist via WhatsApp 2–4 weeks before the planned submission.

The application is submitted online via the unified COVA system at visaforchina.cn. The same site is used by every PRC consulate worldwide, regardless of the country of submission.

Filling it in requires accuracy: errors in date of birth, passport number, or purpose of visit lead to a return of the documents. Before clicking "Submit", verify every field against the passport original twice.

Free help from a partner. Anatoliy can fill in the application for you free of charge — an independent visa specialist with whom we have worked for several years. He completes the application for the child and the accompanying parents, advises on field content, and helps book an appointment at a visa centre. Contacts are in the partners block at the bottom of the page.

For families in Kazakhstan the same service is provided by Sultangazy Askar. Contacts are there as well.

Once the documents are assembled and the application is generated, it is time to visit a visa centre. Most centres accept documents by appointment only — confirm this on the website before travelling.

What to prepare:

•Printed invitation from NeuroLife China. Without this document the visa centre will not allow submission.

•Printed application pages — both the short version (with photo and QR codes) and the full multi-page version. The personal signature must be present on the pages indicated in the form.

•Originals and copies of all documents in the checklist.

•Appointment confirmation for a specific time, if the centre operates by appointment.

The consular fee is typically $50–100 per person (depending on the country and urgency). Payment is made at the visa centre on submission — in cash or by card.

The full list of visa centres with addresses, phone numbers, and opening hours is in the partners block below.

The standard processing time is 5–7 business days from submission (the day of submission is not counted). With express tariff, processing can take 1–3 business days; verify the availability of express service in advance, not every centre offers it.

The passport with the visa is collected at the centre in person or by a representative (under a notarised power of attorney). Once you have the passport, immediately verify every field of the visa. Errors are corrected on the spot; later corrections require a fresh submission.

The visa contains several key fields. Understanding them is essential for planning departure and stay accurately.

Print all documents in advance, mark the signature spots in the application, and verify the copies. This speeds up submission and reduces the chance of a return.