1. Background to the establishment of the Visa Application Center

China’s rapid opening up in recent years, amid the ongoing globalization, has led to a remarkable increase in people-to-people exchanges with other countries, creating a great demand for Chinese visas. Chinese Embassies and Consulates-General have been working hard to improve the quality of their visa services. However, with limited staff and available space, many have become overwhelmed with the increasing quantity of visa applications. In recent years, many countries facing such problems have chosen to introduce the Visa Application Service Center system, offering a wider range of more efficient services to applicants. Chinese Embassies and Consulates-General handling a large quantity of visa applications in certain key countries decided to follow this trend.

Up to now, dozens of Chinese Visa Application Service Centers have been established throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America to provide quality Chinese visa services.

2. What the Visa Application Center offers

The Chinese Visa Application Service Center (hereinafter referred to as the “Visa Application Center”) is a commercial service organization registered in accordance with local laws and regulations and recognized by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General to handle the daily routine work of processing ordinary visa and legalization applications. However, it operates independently of diplomatic missions and is neither a branch nor an affiliated organ. Its main services are:

(1) To receive visa or legalization applicants and ensure that their application documents meet Chinese Government requirements for smooth processing in various categories of applications.

(2) To provide applicants with intermediate business services, including computer entry of basic information and transmission of passport, visa, document of legalization and other application documents between the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General and the Visa Application Center.

(3) To collect visa fees and legalization fees, whether for regular, express-II or express-I service in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General and, on their behalf, deliver the passport, visa, documents and document of legalization to the applicant.

(4) To release visa and legalization information in a timely manner, to answer applicants’ inquiries and to provide assistance through the Visa Application Center’s website, information desk, telephone, and e-mail.

(5) To provide applicants with other necessary services in accordance with requirements of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General.

3. How the Visa Application Center Benefits Applicants

(1) GOOD LOCATION: to provide applicants with a welcoming environment and easy access, the Visa Application Centers are usually located in top-grade commercial buildings in convenient locations in major cities of each host country.

(2) FULL USE OF NETWORK TECHNOLOGY: The Visa Application Centers have their own websites providing up-to-date online information, online consultation, online form completion and online application status inquiry services.

(3) REDUCED WAITING TIME: To ensure efficient application processing and promote quality services, a Visa Application Center normally uses an online appointment system and token machines installed in the reception area. This is especially helpful in ensuring short waiting time even during peak application periods.

(4) CUSTOMER-ORIENTED: Visa Application Centers work hard to be fully focused on applicants’ needs. To facilitate the reception and processing of applications, sufficient counters are available for quality services; a receptionist is assigned to guide applicants and provide on-site consulting services in the reception lobby; special counters are dedicated to travel agencies and physically challenged applicants; and a VIP room is available for distinguished guests or other applicants with special needs. In addition, applicants can obtain all kinds of visa and legalization information from leaflets and posters and enjoy consultation services through telephone, fax, and mail.

(5) POSTAL SERVICE AVAILABLE: to meet the needs of applicants with travel difficulties, some Visa Application Centers provide postal application services depending on specific situations.

(6) CONSTANT MONITORING: Through a Visa Application Processing & Integrated Service Platform, the operation and management center can monitor all Visa Application Centers’ operations and services in real time to provide rapid technical support and to handle operational emergencies as well as service quality monitoring.

4. Operating Company of the Visa Application Center

The Visa Application Center is operated by CYTS Service (Ethiopia) Oy, and its operation conform strictly with local laws and regulations.

1.    Trademarks of the Visa Application Center

 and ）are trademarks legally approved and registered in Ethiopia, and are under the protection of the relevant laws and regulations. Any infringement on the owner’s exclusive right to use the aforementioned trademarks in any way is strictly prohibited.