In recent years, biometric visas have rapidly gained popularity globally, and more and more countries have successively developed and implemented biometric visas. With reference to international practices and proven experience, starting from October 9th, 2019, the Chinese Visa Application Center in Banjul (hereinafter referred to as “Visa Application Center”) will collect fingerprints from all Chinese visa applicants on behalf of the Chinese Embassy.

Applicants age 14 to 70 must come to the Visa Application Center in person to submit their applications and provide fingerprints. The collected fingerprints data will be directly submitted by the Visa Application Center to the Chinese Embassy.

An applicant applying for a Chinese visa again within the next 5 years will not need to have their fingerprints collected again.*(It must be the same passport)

(Please note that applicants who need to go to the Visa Application Center in person to submit their application and provide fingerprints).

Exemptions from the obligation of fingerprinting are provided for the following categories of applicants only:

1. Children under the age of 14 or applicant above 70 years old.

2. Diplomatic passports, heads of state and their delegations in certain circumstances.

3. The applicant applying for a Chinese visa once again within the next 5 years will not need to be collected the fingerprints again. (It must be collected by the same Application Center with the same passport)

4. Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible.

Please kindly note that a passport size photo submitted with the application form should comply with the following specifications:Photo Requirements for Chinese Visa Application.

Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Banjul

September 26, 2019