Many Pakistani applicants hear two apparently conflicting statements: "the China visa is free" and "the China visa costs tens of thousands of rupees." Both can be partly true because the official visa fee and the total application cost are different.
Official fee for Pakistani citizens
The current Chinese Visa Application Service Centre fee schedule lists the visa fee for Pakistani citizens as:
| Visa entry type | Official visa fee for Pakistani citizens |
|---|---|
| Single entry | PKR 0 |
| Double entry | PKR 0 |
| Multiple entry, six months | PKR 0 |
| Multiple entry, one year | PKR 0 |
| Group visa | PKR 0 |
This is the government visa fee collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. It does not remove the service-centre fee.
Visa Application Service Centre charges
The current published service fees are:
| Service | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Regular application service | PKR 13,200, inclusive of GST |
| Express application service | PKR 19,800, inclusive of GST |
| Premium lounge, optional | PKR 13,200, inclusive of GST |
| Courier service, where available | Check current centre price; the Islamabad centre has published PKR 6,600 |
The application service fee is charged by the centre and is non-refundable.
What a regular applicant pays at the centre
For a Pakistani citizen using normal service without optional extras, the current basic official centre payment is normally:
- Visa fee: PKR 0.
- Visa Application Service Centre fee: PKR 13,200.
- Total at the centre: PKR 13,200.
This can change, and the centre's payment page should be checked immediately before submission.
Additional costs outside the official fee
Invitation documents
M, Group L and other visa categories may require invitation documents. The official Canton Fair invitation is free when obtained through the official buyer system, but a Chinese company, authorized travel agency or private service may charge for its work in arranging other invitation documents.
Never pay for a fake TE Letter, Verification Letter or tourist-group invitation.
Police character certificate
Applicants aged ten and above are currently required to provide a valid police character/clearance certificate under the common-document instruction. Provincial or police processing charges can apply.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille
When the police certificate or relationship document lacks the accepted verifiable QR code, it may need an apostille from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Government, courier or facilitation charges can apply.
Photograph and printing
Budget for a compliant photograph, colour printing, scanning and photocopies.
Travel-agent or visa-assistance fee
A private company may charge for form completion, document review, invitation coordination, submission help or courier. This is not the Chinese government visa fee. Ask for a written breakdown.
Travel reservations
Some applications need or benefit from return-flight and hotel reservations. Avoid buying a fully non-refundable ticket solely for the visa unless you accept the risk.
Travel insurance
Insurance may be required by a tour organizer or strongly recommended for the trip even when it is not the central visa requirement.
Example: Canton Fair business traveller
A typical business traveller might pay:
| Item | Typical treatment |
|---|---|
| Official Chinese visa fee | PKR 0 |
| Regular visa-centre service | PKR 13,200 |
| Police certificate | Separate |
| Apostille, if required | Separate |
| Canton Fair official invitation | Free through official system |
| Private invitation/coordination service | Separate, if used |
| Photos, printing and courier | Separate |
| Delegation package | Separate from visa fee |
A delegation package can include visa-document support, but the package price is not a visa fee. It may also cover flights, hotel, transport, meals, translator, badge registration and factory meetings.
Example: tourist group
A Group L tourist may pay:
- PKR 0 official visa fee.
- Visa-centre service fee.
- Authorized Chinese tour-operator invitation and tour cost.
- Pakistani travel-agent service.
- Police certificate and apostille where applicable.
- Insurance, flights and hotel as included or separately purchased.
Why agents quote very different prices
Quotes vary because they may include different combinations of:
- Invitation letter.
- Authorized group-tour arrangement.
- Police certificate assistance.
- Apostille.
- Form completion.
- Document review.
- Premium service or courier.
- Flight and hotel reservations.
- Travel package.
- Urgent handling.
Always ask for a line-by-line quote. "China visa: PKR 60,000" is not transparent enough.
Is express service always available?
The Visa Application Service Centre publishes an express-service fee, but the Embassy's Pakistan instruction also states that it generally processes cases in four working days and does not provide fast service. Availability can depend on the centre and case. Confirm before paying or planning around express processing.
Is the fee refundable after refusal?
The Visa Application Service Centre says its service fee is non-refundable. Private service, invitation and travel-package refund rules depend on the written contract. Government or third-party costs already paid may also be non-refundable.
ChinaChallo should publish its refund policy separately and should not describe every payment as a "visa fee."
How to avoid overpaying
- Check the official fee page yourself.
- Ask whether the quote includes the service-centre charge.
- Ask what invitation document will be provided.
- Confirm whether the invitation is official and verifiable.
- Request receipts for government and centre payments.
- Do not pay for a guaranteed visa.
- Do not buy fake documents.
- Separate visa support from flights, hotel and delegation services.
Example cost scenarios
Self-prepared regular M-visa application
- Government visa fee: PKR 0
- Regular Centre fee: PKR 13,200
- PCC, apostille, photos, printing and transport: variable
- Invitation: free if genuinely supplied by a business or official Fair, but related coordination costs may apply
Express application
- Government visa fee: PKR 0
- Express Centre service: PKR 19,800
- Other document and travel costs: variable
Express service concerns Centre processing options. It cannot guarantee that the consular authority will complete additional review by a fixed date.
ChinaChallo Canton Fair delegation
ChinaChallo’s published packages currently combine visa coordination, invitation support, flights, hotel, Canton Fair access, bilingual guide, transport and other services. These package prices are travel and business-delegation charges, not “visa fees.”
Fee scams and misleading marketing
“Government charges PKR 200,000 for a barcode invitation”
The official fee table does not list such a Pakistani visa fee. Ask who charges the amount, what document is provided and whether it is refundable.
“Premium lounge guarantees approval”
False. It is an optional Centre service.
“Express guarantees a visa in two days”
False. Additional review can extend processing.
“The Canton Fair charges for its invitation”
The official Fair says its invitation application is free. Assistance can be charged separately.
“Pay only after approval”
Read the contract. Centre service fees are non-refundable, and travel companies may have their own cancellation terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is a China visa free for Pakistani passport holders?
The official visa fee is currently PKR 0. The Visa Application Service Centre and other service providers still charge fees.
How much is the normal Gerry's service fee?
The current published regular fee is PKR 13,200 inclusive of GST.
How much is express service?
The current published express service fee is PKR 19,800 inclusive of GST. Confirm availability for your case.
Does an M visa cost more than an L visa?
The official visa fee for Pakistani citizens is zero across the listed entry categories. Actual total cost differs because invitation and travel arrangements differ.
Is the Canton Fair invitation paid?
The official Canton Fair invitation application is free. A private company may charge for helping with registration or for broader visa and delegation services.
ChinaChallo pricing transparency
ChinaChallo should separate these items in every quote:
- Official visa/centre charges.
- Invitation and document-processing costs.
- Flights and accommodation.
- Delegation operations and translator.
- Optional extensions and personal services.
This protects trust and helps the client compare the complete trip rather than a misleading "visa price."
Official sources for this update
- Chinese Visa Application Service Centre Islamabad and Karachi, current fee schedules.
- Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, current visa instructions.
- Canton Fair official invitation service.
Fees and services can change. Confirm the fee page for your application centre before submission.
ChinaChallo is not an embassy, consulate or government department. Visa rules, fees, processing times and fair arrangements can change. This page is informational and is not a promise of visa approval, supplier performance or customs outcome. See official sources.