China launches Visa Application Center in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, March 10, 2023 (FBC) – China has launched Visa Application Center in Addis Ababa to better serve the people-to-people exchanges between China and Ethiopia.

The Visa Application Center will start free trial operation from March 13 to 17, 2023, FBC sources confirm.

It is responsible for handling some consular document applications, including applications for ordinary Chinese visas, China Hong Kong visas, China Macau visas, and consular authentication. The visa center will collect the governmental fees and expedited or express fees on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, it was learned.

Besides to enhancing the people-to-people exchange between the two countries, the visa center is also responsible for providing applicants with more comfortable and convenient visa application condition and more professional and efficient consular certificate services, from March 13, 2023.

However, it is stated that the Visa Application Center does not participate in the visa approval process. Instead, it was indicated that consular officers of the embassy will decide whether to issue a visa and the validity period, duration of stay and number of entries of the visa according to the applicant’s specific situation.

Except for the Visa Application Center, the embassy has not entrusted any other institutions or individuals to provide various consular certificate services. Applicants are requested to apply for consular service in accordance with this news, it was further indicated.