Visa interview and fingerprints: when a Chinese mission may ask for them

A visa interview is an interview required by a visa authority abroad under Article 8 of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners. Article 8 lists four circumstances in which a foreigner shall be interviewed as required by that authority. See also Visas and residence.

Definition

Article 8 uses “shall”: a foreigner shall be interviewed as required by the visa authority abroad. Q18 of the Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom uses “may” for its interviews: consular officers may interview applicants if necessary.

What the official text says

Article 8

Article 8 of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners identifies four circumstances:

1. The applicant applies for entry into China for residence.
2. Information about the applicant’s personal identity or purpose of entry requires further verification.
3. The applicant has a record of being denied entry into China or ordered to exit China within the prescribed time limit.
4. Other circumstances where an interview is necessary.

Article 8 also states that, where the visa authority abroad requires relevant departments or entities in China to help verify relevant information, those departments or entities shall cooperate.

Q18

Q18 of the Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom’s FAQs and Answers asks whether applicants must attend interviews and provide fingerprints when applying for a Chinese visa. The embassy states that consular officers may interview applicants if necessary. It also states that Chinese laws and regulations require the collection of 10 fingerprints from each applicant at the VisaCenter or Embassy/Consulates-General.

Q18 says the following applicants can be exempted from the fingerprint requirement:

1. Persons under the age of 14 or over the age of 70.
2. Persons with injuries on all ten fingers or other situations in which fingerprints cannot be collected.

The answer also states that some diplomatic, service and courtesy visa applicants are exempted from the biometric requirement. It refers readers to the section “Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visa” for details.

Related terms

• Visas and residence
• Tests and verification
• Visa authority abroad
• Fingerprint collection
• Biometrics

Sources

• Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners — National Immigration Administration
• Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom — Part Seven: FAQs and Answers — Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission

Checked 11 October 2026.

This entry is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.