1. According to relevant Chinese laws and regulations, and with reference to international practice and experience, starting from 8th February 2021, the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in Australia and Chinese Visa Application Service Centers will start biometric data collection and collecting all ten fingerprints of all applicants applying for Chinese visa.

2. Exemptions for the fingerprint requirements are granted to:

I. Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70;

II. Applicants holding a diplomatic passport or eligible for application of diplomatic, service and courtesy visa of China;

III. Applicants who have applied for Chinese visas with the same passports and have had fingerprints collected and visa approved within 5 years;

IV. Applicants with all the ten fingers physically unable or fingerprints unable to be collected.

3. Please be noted that all applicants are requested to go to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers of relevant consular jurisdiction in person for biometric data collection. Applicants shall bear all the legal consequences including denial of entry for forged fingerprints or using other people's fingerprints for visa application.

4. The Embassy/Consulate kindly requests all visa applicants to fill the online application form(http://www.visaforchina.org), and submit passports and other required documents to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers of relevant consular jurisdiction with the printed complete application form and signed Confirmation of Online Visa Application.

5. The current eligibility criteria and the procedures of visa applications remain unchanged until further notice.