Visa decisions and processing times
Visa processing times vary based on application category, application complexity and seasonal demands. Average processing times, based on visa category, are visible below.
Each week Embassy Beijing publishes a list of visa decisions, made to date in the current year. Applicants, sponsors or nominated representatives can search this file, by pressing Ctrl+F and entering your visa reference number (8XXXXXXXX), to check if a decision mas been made.
How long will it take to get a visa?
While category-based average processing times are listed below, our office cannot guarantee a decision within this timeframe. We recommend that applicants submit their applications as early as possible and at least 8 to 10 weeks in advance of their intended travel date.
There is no requirement to submit flight bookings with your visa application. Our office is not responsible for missed flights, booked prior to the receipt of a visa.
Visa processing times
The processing times below reflect the expected number of working days (i.e. excluding weekends and office closure dates) from date of receipt in the Embassy to date of decision.
The stated times do not include the time it takes to secure a VFS appointment, nor do they include both-way document transit times between VFS and the Irish Embassy.
Applicants should add VFS transit times, for both legs of the journey, to the visa processing times in order to get a more accurate estimate of when your finalised documents will be received.
It is the applicant's responsibility to apply on time, and requests to expedite the processing time will not be entertained. Do not book flights before securing your visa. Flight bookings are not required under any visa category and the Embassy is not responsible for flights missed while awaiting a visa decision.
We seek to process appeals within four calendar months of receipt. However, appeal timelines for complex applications will be in line with those processed by our appeal team in Dublin.
The current target processing times in working days (unless otherwise stated) for complete visa applications submitted to Embassy Beijing are as follows (for categories not listed below please see Dublin-based processing times):
| Visa category | Processing Time (working days) |
|---|---|
| Business / Conference / Event | 10 |
| Employment | 30 |
| Join family | up to 12 months |
| Study (3rd level programmes) | 20 |
| Study (English language) | 60 |
| Visit | 20 |
| Visit (ADS) | 5 - 10 |
| Other | 10 |
| Appeals (approx. depending on category) | Up to 4 months |
My application has gone over the stated processing time, what does this mean?
Applicants are advised that unforeseen delays can arise, which are outside the control of the visa office. These can include delays in the receipt of biometric information, postal delays or the need to undertake in-depth document verification. With this in mind, we recommend that you apply six to eight weeks in advance of your travel dates. Our office bears no responsibility for missed travel dates.
In the event that your application has significantly exceeded the above times, it is likely that – on initial assessment – the application has not met the criteria, and further assessment/verification is required. In such instances, processing times will be longer than those stated above, and will be in line with Dublin-based processing times. If you wish to withdraw your application, due to lengthy processing times, please visit the contact us section.
Status update requests
Except in the case of serious travel emergencies, do not contact the visa office seeking an update on your application. Non-emergency requests for status updates will not be responded to. Visa decisions are uploaded on a routine basis, as per the Visa Decisions tab above. Once a decision is made, your documents will be returned via VFS or postal services.
Dublin-based processing categories
A number of application categories are forwarded to Visa Division in Dublin for processing. In the event you have submitted an application in one of the categories below, you should consult the Irish Immigration Service website and address any queries directly to Visa Division in Dublin.
Dublin-based processing categories:
- Family member of EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (de facto partner)
- Family member of EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (other)
- Family member of EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (spouse)
- Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner)
- Join Family (de facto partner CSEP/HA)
- Join Family (Non-EEA national)(de facto partner)
- Join Family (UK national)
- Minister of Religion
- Volunteer
VFS document transit times
As stated above, visa applications submitted at VFS visa application centres can take a number of days to be received in the Embassy. The transit times may vary from two to more than five days, depending on the distance of the VAC to Embassy Beijing.
Once a decision is made, the Embassy will dispatch your return package, which will take time to be received.
Both incoming and outgoing document transit times are not included in the visa processing times above, which refer to the time between the receipt of the application at Embassy Beijing and the date of decision only.
Applications made in Hong Kong
Please note that applications submitted at the VFS Hong Kong can be subject to additional transit delays.