August 23rd, 2007

1. From September 1st, 2007, the Consular Section of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Korea (ROK) will no longer accept foreigners' individual applications for Chinese visas of travel, business, study, work, transit and so on. Instead, citizens of ROK and other foreigners in ROK have to apply for Chinese visa (visas to China's Hong Kong are not included) through travel agencies designated by the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy.

2. The Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy will continue to accept the following individual visa applications (visa applicants can also apply for visas through the designated travel agencies):

(1) Diplomatic, service passport holder of ROK

(2) Ordinary passport holder with note verbal issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of ROK

(3) Members and their relatives of other countries' diplomatic missions, international institutions and international organizations to ROK

(4) Correspondent visa applicants

3. The Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy cautiously reminds visa applicants to pay attention to the following items:

(1) For those who apply for China's Hong Kong visas or to apply both visas to Chinese mainland and China's Hong Kong, the applicants still have to come to the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy to apply for visas.

(2) The service fees (visa fees charged by the Consular Section are not included) for each visa charged by the designated travel agencies (the service means to apply and receive visa on behalf of the applicant) must not exceed 20,000 won.

If applicants find out any designated travel agency infringes the above rules on service fees, they can send us e-mail (consulate_korea@mfa.gov.cn) or fax us (02-755-0469) to lodge a complaint (complaints by phone or face to face are not accepted). The complainant should write down clearly the real name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, phone number of the applicant as well as the application date, the name of the travel agency and the details regarding the infringement. The Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy will fully investigate the case and deal seriously with the relevant travel agency. Please notice that complaints against non-designated travel agencies are not accepted.

Enclosed herewith are:

(1) List of travel agencies designated by the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy

(2)List of visa fees charged by the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy