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China student visa cost and processing time: what four missions publish

Unofficial summary · Sources checked

There is no single national figure for a China student visa's cost or processing time; each mission publishes its own. The four missions below — the United Kingdom, the United States, Pakistan and Kenya — each state processing times and publish fee lines (or point to a fee notice) on their own pages. Use the X1 or X2 visa check to see which visa your study length gives, read the UK embassy's document list for that visa and the post-arrival steps, and find the page of the mission where you will apply.

What the four missions publish

Mission Processing time Fee in official text Notice
Embassy of China in the UK Section IV: regular — visa ready on 4th working day; express — 3rd working day Section V names no amount; it points to the latest visa-fee notice on the embassy website Fee reduction continues to 31 December 2026 (extension notice)
Embassy of China in the US Section III: regular 4 business days; express 3 business days (urgent situation) Section III names no amount; it links to a separate fees page Requirements updated September 2025; fee reduction to 31 December 2026
Embassy of China in Pakistan Part 1: generally 4 working days after receiving the passport; no urgent or extra-urgent service Section I lists fees by passport and entries, not by visa category 28 April 2025
Embassy of China in Kenya Regular 4 business days; express 3 business days (urgent situation) Visa fees page lists by nationality and entries, not by visa category —

Each mission prints its fees in its own currency; the figures here are not converted and are not compared.

United Kingdom

Section IV of the UK application guide sets processing time: regular service visa is ready for collection on the fourth working day; express service on the third working day.

Section V names no fee amount. It states the total charge of an individual visa application equals the visa fee plus the service fee charged by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre, plus an express fee if express service is used, and directs readers to the latest visa-fee notice on the embassy website. The UK fee-reduction notice states the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will continue to reduce visa fees until 31 December 2026.

United States

Section III of the US requirements sets processing time: regular service 4 business days, express service 3 business days (urgent situation). The notice says the time is average and for reference only, counted from the date of passport submission; some applications may need longer.

Section III names no fee amount and links to a separate fees page. The US fee-reduction notice (page dated 29 December 2025) states the Embassy and Consulates-General in the US continue to reduce visa fees until 31 December 2026. Its fee table is by number of entries and by U.S. or non-U.S. citizen, not by visa category. As printed: Single Entry — U.S. citizen $140, non-U.S. citizen $23; Double Entries $34; Multiple Entries for 6 Months $45; Multiple Entries for 12 Months or more $68; J1/J2 $171. Express service adds a $25 fee per visa. The notice also notes visa fees for certain non-U.S. citizens vary and to check with the Visa Office.

Pakistan

Part 1 of the Pakistan embassy's Visa Processing Time and Fee (28 April 2025) states the Embassy generally needs 4 working days after receiving the passport, and provides no urgent or extra-urgent service. Processing time may vary by case (document supplementation, interview). If an application is returned and reapplied, it is treated as a new application and the time is recounted from when the new application is forwarded to the Embassy.

Section I lists fees by passport and entries, not by visa category: - Diplomatic and official passports from every country except the United States, and ordinary Pakistani passports, are exempt from all visa fees. - U.S. passport holders: 39,400 PKR (U.S. journalist visa 46,700 PKR). - Canadian passport holders: 15,200 PKR. - Third-country passport holders: single 7,200 PKR; double 10,800 PKR; six-month multiple 14,400 PKR; one-year-or-more multiple 21,600 PKR. - Other special countries: subject to actual practice.

Kenya

The Kenya embassy's Chinese visa types page sets processing time: regular service 4 business days, express service 3 business days (urgent situation).

The Kenya visa fees page lists fees in Kenyan shillings by nationality and entries, not by visa category: - Kenya nationals: single (3 months) 3,000; double (6 months) 4,500; six-month multiple 6,000; 12-month multiple 9,000; group L 2,400. - Other third countries: single 2,300; double 3,400; six-month multiple 4,500; 12-month multiple 6,800; group L 1,800. - Attention: if not listed separately, the express 1/2 fee is 3,700 / 2,500. Applications must be forwarded to the Visa Application Service Centre and fees paid there.

Questions people ask

Does every mission offer an express service?

The UK guide Section IV offers express (visa ready on the 3rd working day). The US requirements Section III offer express (3 business days, urgent situation). The Pakistan Part 1 states no urgent or extra-urgent service. The Kenya page offers express (3 business days, urgent situation).

Where do I find the UK visa fee amount?

Section V of the UK application guide names no fee amount and directs readers to the latest visa-fee notice on the embassy website. The UK fee-reduction notice states the reduction continues to 31 December 2026.

Sources

Checked 10 October 2026 and 11 October 2026. This page 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 application prevail if they differ.

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