Visa-Faq.com

do you need a visa to travel to china

by Addison Wehner II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Does an US citizen need a visa to visit China?

Unless you qualify for an exemption through one of China’s visa-free policies, you’ll need a visa for China based on the purpose of your travel. These visa-free policies include 24, 72, and 144-hour transit visas for those from the United States, but some stipulations apply, like entering through an approved port of entry.

Can I go to China without a visa?

This also means absolutely no last minute trips to China. A good option for travelers wanting to visit China without the hassle of a visa is to use the visa-free transit policy. This will allow you to enter China from 24-144 hours, depending on which city you choose to visit, without a China visa.

How does a foreigner apply for a visa in China?

  • A passport with at least 6 months validity
  • A formal application form
  • A passport photo
  • A letter of invitation from your host institution or company
  • A medical examination certificate

How much does a visa to China cost?

How much does a China tourist visa cost? The fee is $140 for U.S. citizens regardless of the number of entries. Applicants can pay the fee with Visa, MasterCard, money order, cashier's check or company check. The visa office does not accept personal checks or cash.

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72- and 144-Hour Transit Visas

China's visa-free transit policies allow you to enter China from 24–144 hours. Check whether the city you're stopping in is included in a visa-free transit policy or not.

Plan an Eligible Transit Route

Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are considered to be third countries/regions for transit purposes, which is a great help when planning a transit route.

Book a Layover Tour with a Local Expert

The family had enjoyed a hassle-free Beijing Great Wall layover tour with us.

How long does it take to get a visa for China?

A regular China Visa application takes about 4 to 5 working days. It’s suggested to submit application around 1 month in advance before your entry date to China.

What is a Z visa in China?

Judge you purpose of visiting, and choose the most appropriate visa category to apply, e.g. China L Visa is for tour, M Visa is for business, Z visa is for work in China.

How to get a visa free layover in China?

To get a visa-free layover tour in China, you must hold valid passport of the appointed 53 countries and departing ticket to a third country or region (including HK, Macau, Taiwan), transit through China via certain port in cities or regions.

How many questions are there about China visa?

64 updated China Visa-related questions are listed to give assistance for your visa application. Get the most valuable answers and advice to make a visa worry-free China tour.

Can Singaporeans travel to China?

Singaporeans, Bruneians and Japaneses ordinary passport holders may obtain a unilateral visa exemption for tour, business, visiting family or friends in China with 15 days. It’s free to travel to most cities across China then. Fiji, Qatar and all 14 countries benefit mutual visa exemption between China.

Is China a visa free country?

Another good news is, China has carried out many visa-free policies for different situations of nationality, transportation of entry, place will visit, etc. , to closer contact to the world and present diverse charm of China. Among all, the 144-Hour Transit in China Without Visa (TWOV) is most concerned and frequently used. Without pre-arrival application, qualified tourists could get “no-visa” entry and tour through fast procedures by a few documents , which is time, money and energy-saving.

Does China have a transit visa?

Currently, China offers 24-hour, 72-hour and 144-hour transit visa free, totally 3 kinds of special visa services for foreigners transit convenience. Eligible travelers not only get Transit Visa exempted without any charges, but also granted a short-term stopover to explore brilliant and diverse nature, culture and history of China, spice up your world journey.

What provinces are in the consular district of China?

This consular district includes: the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.

What are the criminal laws of China?

Certain provisions of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China – such as “social order” crimes (Article 293) and crimes involving “endangering state security” and “state secrets” (Article 102 to 113) – are ill-defined and can be interpreted by the authorities arbitrarily and situationally.

How to get a visa extension?

Apply for a visa extension from your local Entry/Exit Bureau before attempting to leave the country. Do not expect your request to be expedited, so apply ahead of time.

How long is a multiple entry visa?

Apply for a ten-year multiple entry visa, useful for repeated travel, or trips to Hong Kong or Macau with returns to China.

Is China safe to visit?

For most visitors, China remains a very safe country. Petty street crime is the most common safety concern for U.S. citizens. Training, capability, and responsiveness of Chinese authorities varies by region and even city. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General have no law enforcement authority and may not represent U.S. citizens in either criminal or civil legal matters. To ensure your safety and security in China, you should:

Can you travel to China with prescriptions?

Medication: If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to ensure the medication is legal in China. Carry prescription medication in original packaging, along with the prescription. Many commonly-used U.S. drugs and medications are not available in China, and counterfeit, low-quality knockoffs are prevalent. If you try to have medications sent to you from outside China, you may have problems getting them released by Chinese Customs and/or you may have to pay high customs duties.

Is driving dangerous in China?

Road Conditions and Safety: Traffic safety is generally poor and driving can be dangerous, though rules, regulations, and conditions vary greatly throughout China.

Who Needs a Chinese Tourist Visa?

The majority of foreign nationals require a tourist visa (also known as an "L visa") to enter and visit mainland China, though a few nationalities are granted visa-free entry. L visas are easy to obtain from Chinese embassies and consulates around the world, though the visa application process in some countries has been outsourced to a local branch of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center – their website has a handy list of locations and other useful country-specific information. To avoid the tedious bureaucracy when applying in person, many people obtain a visa via a tour operator or visa agent.

How much does a China tourist visa cost?

Most tourists pay around US$35 for a single entry visa valid for 30 days from the day you enter China. Reflecting frosty relations between China and some foreign governments, UK citizens pay £151, US citizens pay US$140, Canadian citizens pay C$142, Australian citizens pay A$109 and French, German, Italian, Dutch and Spanish citizens pay €126.

How long is a Chinese visa valid for?

Regular China tourist visas are valid for 30 days and must be used within three (or six, if double-entry) months of their date of issue. Never overstay your visa: the fine is ¥500 a day, with the possibility of being deported and banned from re-entering China for the next five years. If you think you'll need to stay longer, start the process of applying for a visa extension well before your visa expires.

How long does it take to get a Chinese visa extension?

The process takes between 2 and 7 working days, the fee is ¥160 (or ¥760/500 for US/UK citizens). You can only extend your stay for as long as the duration of your original visa. You’ll need to provide your original passport, two photos and a receipt from your accommodation in the town where you are applying for your extension.

Can I extend my visa to Tibet?

Because of the complicated permit system, extending your stay in Tibet is impossible, and Xinjiang, Beijing and Shanghai can also be tricky places to extend a standard tourist visa. The Caravanistan website has some useful visa extension reports from travelers. A second extension is harder to get, and a third extension is extremely unlikely.

Can I travel to China with a passport?

Holders of passports from a handful of countries can travel visa-free to mainland China for tourism or business purposes. Citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore get 15 days, citizens of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Serbia, Seychelles, Tonga, and the United Arab Emirates get 30 days, citizens of Mauritius get 60 days, and citizens of Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and San Marino get 90 days.

Can I extend my Chinese visa?

Chinese visas can be extended once without too much difficulty at the Public Security Bureau (PSB) offices found in larger Chinese towns and cities, though an extension is not guaranteed. The process takes between 2 and 7 working days, the fee is ¥160 (or ¥760/500 for US/UK citizens). You can only extend your stay for as long as the duration of your original visa. You’ll need to provide your original passport, two photos and a receipt from your accommodation in the town where you are applying for your extension.

How to get a tourist visa for China?

1. Prepare your passport and ensure its validity is no less than six months. 2. Book round-trip tickets and hotels, and print the booking records. Alternatively, book a tour from a travel agency and get the invitation letter. 3.

How long is a Chinese passport valid?

1. Your passport, which should be valid for at least six months. 2. A complete Chinese Tourist Visa Application Form attached with your passport style photo. 3. Round-trip tickets and hotel reservations or an invitation letter from from a travel agency in China. 4.

Who Needs a Visa to Visit China?

The L Visa allows visitors to stay in China for 30 days. It is also possible for citizens from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canadian, and Argentine to apply for a 10-year China tourist visa that allows for multiple entries.

How Do You Get a Visa for China?

If you’re visiting China on holiday, you will most likely need to apply for a Chinese Tourist L Visa. However, if you’re visiting as part of a tour, simply give your details to your travel agency or tour operator and they will handle the application for you. If you are traveling independently, you’ll be responsible for ensuring your own Chinese tourist visa. The process can seem daunting at first, but applying for a China visa doesn’t need to be difficult if you follow our simple guide.

What Documents Do I Need for a China Visa Application?

Before you start your China Tourist Visa application, make sure you have all of the requirements and documents you’ll need. These include;

How Much Does a Visa for China Cost?

For example, a single entry China Tourist Visa for a United States citizen will cost $140 while a multiple entry visa for an Australian passport holder will cost approximately $230.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Chinese Tourist Visa?

Under normal circumstances, it usually takes around four working days for a China tourist visa to be processed. It’s also possible to pay extra for an express service or if you’re very short on time, a rush service. This provides a same-day application and visa for an extra $30.

Do I Need a Chinese Visa for Hong Kong?

As described above, the Chinese L Visa does not allow travel to Hong Kong, and in return, a Hong Kong visa does not mean you can visit China. However, travel to Hong Kong is visa-free for visitors from 160 countries, which means most people will not require a visa for stays between 7-180 days.

How many high risk areas are there in China?

According to the National Health Commission, China now has at least four high-risk areas and 154 medium areas, with different forms of epidemic control such as quarantine and travel restrictions implemented.

When do you have to take a green health code for Shenzhen airport?

Starting on June 7, all passengers departing from Shenzhen Airport must present a green health code and a negative nucleic acid test taken within 72 hours. Passengers with Guangzhou, Foshan ID card or who have traveled to Guangzhou and Foshan within 14 days must provide proof of a negative test taken within 48 hours.

When did China close its borders?

China closed its borders to nearly all travelers in March 2020, when the pandemic started spreading throughout Europe.

Is China a fast lane country?

China already has a Fast Lane agreement with Singapore, allowing business travelers. Business travelers from South Korea are also allowed in.

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