5 Steps to Apply for a Tourist Visa for China
- Prepare your passport and ensure its validity is no less than six months.
- Book round-trip tickets and hotels, and print the booking records. Alternatively, book a tour from a travel agency and get the invitation letter.
- Complete the application form. (See 8 Tips for Filling out Chinese Visa Application Form)
- Submit the above documents to the Chinese embassy / consulate or CVASC which has jurisdiction in your residence area.
- Collect your passport and visa on the appointed date and pay the fee.
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 far in advance can I apply for China visa?
The general advice on the forum is just get it on arrival, there no advantage to getting it in advance and it's much less hassle to get it on arrival. If you do get one in advance don't do it more than 3 months in advance of travelling because the visa is only valid for 90 days from the date of issue 2.
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.
Do foreigners need a visa to travel to China?
While planing a trip to China, the visa topic always comes first and seriously. Indeed, China Visa is an obligatory official permission all foreign travelers normally required to obtained for a China travel.
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.
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 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 L visa?
The L Visa is issued to who intend to visit China for tourism. With it, you can travel to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin and more cities crossing different provinces, enter and exit through any port.
What time does transit count?
2. The transit time officially counts from 00:00 the next day upon arrival.
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.
Is China 24 hour transit free?
China 24-Hour Transit Visa Free is open to all international transiting passengers, while 72 -Hour and 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit only applies to citizens of specific 53 foreign countries. Others not in the list should obtain a China Transit Visa prior to arrival. Check full list as below:
What to do if you lost your China visa?
If you lost the all the electronic record, you can log on the China Visa Application Service Center website (www.visaforchina.org), use your Application Form ID and phone number to manage your appointment, cancel or reschedule a submission time.
How to get a Chinese visa?
The ways to apply for a Chinese Visa differ from countries and visa types. Currently, no one can apply for and get a Chinese Visa just through the Internet. However, if you are in the 2 following cases, you can complete the application form online in advance, and book an appointment online for offline submission. That would save you much time, avoid long queues.
What is required for a Chinese visa?
1. A printed completed China Visa Application Form is always obligatory for all foreign applicants, whether you fill in the form through online systems of Chinese Embassy or China Visa Application Service Center. A qualified photo is also an crucial requirement.
What are the best places to visit in China?
If it’s your first time travel to China, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Guilin are the top recommended destinations with best representative tourism attractions of. The great cultural, historical, natural landscape will fulfill your dream tour to China.
Where can I go on a visa free tour of China?
If you are interested in China visa-free tour, we could also customize a China Visa-free Tour in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.
Is visa fee higher than direct submission?
* You will pay additional service fees to the visa center, while visa fees is charged by the embassy. So the totally cost is higher than direct submission to the embassies.
How to apply for a Chinese visa?
To apply for a China visa, you need to complete an application form attached with your recently-taken color photo, prepare a valid passport, and submit them along with other supporting documents to the Chinese embassy or consulate which is in charge of your residence area . Check the step-by-step guide on how to apply for a China visa below for details.
How long before a visa expires can you renew it?
The best way is to renew the current visa to a temporary visa at least 5 days before it expires. At the same time, try to find a new job, and then change the temporary visa to a work visa.
How to get a passport back from China?
Go to the place where you apply for China visa on the date appointed at the pick-up slip. Pay the fee and you will get your passport back with visa. See China Visa Fees.
What documents are needed for a visa?
Documents required for all types of visa include passport and visa application form attached with a recently-taken photo. Besides, other supporting documents are required, but they vary according to the visa type you are applying for. For instance, if you apply for a tourist L visa, the supporting documents will refer to round-trip tickets, ...
How Long Does It Take for the Application?
It normally takes only four working days. In case you are in a hurry, you may apply for the expedited services like same day collection service or 2-3 day collection service. Of course, such services require an additional fee.
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.
How long is a US citizen allowed to stay in the US?
For US citizens, they may get a multiple-entry tourist visa valid for 10 years. The allowed stay duration ranges from 30 days to 90 days decided by consular officers on the basis of your travel itinerary.
How far ahead of time can you apply for a syringe?
It's recommended to apply six weeks ahead of your planned visit, which is neither too early nor too late.
When Do I Need A Visa for China?
After checking the visa free policy of China, it’s clear that you are required to hold a China visa to enter China if they don’t meet any one situations above. You should know mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau own different visa regulations, and Tibet requires special travel document for tourism. So you need to apply for relevant visa based on your purpose, destination and duration of your visit to China.
How long does it take to get a visa for China?
The processing time differs from visa types. Normally, it takes about 4 to 5 business days for applicant to get a China Visa, and the accurate collection date will be noted on the pick-up slip. If you submit China Tourist Visa (L Visa) on Monday, you can pick up on Thursday. Check carefully the visa type, duration of stay, number of entries if they are issued correctly or not, after getting your passport back. Double check the validity when you plan to enter China, otherwise you will be denied entry.
What are the different types of Chinese visas?
Read different types of Chinese Visa to figure out which kind of visa you should apply for. Determine if you are suitable applicants for each visa type, by judging your purpose of visiting is for travel, business, work, transit, family reunion and etc or not. China Tourist Visa (L Visa) is for visitor going to China for tourism, F Visa is for exchanges, study tour, Business Visa (M Visa) is for commercial and trade, Student Visa (X Visa) is for studying in China. More Chinese Visa Types >>
How long can a US citizen stay in Hong Kong?
US, Australian, Canadian, Japanese Citizens can enter and visit Hong Kong for 90 days, British Citizens can stay for 180 days without a visa. Indian Citizens are required to submit application online and register themselves before entry, and then Indians can stay in Hong Kong visa free for 14 days.
Where can I stay without a visa?
for 6 days without a visa, or have a 3 days visa-free stay in Xian, Guilin, Chongqing, Harbin and else cities.
Can Russians travel to Amur?
Citizens of Amur Oblast, Russia can visit and stay in Heihe (prefecture-level city in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China) for 1 day without a visa, and Russians (at least 2 people) can visit Suifenhe (county-level city in Southeastern Heilongjiang) visa free for 15 days.
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.
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.
What about Hong Kong and Macau?
Most nationalities do not require a tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days in either Hong Kong or Macau. British visitors to Hong Kong get 180 days, and South Africans get 30 days. To travel from here into China proper, a standard tourist visa is required. These are fairly easy to obtain via China Travel Service in Hong Kong.
How about Tibet?
To travel to Tibet by air, road or train, you'll need both a China tourist visa and a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. To obtain this mandatory travel document you must book a guide for your entire trip and pre-arrange private transport for trips outside Lhasa. No direct applications are accepted, which effectively means that Tibet can only be visited on an organized tour.
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.
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 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.
What is the PRC government?
Country Summary: The PRC government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including by carrying out arbitrary and wrongful detentions and through the use of exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries without due process of law. The PRC government uses arbitrary detention and exit bans to:
Why are foreigners detained in the PRC?
Foreigners in the PRC, including but not limited to businesspeople, former foreign government personnel, and journalists from Western countries, have been arbitrarily interrogated and detained by PRC officials for alleged violations of PRC national security laws.
What provinces are in the consular district of China?
This consular district includes: the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.
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.
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 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.
Do Chinese hospitals accept credit cards?
Payment and Insurance: Chinese ambulances are often slow to arrive, and most do not have sophisticated medical equipment or trained responders. Cash payment for services is often required prior to treatment, including emergency cases. Travelers will be asked to post a deposit prior to admission to cover the expected cost of treatment. Hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in China maintain lists of local English-speaking doctors and hospitals.
