
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.

Can I enter China without a visa?
The government of the People's Republic of China allows holders of ordinary passports issued by some countries to travel to Mainland China for tourism or business purposes for up to 15, 30, 60 or 90 days without having to obtain a visa.
Can I go to Shanghai without a visa?
Enter China via Shanghai cruise terminals to enjoy a 15-day visa-free stay. Shanghai has a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via a cruise. You must arrive and depart on the same cruise and be received by a Chinese travel agent at the Shanghai cruise terminal (or Wusong Passenger Center).
Who needs a Chinese visa?
The short answer is yes, you will most likely need a visa for China. Citizens of most countries do require a tourist visa to travel to China for any period of time, and most travellers receive a standard 30-day single-entry tourist visa for a trip to the mainland.
Which nationalities do not need visa for China?
14 China Mutual Visa-free Countries: San Marino, Mauritius, Seychelles, Bahamas, Fiji, Grenada, Ecuador, Tango, Serbia, Barbados, United Arab Emirates, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus and Qatar.
Which passport is the strongest in the world?
JapanJapan has the world's most powerful passport - providing hassle-free entry to 193 countries. Just one country short, Singapore and South Korea are tied in second place, according to the latest Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners, an immigration consultancy.
Can you enter China right now?
Yes. China currently allows foreign nationals with valid residence permits and visas to enter the country under certain very limited conditions.
How much does a Chinese visa cost?
$140China visa fees vary enormously according to your nationality, the number of entries required, the country you are applying in, and whether you want an express service. Generally the cost is $140 for an American citizen, and for citizens of other countries, the fee ranges from $30 to $90.
How many countries can go to China without visa?
Citizens of up to 20 countries can currently enter China without a visa for varying periods of short stay. The stay granted to visa-exempt nationals who wish to enter the People's Republic of China varies between 15, 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on their nationality.
How long does China visa take?
What is the duration to get a visa to go to China? On a general note, a Chinese visa will take 6-8 business days if you choose the standard processing time. The duration to get your Chinese visa can be as fast as 3 days if you choose a rush service, or with express service it could take between 4 to 5 business days.
How do I obtain a visa for China?
Tourist Application Requirements for a China VisaPassport. You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page of your passport. ... Photographs. ... Letter of Invitation. ... Proof of State Residency. ... CIBTvisas Order Form. ... Travel Record. ... Health Declaration. ... Authorization Letter.More items...
How do I get a visa for Shanghai?
Procedure for submitting a VISA application: Please visit the website https://www.cgishanghai.gov.in/. Go to “Consular Services” and choose “Visa Services” on the Home page of the website. After going through the general information & /instructions, click on the type of visa you wish to apply.
How much does it cost to get a visa for China?
$140How 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.
How long can foreigners stay in China?
Tourist visas are typically offered on a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry basis with the duration of stay ranging from 30 days to 90 days. Citizens from the US and Canada may be eligible for multiple-entry L-Visas valid for 10 years.
How do I get 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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
Transit Visas to Travel China
Getting a travel visa to China requires little to no preparation if you’re planning on using one of their cities to transit to a third country – even Hong Kong qualifies. Unlike tourist and business visas (explained below), transiting with a Chinese travel visa is relatively simple.
Tourist China Travel Visas
Transiting to a third country doesn’t always fit into everyone’s travel plans, and sometimes they just want to travel China and return to the US immediately afterwards. For these cases, a tourist visa obtained in advance from a Chinese embassy or consulate is necessary.
Travel Visa Pro Assists with Visas for China Travel
Whether you’re looking for a work visa and need to know how it will be handled on arrival in China or planning a trip through Shanghai with the 144-hour transit visa, Travel Visa Pro has you covered.
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.
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.
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.
How many countries have visa free Chinese passports?
As of December 2020, [update] Chinese citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 75 countries and territories, ranking the Chinese passport 67th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
How long can Chinese citizens stay in China?
According to Egyptian diplomatic missions in China, Chinese citizens can apply for a visa on arrival since 19 July 2016 and can stay for up 30 days. However, according to IATA, Chinese citizens are visa exempt for 30 days if they hold a return ticket, a reservation in a 4 or 5 star hotel, and US$2000. X.
How long is a visa valid for Macedonia?
National visa may be substituted with a valid visa issued by a Schengen Area member state, the United States, Canada or United Kingdom for stays up to 15 days if the visa is valid for at least five days beyond the period of intended stay in North Macedonia.
How long is a Bolivian visa valid?
Visa valid for up to 90 days can be issued on arrival with evidence of onward tickets or booked hotel. Bolivian embassy in Beijing also confirmed that Chinese nationals can get visa on arrival at airport or land checkpoint on 27 December 2017. Holders of passports for public affairs do not require a visa. X.
Which countries do not allow Israeli passports?
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen do not allow entry to people with passport stamps from Israel or whose passports have either a used or an unused Israeli visa, or where there is evidence of previous travel to Israel such as entry or exit stamps from neighbouring border posts in transit countries such as Jordan and Egypt.
Do I need a visa to travel to Europe?
Do not need a visa a holder of a valid biometric residence permit issued by one of the Schengen member states or a valid multi-entry Schengen Visa, a holder of a valid Laissez-Passer issued by United Nations Organizations, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe or European Union a holder of a valid travel documents issued by EU Member and Schengen States, United States of America, Canada, Australia and Japan based on the 1951 Convention on Refugee Status or the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, as well as holders of valid travel documents for foreigners (max. 15 days stay)
Can Chinese citizens fly without a visa?
Before February 2014, Chinese immigration authorities did not generally allow mainland Chinese citizens to board outbound flights without having a valid visa for the destination country, even if the destination country granted a visa on arrival to Chinese passport holders, unless the exit was approved by the Ministry of Public Security.
