China Tourist Visa

If you are in transit for 24, 72, or 144 hours (now extended to 240 hours as of December 17, 2024), and at one of the designated international airports and ports in China, you may qualify for visa free travel. Referred to as the China Transit Visa, foreign travelers from certain countries can take advantage of the convenience of this visa, which can be obtained on arrival. Be aware, you must have an air ticket to a third destination with a confirmed date of flight and seat, and must stay within the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers. There are 60 open ports in the 24 provinces for visa-free transit, including the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Kunming, Xi’an, Xiamen, Wuhan, Harbin, Qingdao, Changsha, and some other specified regions.

If your travels in China extend beyond the destinations in the List of Ports and Allowed areas for visa-free transit under 240 hours, you will require a visa.

(Learn more about China Transit Visa in the article below.)

In addition to the 23 countries signed the bilateral agreements with China (including Singapore and Thailand), China has extended the unilateral visa-free policy to 38 countries including Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. From November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these countries can be exempted from Visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visit, exchange visit and transit purposes. Those who do not meet the purposes of visit and time limit for visa free policy are still required to apply for Visas to China.

(Find more information in the article of China Visa Free Entry listed below.)

There are numerous visas available for travelers into China, however they fall into four main categories: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa, ordinary visa. If you are traveling as a tourist, you will need an ordinary visa (L). You can learn more about the details of specific visa types on the Visa for China page of the China embassy in your country.

A China visa application can seem like a lot of paperwork, so take care to assemble everything you need in advance of submitting your application. Here are just a few things you’ll need for your application:

• An original passport with 6 months validity and at least two blank visa pages
• A copy of the passport’s data page and the photo page (if it is separate).
• A completed Visa Application Form with genuine and accurate information about the applicant.
• One color passport-size photo (48mm x 33mm, taken within 6 months, full face, front view against a light background).
• Supporting documents, as required.
• Specific to a China Tourist Visa application is the provision of copies of all your travel itinerary documents, including air tickets and hotel reservations. An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity (for example, a travel agency) or individual in China is also required.

If you think clarification on the details might be helpful, you’re right, it will be! Questions regarding the specifics of a China visa application should be directed to your local Chinese embassy or China Visa Application Center.

To make the application itself, you will need to make your submission at a Chinese Embassy or a Chinese Consulate-General in the USA, or at a China Visa Application Service Centre (only for an ordinary visa application) in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries. Documents can be submitted by post or in person, however, it’s wise to check with relevant China visa issuing authorities in your country for the most up to date information. We strongly recommend you confirm with the China Embassy or Consulate in your country as to whether they accept applications via post or in person.

Visa fees can be paid via credit card (Visa, MasterCard), money order, cashier’s or company’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.

Remember to allow plenty of time for your visa application. It is wise to allow between 30 and 45 days in advance of your travel date. In the event you need to prepare additional information, this will allow sufficient time to address the requirements.

Visa processing usually takes approximately three to five working days. Once your visa is processed, you will be notified. You will then need to visit the China Visa Application Service Centre (in the UK, Australia or other countries) to collect your passport with the visa. A mail out service may be available, however you will need to confirm this at the time of submission.