China is a popular tourist destination, receiving millions of visitors every year. You may, however, need a visa to enter China if you are not a Chinese citizen.
Who Needs a China Visa?
Most foreign citizens must obtain a visa to enter China. Only citizens of the following countries may enter China without a visa for the duration of time stated:
- Armenia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- San Marino
- Vietnam
- Mauritius
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Mongolia
- Qatar
- Serbia
- Suriname
- Seychelles
- Tonga
- United Arab Emirates
- Brunei
- Japan
- Singapore
Other exemptions
A foreign citizen can also enter China without a visa under one of the following circumstances:
- When holding an ordinary passport issued by any of the following countries and if they join a tourist group organized by an international travel agency registered in Hainan with the approval of the China National Tourism Administration to visit Hainan Province and their stay is no more than 15 days:
- Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK, Ukraine, and the United States of America.
- Citizens of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Turkmenistan who are travelling as part of a tour with a tour company which is registered in both countries. A representative from the tour operator must be present during the trip.
- When transiting through China by air, and they will stay at the airport for less than 24 hours and have a valid connecting ticket to the destination.
- When transiting through Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Chengdu within 72 hours.
- When having passports issued by countries with diplomatic relations with China and if they are already in Hong Kong or Macao and join a tourist group organized by a travel agency with registration in either Hong Kong or Macao for a trip to the Pearl River Delta region for no more than 6 days.
- Citizens of Germany, the Republic of Korea, and Russia may join an international tourist group (of 2 or more persons) and can stay up to 21 days.
- Holders of a valid APEC business travel card.
- Holders of a Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Card Holders.
- Holders of a Residence Permit for Foreigners issued by the Ministry of Public Security.
- If you are from a country that has reached a bilateral agreement with China.
Keep in mind that if you want to go to Hong Kong, you have to apply for a Hong Kong visa. The reason for this circumstance is that Hong Kong has its own entry regulations as a Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Types of Visas in China
There are four types of Chinese visas: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa, and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are further divided into the following categories:
- F Visa. An F China visa is issued to those invited to China for exchanges, visits, study hours, and other activities.
- M Visa. An M China visa is issued to those invited to China for commercial and trade activities.
- L Visa. An L China visa is issued to those traveling to China for tourism.
- Q Visa. Is issued to foreigners who are family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents. Depending on the length of stay and eligibility of the applicant, the China family visa has two subclasses of the Q visa; Q1, and Q2:
- Q1 Visa. Is issued to foreigners who are family members of Chinese citizens or those with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for a long-term family reunion. Moreover, the visa is also for those who intend to go to China for foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
- Q2 Visa. The Q2 visa is issued to those who intend to visit relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The visa is valid for 180 days.
- S1 Visa. The S1 China visa is issued to relatives of foreigners working or studying in China for long-term visits or to those who intend to visit China for other private reasons. You can stay in China with this visa exceeding 180 days.
- S2 Visa. Issued to those wishing to visit family members who are foreigners working or studying in China for other reasons. The validity of the visa is 180 days.
- Z Visa. The Z visa is issued to those taking up a post or employment or giving commercial performances in China.
- G Visa. Issued to those who are going to transit through China en route to a third country or region.
- C Visa is issued to foreign crew members of aircraft, trains, and ships, motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, and the accompanying family members of the crew members.
- X1 Visa. The X1 visa is issued to students who want to study in China for more than 180 days.
- X2 Visa. The X2 visa is issued to students who want to study in China for up to 180 days.
- R Visa. The R visa is for foreigners who are high-level qualified talents or whose skills are urgently needed by China.
- J1 Visa. China offers a J1 visa to resident foreign journalists/media staff or foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
- J2 Visa. A J2 visa is offered to foreign journalists or media staff on temporary news coverage missions. The visa is valid for 180 days.
- D Visa. The D visa is issued to those who are going to reside permanently in China.
How to Get a China Visa?
You should apply for a China visa at the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate by following these simple steps:
- Choose which type of visa you need to apply for. Determine which visa type you need depending on the purpose of your visit to China, and check whether you are eligible for it.
- Book an appointment with the Chinese embassy or consulate. You must locate the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate. You should make an appointment weeks beforehand because, depending on your nationality, the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate might be in a neighboring country.
- Complete the application form. You can find the application form online. Choose which application form is applicable to you depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Download the form and fill it out truthfully. Then put it together with the other required documents.
- Collect the required documents. The list of documents will depend on the type of visa you are applying for, but the standard list of documents can be found in the section under “What Are the Requirements for a China Visa?”.
- Attend the visa appointment. At the appointment, you will have to submit the application form with the required documents and have collected your biometric information. In addition, certain applicants will go through an interview. Children under the age of 14 and adults above the age of 70 are not required for biometric information collection. All documents will be mailed back to you in the return envelope.
- Pay the application fee. The visa application fee depends on the type of visa, the number of entries, and your nationality.
- Wait for a decision from the embassy or consulate. The processing time for a China visa is approximately 4 working days. But, if you pay extra fees for express service, you can expect your visa to be processed in 3 working days.
- Collect your passport and visa. After your application has been approved, you can go back to the embassy or consulate and get your passport, which has your China visa.
What Are the Requirements for a China Visa?
The list of documents you need to have when applying for a China visa includes the following:
- A valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the length of your requested visa and contain at least two blank pages for the visa stamp. Moreover, it should not be frayed, torn, or altered in any way.
- One fully completed and signed visa application form. The application must be completed online, be printed single-sided, be date-stamped, and be signed in blue or black ink.
- A passport photo. You must provide one color passport photo taken within the last six months against an all-white background and printed on high-quality photo paper. The dimensions must be 48mmx33mm.
- Proof of legal stay or residence status. You must provide proof of your current residency address. The documents you can use are either a copy of the front of your driver’s license, government ID, or utility bill.
- Previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (if applicable).
- Certificate of covid-19 vaccination.
- Proof of round trip flight or departing flight. The documents must state the dates of entry and departure.
- Proof of accommodation. You need a rental agreement, a lease, or any other document that proves your accommodation.
- Documentation detailing the itinerary plans for the trip.
How Long Is a China Visa Valid?
The validity of a China visa is the period between the “Issue Date” and “Enter Before” date shown on your visa. It is usually 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and sometimes even 10 years.
Can I Get a 10-Year Visa for China?
The 10-year China visa allows holders to enter China multiple times during the validity of up to 10 years without the trouble of applying for visas constantly.
Currently, the 10-year multiple entry China visa is applicable to citizens from the US, Canada, the UK, and Argentina. The 10-year China visa for Australians is on the way, according to some reports, but it is not yet clear when it will happen.
How Much Does a China Visa Cost?
The fees for a China visa are:
| Single Entry | Double Entries | Multiple Entries 6 months | Multiple entries 12 months |
| ¥284 ($39.49/€39.28) | ¥430 ($59.88/€59.55) | ¥568 ($78.99/€78.59) | ¥850 ($118.48/€117.89) |
You have to keep in mind that the visa fees will vary on the nationality you have. In the article China Visa Fees , you can find out how much you have to pay when applying for a China visa from your country of residence.
How Long Does It Take to Get a China Visa?
The processing time for a China visa is approximately 4 working days, including the submission day. However, if you pay extra fees for express service, you can expect your visa to be processed in 3 working days.
What Would Be the Best Time to Apply for a China Visa?
It is advised that you apply for a visa one month before the date you plan to enter China, but not three months beforehand. If you apply too early, your visa might expire before the date you plan to depart for China; but if you apply too late, you might not be able to get a visa in time for your planned departure.
What if My Visa Gets Rejected?
If your visa application gets rejected, you can appeal the rejection and add more details to update your application. Depending on the situation, consular officers may decide whether to review the application.
As an alternative, you may reapply for your China visa. Using a visa agency is recommended if you are reapplying since they are more professional and familiar with the process. You can reapply after three months of rejection.
In addition, keep in mind that the visa fee is not refundable if your visa is denied.