It is very important to know the Chinese visa policy before you start your China tours. This guide will introduce you to the process of getting a Chinese visa for foreign travelers.
Determine the Type of Visa
Foreign tourists coming to China should apply for a tourist visa (L visa), which types include the following:
- 30-day Single Visa: One entry within three months with a stay of 30 days.
- 60-day Single Visa: Entry once within three months and stay for 60 days.
- 6-month Multiple Visa: Multiple entries are allowed within six months, with each stay generally not exceeding 90 days, depending on the visa regulations.
- 12-month Multiple Entry Visa: Multiple entries are allowed within one year, and the duration of each stay, again according to the visa regulations, generally does not exceed 90 days.
Prepare the Application Materials
The passport should be valid for more than 6 months, and prepare a copy of the passport. Fill in the visa application form and print it out. Pay attention to check the passport number, name and pronunciation and other information. You also need to prepare photos that comply with the regulations. Provide hotel booking information and round-trip air ticket order during your private China tours to prove the itinerary.
If you are not traveling individually but are invited by a unit or individual in China, you also need to provide an invitation letter and a copy of the front and back of the inviter’s ID card. If you had Chinese nationality and then joined foreign nationality, you need to provide your original Chinese passport or relevant supporting documents.
Submit the Application
You need to log on to the website of China Visa Application Service Center or the relevant visa application platform, fill in and submit the visa application form online. After that, go to the visa center to apply for the visa.
After preparing all the application documents, go to the China Visa Application Center or embassy or consulate to submit the application according to the appointment time. Be careful to bring along all originals and photocopies, as well as the confirmation page of the online application form.
Wait for Approval
Visa fees are payable at the time of visa application. Please contact the Visa Application Center or the Embassy or Consulate for the exact fee. After submitting the application, you need to wait for the visa center or embassy or consulate to approve the application documents. Approval time is generally 3-7 working days.
After the approval, you may collect the visa as notified by the Visa Center or the Embassy or Consulate. You need to bring along the pick-up slip and identification documents when collecting the visa.
Important Notes
Applicants are required to provide true application information. Providing false information or falsifying application materials is against Chinese law. This will have a direct impact on the approval of the visa application and will result in the person concerned being unable to apply for a visa to China and enter China for a longer period of time or permanently.
The Chinese Embassy will verify the invitation letter issued by the relevant domestic inviting party. If the person provides false information to obtain a visa by fraud, the visa application will no longer be accepted with the invitation letter issued by the inviting party.