HOME>Travel ArticlesViews:47 Update:2025-04-21
How to Apply for a China Visa — a Step-by-Step Guide
Traveling to China just got easier for many visitors as the country loosens its visa requirements.
Before you plan your China trip, start by determining if you need a visa.
● Check if you qualify for visa-free entry
● If a visa is required, follow the steps
The policies mentioned below are among the most popular visa-free options for travelers to China.
Citizens from 38 countries can enjoy a 30-day visa-free policy for visits to China. You can check if your country is on the following list:
● Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland
● Asia: Brunei, Japan, South Korea
● Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
Countries with mutual visa exemption agreements with China can also enjoy a 30-day visa-free stay. These countries include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, and others.
Citizens from 54 Countries can enjoy a 10-day visa-free transit policy. (11 days including the arrival day). If you are from one of the eligible countries, you could visit most cities and regions in China:
● Americans: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the Republic of Chile, the United States
● European citizens: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom
● Oceanians: Australia, New Zealand
● Asians: Brunei, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates
There are many types of China visas. Choose a visa type that applies to your situation. If you are planning to go on a vacation in China, apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa).
The following list of documents is required for any China visa application:
● A valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you enter China.
● A complete visa application form
● A recent passport-type photograph (head and shoulders only, front view, with a white background, approximately 48mmx33mm)
Along with the aforementioned generally required documents, several additional documents are required depending upon the type of China visa applied for. Check out the lists of required documents from the Chinese Embassy.
The applicant will submit the prepared materials to the embassy.
Starting in 2018, visa applicants from more and more countries (including the U.S., the UK, and Canada) have to make their visa application in person and have their fingerprints collected.
The fees vary enormously depending on your nationality and number of entries. Here we listed China visa prices for some countries for your reference. It may change based on the updated policies.
| Nationality | Number of Entries | Regular Application |
|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Single Entry Double Entries Multiple Entries for 6 Months Multiple Entries for 1 Year & above |
USD 140 |
| UK Citizens | GBP 64 | |
| Canada Citizens | CAD 100 | |
| Australian Citizens | AUD 95-185 |
Generally, it takes about four working days to process a visa application.
When to apply for a visa: It is usually recommended that you apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel.
If you need to apply for a visa to China but prefer not to spend time preparing materials and visiting the embassy in person, applying for a port visa can be your best choice. The cost is approximately $100 — half, or even less, than what you'd pay for a visa in your home country.
