Passport requirement
Visitors must present their original passport with at least six months’ remaining validity and at least two blank pages for the visa.
How to get a Chinese visa
- Do you need a visa for China?
The first thing to do is to check whether you need a visa to visit China. You will generally need to apply for a Chinese visa unless you meet the criteria of one of China’s visa-free policies.
For example, if you are travelling through China, you may be able to take advantage of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy. - Find out which visa you need
China offers a number of different visas, and you’ll need to choose the one that applies to your situation. If you’re planning to go on holiday to China, apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa). - Prepare the required documents
The following documents are usually required as part of the visa application.
Basic documents:
A. A valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you enter China.
B. A completed visa application form and a recent passport-sized photograph.
C. Proof of legal residence (for applicants not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship).
Additional documents:
A. Details of your planned visit (including arrival and departure dates, itinerary, accommodation arrangements, and so on)
B. Evidence of your flight reservation (round-trip) and hotel reservations.
C. An invitation letter issued by a Chinese travel agency (or another authorized organization) or an individual in China.
If necessary, the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa centre may require more additional documents. - Where to submit your application
In many countries, you need to apply for your visa at your local Chinese Visa Application Service Centre via the website https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/. Fill in your application online at this website and then make an appointment to submit the application at the centre. You should submit your application at least four weeks in advance of your planned arrival date.
Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
- If there is no visa centre covering your area, you can go to the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate in your country. Please go in person or ask an agent to handle it on your behalf.
Starting from 2018, visa applicants from more and more countries have to make their visa application in person and have their fingerprints collected. - Collecting your visa
Once your visa is approved, you will generally have to return to the centre and pay the visa fee to collect your passport and visa.
Invitation Letters
The invitation letter is one of the main supporting documents you need to submit when applying for a visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate. The letter serves to explain your reasons for travelling to China and provides details of the planned visit. The invitation letter should be issued by a Chinese travel agency, company, or educational institution in China. Generally speaking, the invitation letter should include the details of the applicant, inviting party, and the invitation content.
China Visa-Free Transit Policies
- Visa-Free Transit
On December 17, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that it will fully relax and optimize the visa-free transit policy, which is effective immediately.
– The stay duration for foreign nationals eligible for visa-free transit has been extended from the previous 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days).
– 21 ports of entry and exit have been added for visa-free transit individuals, further expanding the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers. The number of opened ports has increased from the original 39 to 60.
– The fully relaxed and optimized 240-hour visa-free transit policy has further expanded the allowed areas for visa-free transit travelers. The number of provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) that can be visited under this policy has increased from the original 19 (Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Heilongjiang Province, Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Shandong Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province, and Shaanxi Province) to 24 (with Shanxi Province, Anhui Province, Jiangxi Province, Hainan Province, and Guizhou Province added to the list).
Eligible countries and regions
Citizens of the following 55 countries (regions) holding ordinary passports can apply for a 240-hour transit visa exemption:
Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Croatia, and Norway.
Other European countries: Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Monaco.
American countries: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
Oceanian countries: Australia and New Zealand
Asian countries: The Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia.
For details: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202506/content_7027405.htm
China will trial a policy granting ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain visa-free entry into China up to 30 days from June 9, 2025, to June 8, 2026. - Unilateral Visa Exemption Policy
As of now, nationals of 38 countries including Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan holding valid ordinary passports can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting family and friends, and transit purposes for up to 30 days. Travelers from these countries not meeting the visa exemption criteria must obtain a visa before entering China.
Q&A: What to know about China’s visa-free policies. - Comprehensive Mutual Visa Exemption
As of now, China enjoys comprehensive mutual visa exemptions with 157 countries. These countries include Singapore, Maldives, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Albania, the United Arab Emirates, Barbados, the Bahamas, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Mauritius, Serbia, Seychelles, San Marino, Suriname, Tonga, and Armenia etc.
List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries
