China Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a Tourist visa (L visa) to visit China for tourism or business. A short-stay tourist visa allows up to 30–60 days per entry. Some nationalities can enter China visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
China visa at a glance
- Government fee
- The official China visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for China?
Check the visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
China visa types
- Tourist visa (L visa)
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — 30-60 days per entry
- Business visa (M visa)
- Business meetings, conferences — Varies
- Transit visa (G visa)
- Passing through China to a third country — Per transit rules
- Student visa (X visa)
- Long-term study — Duration of program
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for China depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter China visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically 15–90 days depending on the agreement.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa or visa on arrival for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a China visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist visa (L visa) · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed visa application form (online at visasforchina.cn)Tourist visa (L visa) · Completed visa application form (online at visasforchina.cn).
- Recent passport photo (48x33 mm, white background, no glasses)Tourist visa (L visa) · Recent passport photo (48x33 mm, white background, no glasses).
- Flight itineraryTourist visa (L visa) · return flight reservation.
- Hotel bookingTourist visa (L visa) · confirmed accommodation or invitation letter.
- Bank statementsTourist visa (L visa) · 3 months showing sufficient funds.
- Employment letterTourist visa (L visa) · proving job and income.
- Valid passportBusiness visa (M visa) · 6+ months validity.
- Completed visa application formBusiness visa (M visa) · Completed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness visa (M visa) · Recent passport photo.
- Business invitation letter from a Chinese companyBusiness visa (M visa) · Business invitation letter from a Chinese company.
- Company registration or trade licenseBusiness visa (M visa) · Company registration or trade license.
- Proof of travel itinerary and accommodationBusiness visa (M visa) · Proof of travel itinerary and accommodation.
China visa fees and processing time
- Processing fee
- Expedify's fee for checking, preparing, and filing your application — Expedify — fixed, shown upfront
- Government fee
- The official China visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Total
- Processing fee + government fee — What you pay — shown before you start
- Tourist visa (L visa)
- 4–7 working days
- Business visa (M visa)
- 4–7 working days
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a China visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the visa-exemption list for your nationality with the China immigration authority.
Get the current form and checklist from the embassy or immigration authority for your country
Get the current form and checklist from the embassy or immigration authority for your country.
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist.
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center.
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check China's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into China is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or visa-exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa without a residence permit.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a China visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Passport validity issues
passport not meeting the 6+ month validity requirement.
Frequently asked questions
China visa questions, answered.
More for your China trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.