China visa information

Author: Mike Cairnduff | Last updated: Jan. 7, 2025

But if you do need a Chinese visa, it’s best to be prepared and apply for it early.

Whether you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to China, or you’re moving there for study or work, here’s what you need to know.

Do I need a visa for China?

You may need a visa when you go to China, but there are many exceptions.

It depends on:

• What country you’re from
• Why you’re going (e.g. travel vs work)
• How long you’re going for.

I’ll start with the most exciting new visa initiative, which has recently seen a big uptick in visitors to China.

Visa-free entry for 38 countries

Germans are among the lucky few who can travel visa-free to China. Image by Wirestock Creators on Shutterstock.

Great news!

You can now spend up to 30 days in China visa-free if you have a passport from one of these 38 countries:

You can enter China visa-free for any of these reasons:

• Tourism
• Transit
• Business
• Exchange visit
• Family visit.

The visa-free policy lasts until 31 December 2025.

Make sure you come and visit China before the trial finishes!

Visa-free transit for certain countries

What if your country doesn’t appear in the table above?

Don’t worry – you can now see many parts of China for up to 144 hours (six days) without getting a visa before you leave home.

Known as Visa-Free Transit, it’s a great way of seeing China without the hassle or expense of a traditional visa.

You simply apply for it when you arrive in China, e.g. at the airport, while you stopover.

There are some rules with this visa exemption. For example:

• You need to be transiting through China on the way to another country (e.g. your itinerary is something like this: Los Angeles – Shanghai – Tokyo – Los Angeles)
• The amount of time you can spend in China depends on which Chinese city you arrive in
• You must be from an approved country.

To find out if you’re eligible for Visa-Free Transit, tap on the button below:

Note: it’s a Chinese government website and will open up in a new window.

If your country or stopover location isn’t listed, it means you’re ineligible for Visa-Free Transit.

Tourist visa for China

The L visa is for travel in China. Image by i viewfinder on Shutterstock.

If the above options don’t apply to you, or you want to spend more time traveling in China, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa.

This is the most common visa for China, and is known as the L visa.

With an L visa, you can travel throughout China for up to 60 days. The exception is Tibet, which requires a separate, special permit.

To get a China Tourist L Visa with the help of a visa agent, click on the button below.

This saves the hassle of doing it yourself (I talk more about applying further down).

If you’re travelling with a tour group, then your tour agent may organize a group tourist visa. This means that you won’t have an individual visa in your passport.

However, if you want to travel solo in China then you’ll need to apply for your own L visa.

Work visa for China

If you want to live and work in China, then you’ll need a Z visa.

You must be invited from an employer to apply for a Z visa.

You can get a Z visa for anywhere between 90 days and five years. It depends on the length of your work contract and the discretion of the Chinese consulate you apply to.

You need to be younger than age 60 to work in China as a foreigner, and most employers will need you to enter the country by the time you’re 55.

Once you arrive in China, your employer will help you get a temporary residence permit.

Study visa for China

Want to study in China? Then you’ll need an X visa.

An X2 visa is for a study period of up to six months, while an X1 visa is for more than six months.

You’ll need to grab a special form from the school, as well as a letter of admission. Chat with your school for more details.

How to apply for a China visa

Canada is one of the participating countries for easy visa processing. Image by Jaimie Harmsen on Unsplash.

In many countries, the China Visa Application Service Center can process your visa application, rather than the nearest Chinese consulate or embassy.

So, if you’re from the UK or Canada (or one of the many other participating countries), simply apply directly at the China Visa Application Service Center.

Note that the Service Center does not exist in the United States.

If you are American and want a Chinese visa, you’ll need to visit your nearest consulate in person. The locations are Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you don’t live anywhere near one of these cities, then you can pay a visa agent to get the visa on your behalf. I recommend this one:

Citizens of all other countries not serviced by the China Visa Application Service Center should contact their nearest consulate or embassy.

And remember, if you’re eligible for Visa-Free Entry or Visa-Free Transit (as outlined above) then you don’t need to use the China Visa Application Service Center at all.

You simply turn up in China with your valid passport and confirmed accommodation bookings.

China tourist visa requirements

For a tourist (L) visa, here are the main things you usually need:

• Valid passport (at least 6 months remaining on it)
• Passport-sized photo with a white background
• Proof of your trip, like return airfare and China hotel bookings
• A completed application form.

The requirements may differ slightly depending on where you’re from. Follow the instructions on the application carefully or get the help of a visa agent.

If you submit incorrect or incomplete information, your application may be rejected or delayed.

That’s why it’s important to get your application right the first time, especially if you plan on traveling to China soon.

How much does a Chinese visa cost?

It varies depending on your nationality and the kind of visa you’re applying for.

For example, you can get a tourist (L) visa starting from:

• US$140 for US citizens
• £151 for UK citizens
• AUD$94.50 for Australian citizens

You can also pay a rush fee to get your visa expedited.

Visa exceptions

If you’re utilizing Visa-Free Transit, you don’t need to worry about a visa for China. Image by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash.

As I mentioned earlier, not everyone needs a visa to go to China. The main exceptions are Visa-Free Entry and Visa-Free Transit for certain passport holders.

But there are other exceptions, including:

• If you’re traveling from Hong Kong or Macau to the Pearl River Delta region (e.g. Shenzhen or Guangzhou) for up to six days and the trip is arranged by a local Chinese travel agency
• You’ve booked a trip to Hainan (with a local travel agency) of up to 30 days, and you’re from an approved country
• You’re part of a tour group from an ASEAN country visiting the city of Guilin for up to six days.

You can refer to this page for more on visa-free entry into mainland China.

Need help?

If you need a Chinese visa, remember to apply early as the process can take time.

Consider getting help from a visa agent like iVisa.

It may cost a bit more than if you do it yourself, but it’ll save you time, effort and worry.

The visa agent will even stand in line at the consulate for you!

Next, discover the amazing provinces in China you can visit, from Inner Mongolia in the north to Guangdong in the south.

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