China Visa

Most visitors, whether for sightseeing or business purposes, need to apply for a China visa in advance, unless they are eligible for visa exemption policies. The necessary documents for a China visa application include a passport, an application form, a recent bareheaded photo, round-trip tickets, a travel itinerary and any other documents as required by the Chinese embassy or consulate. The cost varies in different countries. For US citizens, a China visa application costs 140 dollars.
 

Before working out your China travel plan, it is important to check whether you are covered by the visa-free policies in China.

Citizens of 12 countries, including France, Germany, and Italy can travel to China without a visa and stay for as long as 15 days. Mutual Visa Exemption between China and 23 countries including Singapore, Thailand, Qatar and UAE stipulates citizens of these countries stay in China for less than 15 days/ 30 days/ 90 days every 180 days without visa. For a majority of foreign visitors from other countries, the visa is obligatory, even if you hold a US, UK, or Canadian passport.

However, if you meet the requirements, you may still enjoy visa-free travel by taking advantage of favorable visa-free schemes. Currently, visa-free transit options ranging from 24 to 144 hours have been adopted in quite a number of China's major tourist destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, enabling tourists to take a short tour in China.

144-hour visa-free transit	For 54 countries	Available in Guangdong, Beijing, Xi'an, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Dalian, Shenyang, Chengdu, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Chongqing and Kunming
72-hour visa-free transit	For 54 countries	Available in Harbin, Guilin and Changsha
24-hour Direct Transit	For almost all countries	Available in most China ports

If you wish to plan a longer stay, a China visa should be obtained.

 See more about: Do I Need A Visa for Guangzhou If Traveling from Hong Kong?
 

 Step 1: Collect all the documents you need, including a passport valid for at least six months and with blank pages and a fully type-written China visa application form. If applying for a tourist visa, round-trip tickets and hotel bookings are also required. If you have booked a tour with a China agency, they will issue you with an invitation letter, which will be of great help to smooth the process.

 Step 2: Make an appoinment with Chinese embassy, consulate, or Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) and submit all documents at the appoinmented time. 

 Step 3: Collect your passport and visa on the date shown on the pick-up slip and pay the fee. You may be required to pay the fee when submitting the application. 
 

The China visa fee is determined by factors such as your nationality, required number of entries, and whether you use express services. Here is a price schedule for your reference.
 

China Travel Visa Types	US Citizens	Canadian Citizens	UK Citizens	Australian Citizens
Single Entry	USD 185	CAD 142	GBP 151	AUD 109.5
Double Entries	USD 185	CAD 142	GBP 151	AUD 139.5
Multi Entries for 6 Months	USD 185	CAD 142	GBP 151	AUD 169.5
Multi Entries for 12 Months or Longer	USD 185	CAD 142	GBP 151	AUD 229.5

* Click China Visa Fees to know more details.
 

In normal cases, the application takes four working days to process. If you use urgent service, you may get the visa on the same day you submit the application. If using express service, you need to wait for two or three working days. Should your demand for fast service get refused, it is advised to start preparing the visa early to avoid delays and complications.