China Tourist visa

Required Documents for China Visa

• Passport
  • Valid for at least 6 months and with blank pages for visa
  • Photocopy of data page and photo page (only if pages are separate)
• Copy of previous passport’s data page, photo page, and previous Chinese visa pages (only applicable for applicants who have previously applied and obtained Chinese visas)
  • If applicant’s name differs on the current passport from that on the previous passport, an official document of name change must be submitted
• Completed visa application form
• Photo:
  • Paper Photo
    • Colored, 33mm x 48mm in size, taken within 6 months, and with white or off-white background with no borders
    • Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and ears visible; frontal view with entire head and face clearly visible; head width to be between 15 mm and 22mm; and head height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head to be between 28mm and 33mm
    • Space between crown and the photo’s upper edge to be between 3mm and 5mm, and space between chin and bottom edge of the photo should be equal to or more than 7mm
  • Digital Photo
    • Colored, between 354 pixels x 472 pixels and 420 pixels x 560 pixels, in JPEG form, and size between 40KB and 120KB.
    • Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and ears visible; frontal view with entire head and face clearly visible; head width at 205 pixels
    • Space between crown and the photo’s upper edge to be between 10 and 70 pixels, and distance from the bottom edge to the horizontal line through the center of the eyes should be greater than 256 pixels.
• Hotel reservations
• Proof of return to country of residence or forward ticket to another country
• Invitation letter that contains the following information (only to be submitted in lieu of itinerary)
  • The name, gender, passport number, and birthday of the applicant
  • Arrival and departure date, tourism destinations, and expenditure arrangement
  • Inviter’s name, address, contact number, and signature
• Applicants submitting visa applications in countries other than their country of citizenship should provide the following:
  • Proof of residence
  • Valid certificates or visa of stay
  • Employment or student status
  • Other valid certificates provided by legal authorities that prove legal stay
• Photocopy of previous Chinese visas or passports (only for Chinese citizens who have obtained foreign citizenships)

China Visa Application Steps

Applications for a Chinese visa can only be submitted through official Visa Application Centers (VAC), and may be submitted in person by the applicant or through an agent. However, applicants may be required to appear in person at the VAC for an interview.

China Visa Fees

The cost of a standard visitor visa is $30 for a single entry. However, the visa fee may vary according to the number of entries and the nationality of the applicant. Additional fees might apply for rush visa processing.

When to Apply

Applicants are advised to submit their visa applications a month before their intended departure date.

Where to Apply

Applicants for a Chinese visa may be submitted through the (VAC), Consulate, or Embassy and may be submitted in person by the applicant or by a third-party authorized by the applicant. However, applicants may be required to appear in person at the VAC, Consulate, or Embassy for an interview.

China Visa Processing Time

The estimated processing time for Chinese visa applications is within 4 to 5 business days of application. However, there may be times when some applications take more than 5 business days to process. When this happens, no collection date will be marked on the collection slip. Applicants will be informed on their collection date on the spot or after they submit their applications.

For approved visa applications:

The passport and visa can be collected by anyone in possession of the original collection slip on the date or a later date written on the slip, unless otherwise informed by the VAC.

Applicants must ensure that the information on the visa is complete and valid upon collection.