Hey there, fellow travelers! Today I’m in Beijing, China. I’m teaching here for a few weeks, and having a great time. China is an amazing country, and the people are wonderful. But the process of getting a Chinese Visa keeps a lot of people from visiting. You have to have a visa to visit China, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. Keep in mind, this whole process starts long before your trip; China does not issue visas on arrival like some other countries. So, let’s get started on the process of how to get a visa for China?
What Do I Need for a China Visa Application?
First, you will need a valid passport. Your passport needs to be valid for six months after you return from China. If you don’t have a passport, you cannot move forward with the China visa application. So, getting a passport or renewing your existing passport, is the first step. Here is a brief checklist for the China visa application; we’ll go into more details on these things below.
Checklist:
- Valid Passport (including your signature)
- Photocopy of passport
- Additional Passport pictures
- Completed visa application
- Travel documents (flights and hotels)
- Visa application fee
Which China Visa Application Do I Need?
For tourists, you will need the tourist visa. This is the China Tourist Visa (L) that allows tourists to stay up to 30 days with a single entry visa. If you plan to leave China and return, say for a day trip to Hong Kong, you will need to get a double entry visa. Make sure you read through all of the options to choose the one that applies best for you. A China visa service can help with this; more on that below.
The application is pretty extensive, so allow some time to sit down and answer all of the questions. Some things you need to provide include:
- Your name
- Family name
- Where you will be staying
- Who is paying for your trip
- Why you are visiting
- Which visa you are applying for
How Should I Fill Out the China Visa Application?
When you pull up the form online, it will open a PDF file for you. It’s best to fill this out on your computer and print it out with your answers typed in. If you can’t do this on your computer, then make sure you use a black ink pen and write in all capital letters on your application. If something doesn’t apply to you, write “none” in the application. Do not leave anything blank, or your application may be returned.
Read: Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About China
What is Required for the Visa Photo?
You will need to send in photos with your visa application. They are the same requirements as a passport photo.
- Plain, light background
- Nothing covering your head or ears
- No glasses
What Travel Documents do I Need?
You will need to provide your travel itinerary along with your visa application. This includes your flight confirmations showing your arrival date and departure from China. You will also need to provide full details of where you are staying. This means you will need to book your hotels before you apply for your visa. (You can change them later if needed, but you must have something to send with your application.)
What if I am Staying with Friends or Family?
If you are not staying at a hotel, and plan to stay with friends or family in China, they will need to submit an invitation. You can get a sample letter online. Always verify with the consulate website to find out what must be included.
How Much Does the China Visa Cost?
Yes, you have to pay a fee for the privilege of all this paperwork! The price ranges from $145 to $165 and will vary based on how quickly you need the visa returned to you. The typical turnaround time is 5-6 business days, but you can pay more to expedite the processing.
What Do I Do With the China Visa Application?
For many people, it’s a matter of finding the nearest Chinese Embassy or consulate-general where you can drop off your paperwork. The Embassy is in Washington DC, while the consulates-general are located in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston. If you don’t live near one of these places, the easiest thing to do is to use a China visa service that will do all of the work for you.
How Does a China Visa Service Work?
The extra convenience will cost you, but it’s worth it. Using a visa service, you mail everything to them, they review it all to ensure you’ve filled out everything correctly, and they will walk you through anything you need to review. They will then hand deliver your application to the local consulate, and pick it up when ready, then mail everything back to you. When our family of four traveled to China, we used a visa service to simplify the process. (Mailing your passport can be nerve-wracking; I recommend using FedEx so you can track your documents every step of the way.)
What Do I Do With The Chinese Visa?
It’s actually a sticker that takes up a page in your passport book. Once you arrive in China, you’ll produce your passport, with the visa inserted, get a stamp and be on your way.
Read: Customs Clearance When Flying Abroad
Yes, getting a Chinese visa is a bit of a hassle, but it’s totally worth it. You won’t regret going through with the process once you land in this amazing country. If you’re ready to start planning your trip to China, check out some of these other blog posts and videos: