The Chinese Visa for your Trip to China
Applying for a Chinese visa is necessary when travelling on vacation trip or to visit a relative or living in China or on a business trip.
Usually, you can apply for the necessary Chinese visa online/ at the nearest Chinese consulate in the country of your residence.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Chinese Visa
It is advisable to check the Chinese visa requirements, before applying for your visa to China.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when obtaining the visa for China:
- You do not plan to carry out volunteer job that can otherwise be undertaken by a paid worker in China.
- You do not intend to participate in a work relationship in China.
- You do not plan to offer services to Chinese organisations (this is permitted with a Chinese work visa or business visa).
- You do not mean to give or sell product or services to consumers in China.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the China Government.
- You do not pose a risk to the health or safety of the people of China.
- You have the ability to demonstrate that you have enough financial resources to finance your stay and return from China.
Do you require a Chinese visa?
It relies on your nationality and also the type of travel document you are using to take a trip to China.Please visit here to check if you need a Chinese visa.
Who can request a Chinese visa?
Any individual hoping to go on vacation to China can make an application for a Chinese visa.
There are several kinds of visa for China which you can use as a traveller to China. If you are unsure which sort of Chinese visa you require to apply, please contact the closest Chinese visa office to get further clarification as goal of this page is to offer you basic overview when looking for Chinese visa.
What kind of Chinese visa do I need?
This depends on 3 factors:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to China or eligible to get a visa on arrival in China, then you may not require to apply for a Chinese visa prior to leaving from your home country. Please click on this link to check if you need a Chinese visa.
- The length of your trip in China – If you want to stay in China for a much shorter period less than 90 days, then you can obtain the Chinese visa. If you like to remain longer, then speak to the closest Chinese visa office to find the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you hope to carry out in China – If your sole reason of taking a trip is for vacation, then you can apply for all types of Chinese visas mentioned on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get Chinese Tourist Visa
- Tourist visa application form for China – Completed Chinese visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to going into China and three months after leaving China. It must contain at least 2 spare visa web pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo should be no older than six months and need to be 35 x 40mm in width.
- Previous passport – Supply a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Chinese visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to China – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some situations the Chinese visa office might request for pre-paid flight tickets to China.
- Travel insurance coverage – Proof of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Chinese consular office provided with the Certification of Insurance coverage and the table of benefits. The travel insurance must cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency should be issued by an insurance company. If you are thinking of using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to China, please get in touch with Chinese embassy for more information and travel insurance requirements for the Chinese visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover your trip in China. If statements are printed online then it has to be Confirmed (marked) by the financial institution officials.
- Hotel Reservations in China – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In the majority of situations, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter needs to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, confirming your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly salary and yearly leave. Also, please provide your 3 most recent pay slips. If you are self-employed: give certified copies of business registration, tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Proof of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance policy from Organisation/University– Offer a letter from the University specifying the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance for the whole trip together with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for Chinese visa must be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no later than 15 days, before the trip.