The Chinese Tourist Visa for your Holiday or Visiting a Family
If you are thinking of going to China as a tourist or to meet a relative or friend, then applying for a Chinese holiday visa can become a necessary task.
Usually, a visitor can apply for the required Chinese tourist visa online/ at the nearest Chinese consulate in the country where you live, for a stay in China of up to 3 months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Chinese Tourist Visa
Before applying for a tourist visa for China, it is advised you check whether you can apply for the Chinese tourist visa.
A brief list of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the tourist visa for China:
- You do not expect to carry out volunteer job that may otherwise be done by a paid worker in China.
- You do not intend to participate in a work relationship in China.
- You do not plan to provide services to Chinese organisations (this is allowed with a Chinese work visa or business visa).
- You do not mean to offer or market services or products to consumers in China.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the China Government.
- You do not present a threat to the health or safety and security of the people of China.
- You have the ability to demonstrate that you have enough funds to cover your visit and return from China.
Do I require a Chinese tourist visa?
It relies on your nationality as well as the type of travel document you are using to travel to China.Please click here to verify if you require a Chinese visa.
Who can apply for a Chinese tourist visa?
Anyone wanting to go on vacation to China can request a Chinese tourist visa.
There are several types of visa for China which you can use as a traveller to China. If you are unsure which kind of Chinese tourist visa you need to apply, please call the closest Chinese visa office to get further clarification as aim of this web page is to provide you general overview when requesting Chinese tourist visa.
What kind of Chinese visa do I need?
This depends on three things:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to China or eligible to obtain a visa on arrival in China, then you may not require to make an application for a Chinese tourist visa before departure from your home country. Please go here to check if you need a Chinese visa.
- The length of your stay in China – If you wish to remain in China for a much shorter duration less than 90 days, then you can request the Chinese tourist visa. If you want to remain much longer, then get in touch with the nearest Chinese visa office to obtain the suitable visa for your trip.
- The activities you hope to execute in China – If your sole reason of taking a trip is for holiday, then you can make an application for all types of Chinese tourist visas stated on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Request Chinese Tourist Visa
- Visitor visa application form for China – Completed Chinese visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport must be valid for at the very least 6 months before going into China and three months after departing China. It needs to have a minimum of 2 extra visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo must be no older than 6 months and should be 35 x 40mm in width.
- Previous passport – Provide 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 instances the Chinese visa office might request pre-paid air travel tickets to China.
- Travel insurance policy – Evidence of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Chinese consular office provided with the Certification of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance must cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency have to be issued by an insurance provider. If you are considering utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to China, please get in touch with Chinese consular office for additional information and travel insurance coverage requirements for the Chinese visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing sufficient funds to cover your trip in China. If statements are printed online after that it has to be Validated (marked) by the bank representatives.
- Hotel Reservations in China – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In most conditions, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter needs to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, verifying your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly income and yearly leave. Additionally, please give your three latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: give certified copies of company registration, tax return.
- For students. Please offer the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming on-going enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University – Supply a letter from the University specifying the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance policy for the whole trip along with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for Chinese visa should be sent for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the journey.