The Ultimate China Visa Guide

How can I get a visa to visit China? Can I travel to China visa-free? Find comprehensive guides on China visas below. If you need further information, do not hesitate to contact our expert travel consultants.

What Kind of Visa Do I Need to Travel to China?

Most travelers would only apply for a Tourist Visa L, which is issued for visitors who come to China for sightseeing or visiting family members or friends by the embassy or consulate. The Tourist L visa can be either a single or multiple-entry visa.

If your China trip is a group tour of at least 2 people, another visa option is the port visa issued directly by the port authority, which may be simpler and more convenient. However, as the port visa cannot be applied for individually, you and your group number may need the help of your travel agency.

How to Apply for A Chinese Visa?

For An L Visa

1. Locate the visa office of the nearest Chinese Embassy/ Consulate General in your resident country/city.

2. Go in person or entrust someone or a visa agent to drop off your application. Mail service is not available at most embassies and consulates of the PRC. An interview might be requested.

3. After getting to the visa center, obtain a queue number and wait for your number to be called. After submitting your visa supplication with the required documents, you will receive a pick-up form, which shows the information about your application and the expected date for collection.

For A Port Visa

1. Find at least 2 travel companions and a travel agency for your coming China tour.

2. Book your flight tickets, hotel and ask the travel agency to help you prepare the necessary documents.

Can I travel visa-free to China?

There are mainly 4 types of visa-free entry policies in mainland China: unilateral visa-free policy, 240-hour visa-free transit policy, mutual visa-free policy, and Hainan visa-free policy. China's visa-free entry policy allows citizens of certain countries to visit for up to 30 days without needing a visa. 

1. 38 Countries with Visa-Free Access to China

China has implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from 38 countries. This visa-free policy allows citizens from these countries to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa for many purposes, including business, tourism, family visits, or transit.

These 38 countries are:

32 countries in Europe: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Finland, Slovakia, Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Norway, Iceland, and Latvia.

3 countries in Asia: Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan.

2 countries in Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.

2. 25 Countries with Mutual Visa-Free Agreements

Currently, China has mutual visa exemption agreements with 23 countries for ordinary passport holders. These agreements typically allow for visa-free stays of up to 30 days.

The 25 countries with mutual visa exemptions are:

Asia (6 countries): Thailand, Singapore, the Maldives, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Georgia.

Europe (5 countries): Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and San Marino.

Caribbean (4 countries): Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, and Grenada.

Oceania (3 countries): Fiji,Tonga, Solomon Islands.

Middle East (3 countries): the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Mauritius.

South America (3 countries): Dominica, Ecuador, and Suriname. 

Africa (1 country): Seychelles.

3. Hainan Visa-Free Countries

Hainan visa-free policy has been extended to citizens of 59 countries since May 1, 2018. If you are from one of the following 59 countries, you can stay only in Hainan for 30 days.

These 59 countries including:

 American Countries (6):

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina

European Countries (40):

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

Asian Countries (11):

Korean, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Oceanian Countries (2):

Australia, New Zealand

4. 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Countries

Eligible travelers from 54 countries can enjoy a 10-day visa-free stay in designated areas of China when transiting to a third country. This convenient policy eliminates the need to apply for a visa in advance.

With this policy, you can take an international flight or cruise to 24 eligible regions of China without a visa and stay for up to 10 days, and then continue your journey to a third country. This means China is not your final destination but a stopover on your journey. During these 10 days, you can travel across provincial boundaries within the 24 eligible regions and enjoy a visa-free tour.

And these 54 countries are:

3 countries in North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico

3 countries in South America: Brazil, Argentina, and Chile

40 countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, and Norway

2 countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand

6 countries in Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar

The 24 regions are: