China
tourist visa

Who needs a visa

Travellers holding UK, US, Australian, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and most other passports need a tourist visa (category L) to enter China as visitors. Singapore, Brunei and a growing number of countries have reciprocal agreements, so always check your own nationality.

There is also a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for many nationalities passing through China on the way to a third country, with confirmed onward flights and departure to a different destination. It is not a substitute for a tourist visa if your trip begins and ends in China.

Requirements change often and differ by consulate: always confirm the current rules on the website of the Chinese embassy or visa centre for your country.

What you have to submit

The standard application file includes:

• A passport with at least six months of validity and two blank pages.
• A completed application form with a recent photograph.
• Your itinerary: confirmed inbound and outbound flights.
• Hotel bookings covering every night, or an invitation letter.
• Travel insurance with medical cover (strongly recommended).
• For minors: additional documents proving parental responsibility.

Processing times and validity

Standard processing takes four to seven working days at the visa centre, and an express service of two to three days is usually available at extra cost. A tourist visa is normally issued for a single or double entry, valid for three months from the date of issue.

A practical tip: do not buy your final flights until the consulate dates are clear, and leave plenty of margin before departure.

The mistakes we see most

These three come up every single week:

• Submitting hotel bookings that do not cover every night of the itinerary.
• Applying far too early: the visa is only valid for three months from issue.
• Failing to declare the internal flights that form part of the itinerary.

On arrival in China

At border control most travellers have their fingerprints taken, and you may be asked for your itinerary and the address of your first hotel. Carry a printed copy of both.

At hotels, passport registration is compulsory for foreign guests. At rural guesthouses and family stays, the agency handles it.