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China Tourist Visa (L)

Most travelers to China are required to get a China tourist visa, L visa for short, which allows them to travel freely in most parts of China as tourists, assuming that they do not qualify under the visa-free policies of China. Passports, application form, and documents showing the itinerary or an invitation letter from China are the essential application documents.
 

Sample of China Tourist Visa
Sample of China Tourist Visa

In most cases, a tourist can get a single entry L visa with a stay duration of 30 days. UK, US, Canadian, and Argentine citizens are able to get a 10-year China tourist visa with multiple entries.

If travelling with an organized tour group, you might not have an individual visa in your passport.  Instead, the tour group will be issued a group tour visa bearing all the members' names. In such situations supply your details to the travel agency beforehand and you will have no further concerns.


If travelling independently, you need to handle visa affairs on your own. The process is not complicated if you follow the guidelines below.
 

China Tourist Visa Requirements & Documents

1. Passport

- Your passport  with at least 6 months remaining validity and available blank pages, and a photocopy of passport's data page.
 

2. Application Form

- One accurately completed China Tourist Visa Application Form. Please fill in every column of the application form, using "N/A" if not applicable. If the application form is not filled out truthfully, completely and legibly, there could be a delay in processing or refusal of the application.
 

3. Recent Photo

- A recent passport-size color photo with white background attached to the application form.
 

4. Round-trip Tickets Plus Hotel Bookings or Invitation Letter from China

- Documents showing the itinerary including proof of round trip tickets booking and proof of hotel reservation.
- Or, if you are being invited to China, you can submit an invitation letter issued by the inviter, whether it's an entity or individual, with following information:
a. Information on the applicant, including full name, gender, and date of birth.
b. Information on the planned visit, including arrival and departure dates, place(s) of visit.
c. Information on the inviter, including name, contact number, address, official stamp, and signature of the legal representative of the entity or the inviting individual.
 

5. Other Supporting Documents

a. For those not applying in their country of citizenship, a proof of legal stay or residence status is required.
b. In some cases, applicants may need to submit a certification letter from the employer of the applicant with details as follows: name and contact number of the employer, the applicant's income statement, or original copy of recent 6-month bank statement of the applicant.
c. Applicants who intend to travel to Tibet must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit, which can be obtained from Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region by travel agencies.

China Tourist Visa Requirements
China Tourist Visa Requirements
 

How to Get a Chinese Tourist Visa

With all the required documents at hand, you can go to Chinese embassies, consulates, Chinese diplomatic missions, or a Chinese Visa Application Center (CVASC) if there are any in your country to submit the application in person. If you can't go personally, you can entrust someone else,such as a travel agency or a visa agency to act on your behalf. An appointment is not mandatory. Applications by mails are not accepted and will be refused at most Chinese embassies or consulates. In countries with CVASCs, applicants may be able to apply by post, or submit applications based on an online appointment via the website of CVASC.
 

Processing Time

It normally takes 4 working days for processing a China travel visa. For express service, an additional fee of USD 20 will be charged for two or three working day service. For rush service, an additional fee of USD30 will be charged for same-day service.
 

Chinese Tourist Visa Cost

The visa costs vary depending on your nationality and number of entries. However, according to the Visa Fee Abolition Agreement, the nationals of following several countries can get a visa for free, but must pay for express service, rush service or mail service: Pakistan, Maldives, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovakia and Micronesia. For major countries, the fee is listed below.

China Travel Visa Types US Citizens Canadian Citizens UK Citizens Australian Citizens
Single Entry USD 140 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 109.5
Double Entries USD 140 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 139.5
Multi Entries for 6 Months USD 140 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 169.5
Multi Entries for 12 Months or Longer USD 140 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 229.5

Click on China Visa Fees for more information.
 

China Tourist Visa Extension

If you need to stay in China past the allowed stay duration on your visitor visa, you can apply for an extension at the local Exit and Entry Administration of China seven days before your L visa expires. Your passport, a visa application form with your recent color photo attached, a registration of temporary residence, and your travel itinerary will be required for submission. If your application is approved, you can get an extended stay not exceeding the original stay duration on your visa.
 

Recommended Tour Packages

 

Further Reading:

8 Tips for Filling Out Chinese Visa Application Form
Top 10 China Destinations for First Time Travelers
Top 8 Reasons Why Your China Visa Gets Rejected
 
- Last modified on Feb. 26, 2022 -
Questions & Answers on China Tourist Visa
Asked by Arturo from ESTEBANEZ | Aug. 08, 2022 14:46Reply
Tourist visas for EU citizens
Can Europeans travel to China as individual tourists? Or is it still closed to European tourists?
Answers (1)
Answered by Consultant phillips | Aug. 09, 2022 01:11
00Reply


Contact me for your Visa applications and Assistance for All

Wechat Id: _555kristina
Whatsapp : +18507599316

Authentic Visa works solutions with proofs
Asked by Noor from CANADA | Jul. 24, 2022 10:41Reply
visiting very sick parents in China
Hello,
Would you please advise me on the visa application process for China? I'm planning to visit very sick parents. I hold a Canadian passport.
Thank you
Noor
Answers (2)
Answered by Leo | Jul. 26, 2022 00:53
00Reply


You need to submit the requirements to China visa application service center in your place to apply for the S visa. The requirements include your passport, application form, invitation letter from your parents, photocopy of the passports and Chinese resident permits of your parents, and the original or photocopy of the Kinship Certification between you and your parents, like the your birth certificate.
Answered by Consultant Phillips | Aug. 09, 2022 01:11
00Reply


Contact me for your Visa applications and Assistance for All

Wechat Id: _555kristina
Whatsapp : +18507599316

Authentic Visa works solutions with proofs
Asked by bhuiyan md obaidullah from BANGLADESH | May. 26, 2022 00:21Reply
when open travel chines visa
Answers (1)
Answered by Leo | May. 30, 2022 00:14
00Reply


It's still unknown yet.
Asked by jayant from INDIA | Jun. 24, 2021 04:48Reply
visa
Hello Madam /Sirs,
i am Indian business person planning to visit china in the month of Sept. 2021.
What vaccine approval to entry in china ?
Answers (1)
Answered by Raj | Jun. 28, 2021 01:21
00Reply


Jayant, you can send an email to consulate_indmfa.gov.cn to consult about this.
Asked by joanshergold from ENGLAND | Jun. 23, 2021 00:10Reply
How likely will I be to go on holiday early October 2021 to China Holiday was due March 2020
When would it be realistic to expect to be able to be able to go on this holiday, I am 75 years old, and worry that I would be unable to go, it is a guide walking tour visiting many cities in China including terracota Warrriors Panda breeding station traving by internal aircraft to all these places. Trip is already paid for in December 2019

Thank you
Answers (1)
Answered by Tom | Jun. 28, 2021 00:50
00Reply


I'm afraid you cannot make the trip in this early October. Someone predicts China will start to accept international tourists again in early 2023. Maybe it will be earlier thanks to the wide vaccine inoculation locally.
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