Visa Policy of China
Update 1: From November 30, 2024, a 30-day visa-free policy has been implemented for most European countries and Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Singapore, UAE ... At present, citizens from 64 countries can enter China visa-free. Update 2: China has upgraded the original 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit to 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit for 54 countries including the UK, the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil … Also, the travel scope has been widen to 24 provinces of China and crossing provincial boundaries is allowed.Do I Need a Visa for China?
China requires visitors to get a visa in advance unless they are eligible under the visa-free policies, which are mostly applicable to tourists transferring in China or citizens of countries who have signed bilateral visa waiver agreements with China. Holders of a valid Chinese Temporary Residence Permit or Permanent Residence Permit can also enter China without a visa.
For citizens from certain countries enjoying visa-free travel to China:
For individual passengers making an international transfer in China:
2. 240-hour visa-free transit
For tour groups:
2. 15-day visa-free policy for cruise tour groups to Shanghai
3. 6-day visa exemption for tourists to Pearl River Delta
4. 6-day visa exemption for ASEAN tour groups visiting Guilin
See also: How to Travel to China without a Visa
Can I get a China visa upon landing?
China can issue a visa on arrival at Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, and Hainan, but not for all countries. The rules change every now and then, thus VOA is not recommended. To guarantee you a smooth trip, get your China visa in advance. In addition to the cities mentioned above, other port cities also issue VOA but only in urgent situations.
1. Prepare your documents: passport, visa application form, travel itinerary, invitation letter, etc.
2. Submit your application to the Chinese embassy / consulate / CVASC at the appointed time.
3. Collect your passport and visa on the appointed date and pay the fee. One may need to pay the fee when submitting the application in some countries.
See more details:
Visa Application Requirements
China Visa Mail Service
China Visa Fees
Possible Factors for China Visa Approval and Refusal
It is common sense that consular officers won't tell you the reasons for approving or rejecting a visa application. However, certain factors may cause your application to be rejected, such as your nationality, previous experiences and records, and your country's relation with China.
The rules are not normally applied to their fullest extent but at any time the government may apply the regulations more strictly against an individual, to applicants from certain nations, or when special events are taking place such as the Olympic Games. Thus, at any time you might be asked to supply full travel bookings, show a minimum amount of funds, or have invitations from Chinese individuals or organizations.
Hong Kong & Macau Adopt Different Visa Policies from Mainland China
Hong Kong and Macau have different immigration systems from mainland China. In comparison, their visa policies are much looser than that of mainland China. Many countries enjoy visa-free entry to Hong Kong and Macau, with a granted stay duration raging from 7 days to 180 days, depending on the visitor's nationality. Because of the differences in border control policies, a Chinese visa cannot be used to enter Hong Kong or Macau. A separate visa should be obtained if your country is not on the visa-free list.
Further Reading:
Do I Need A Visa for Guangzhou If Traveling from Hong Kong?
How to Apply a China Visa in Hong Kong
Recommended Tours
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0ReplyIt's not easy to change an L to an S within China.
Reply00ReplyReply00ReplyReplyI want to ask the question if university can make something bad if I want to chance x1 visa to work permit while on 2nd year on education only.
Because of epidemic situation, the budget to pay for myself is very low, so I need to find a work, and I found it a job. So they can provide visa for me. The reason why I am thinking about because they always want to in-prison students in the campus without letting out, with no conditions to live properly.
So if I will change that sneaky and then say I can either online-study, or can leave - can they make any troubles like make me pay for something, or I don't know. I am very afraid of that. The behavour and pressure for students is very high so I am aware. Thank you for your future answer.
00ReplyReplyCan her spouse(me) go with her or do I only can go after her?
Can we both apply visa together?
As my id997 dependent visa requests documents from sponsor(my wife) for HK ID, HK accommodation receipts etc which can only be obtained after she gets her visa and go to HK.
Can I the dependent put her offer letter for these documents.
I know many married couples go together for such situations so I want to know the procedure to do this to go together.
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