Whether travelling for tourism or business, all visitors to China must obtain either a tourist visa or a business visa prior to arrival. Application is a simple and inexpensive process as long as the application is properly completed, and submitted no more than 90 days in advance of travel. The tips below should assist to avoid the common pitfalls.
Chinese Tourist Visa Application
To complete the application, the following items are required:
- application form
- passport
- photo
- itinerary
- consulate fee.
The application can be obtained from the nearest Chinese embassy, travel agent, or downloaded from the embassy’s website. It pays to download the latest application form every time an application is made because requirements change and forms are updated accordingly. The embassy will reject applications that have been submitted on outdated forms. The application must also bear the original signature of the applicant. The embassy will not accept photocopied, faxed, emailed, or unsigned applications.
Passports must be current with at least six months validity beyond period of intended stay. Chinese visas take up an entire page so there must be available pages in the passport. One passport-size photo must also accompany the application. It should be printed on quality photo paper, not standard printer paper. It’s best to attach the photo to the application with a paper clip. Failing that, a spot of glue is preferable to a staple.
The itinerary must clearly show the dates of entry into and departure from China. Visas are usually valid for three months from date of issue, so there is no point applying for a visa if travelling in six months time. Standard tourist visas are usually issued for duration of maximum 30 days. If an urgent application is required, the embassy may ask for a copy of the airline e-ticket.
Chinese Business Visa Application
If a business visa is being applied for, these additional documents are often required to accompany the application:
- letter of invitation on company letterhead from the applicant’s company
- letter of invitation on company letterhead from the company being visited in China
- original authority form from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China.
Single, double and multiple entry visas can be applied for but single and double entry are the easiest and cheapest to get. Visa fees can be found on the Chinese embassy website or quoted by a travel agent or visa processing company.
Visa Submittal
The application can be submitted direct to the consulate, or via a travel agent or visa processing company. The main advantage of using a travel agent or visa processing company, is that they double check the application before it is submitted. The agent deals with the embassy every day so they will notice straightaway if an outdated form has been used, if the photo is not adequate, if the questions have not been answered appropriately, if the itinerary is not sufficient, or if the application is unsigned.
If submitting to the consulate directly, the officer will advise of the exact collection date. Submitting through a travel agent or visa processing company will take a day or two longer to both submit and collect due to the additional handling time. Standard processing time is five working days although this varies depending on how busy the consulate is, and if there are public holidays. Over Chinese New Year, Chinese embassies often close for a week. Urgent applications can be processed quicker but cost more.
Visa Collection
Once the visa has been issued, it’s important to check that the visa details are correct. The visa will specify:
- type of visa i.e. tourist ( L ) or business ( F )
- issue date
- last date to enter
- passport name
- birth date
- number of permitted entries
- duration of stay
- passport number.
Chinese Visa Applications
It is compulsory to get a Chinese tourist or business visa prior to arrival in China. It's possible to avoid delays by identifying the latest requirements, completing the application thoroughly, and allowing enough time for processing.
Join the Conversation