How to Apply a Chinese Tourist Visa
- Documents Requirements:
A valid passport for at least six months from the date of travel with at least one entire unused page
A completed visa application form can be obtained from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country or be downloaded from the official website of the Chinese Embassy in your country.
Two 2" X 2 (inch)" passport photos (either white& black or color) should be affixed to the visa application form
For Chinese Nationals now resident or naturalized in another country, the former Chinese passport is needed.
Related documents explain one's reasons to enter China. An invitation letter or a travel itinerary confirmed by a travel agency in China or an air tickets or hotel reservation files are all acceptable as the explanation of a traveler's reason for entry.
- How to Apply:
An individual traveler can come to the embassy or consulate in their native country in person or through a third party (e.g. a travel agency or operator) to apply for his Chinese tourist visa.
No pre-contract is needed.
The embassy or consulate does not accept any visa applications sent by mail or postal services.
The process is straightforward and usually takes four to five working days. For express processing within one working day (any hand-in before 11:30 can be finished before 15:00), an extra fee of USD30 is charged and the express processing within two or three days cost an extra fee of USD 20.
Some travel agencies or operators handle a group tourist visa file for their tourists. However, this kind of group visa is actually not very convenient for tourists because all the group members are required to enter into and exit from China on the same dates.
- Apply for a multi-entry tourist visa:
The multi-entry tourist visa allows a tourist to enter into and exit from China on more than one occasion and the stay period is 60 days. Applicants are required to provide documents, giving a reasonable reason for multi-entry into China.
Visa Fee
Visa fee is different when applys in different countries. The following table shows the visa fees when applys in the Chinese Embassy in USA.
| Entries of Visas |
U.S. Citizen |
Citizen of other countries |
| Single |
USD 140 |
USD 30 |
| Double |
USD 140 |
USD 45 |
| Multiple within half a year |
USD 140 |
USD 60 |
| Multiple within one year |
USD 140 |
USD 90 |
| Multiple within two year |
USD 140 |
--- |
® All rights reserved
Reply1/29/2012 10:03:00 AMLourdes Nellas, Philippines
Hi,can i be granted a 24hr chinese visa since we already have our airline tickets confirmed on feb 4,2012 for Shanghai? We are tourists and only have our hotel reservations. Do we have the chance to secure a chinese visa considering that we only have 5 days to go? Do you know of a travel agency that can help us process our chinese visa? Thanks
1/29/2012 6:20:00 PMCathy :
yes, there is urgent visa service in the Chinese Embassy that you can collect your visa on the next working day with an extra serice fee.in this case, you need to prepare the following documents:
your valid passport, a fully filled visa application form, your recently taken passport size photo, your hotel reservation, and original NBI clerance valid for travel abroad.
Reply1/27/2012 10:07:00 PMvalerie sababan, Philippines
good day!my friend who is a chinese national is inviting me to visit him in april this year. im holding a philippine passport, what are the requirements for me to apply for a tourist visa?and how much will it cost me?
1/28/2012 6:40:00 PMBrain :
it is suggested to apply the Chinese visa one month prior to your departure date.you can ask your friend you provide you an invitation letter,a photocopy of his or her passport information page or Chinese National ID Card.
the documents you need to subway are:
your valid passport, a fully filled out visa application form which you can download from from the official website of Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, a recently taken passport size photo, and the original NBI Clerance valid for travel abroad.
the visa fee is 1,300 Peso for a single entry visa.
Reply1/7/2012 10:15:00 PMAnita Tan, Philippines
Hi, Terry, thanks for the reply. I would like to ask another question. How long does it take to travel by tourist bus from Macau to Guangchou? How much does it cost for the travel and an overnight stay in a hotel? Many thanks.
1/8/2012 6:33:00 PMAshley :
it takes about 2.5 hours and costs CNY 70 for the bus trip.the hotel rate in Guangzhou is usually around CNY 200 -300 per night.
Reply1/4/2012 7:01:00 AMAnita Tan, Philippines
Hello, I woould like to inquire if Phlippine Passport holder can apply for a chinese visa, me and my family wanted to cross the border to visit Zhu Hai for a day of sightseeing.Please give additional information. Thanks.
1/4/2012 6:54:00 PMTerry :
of course, you can apply the Chinese visa, but you need to apply the visa through the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines before you go.usually you are supposed to start to apply the visa one month's before you go.
as you mentioned you are going to "cross the border", i guess you are/will be in Hong Kong or Macau, right? if so, you can not apply the Chinese visa in Hong Kong or Macau, but need to go back to the Philippines to apply the visa.
to save you the time and money for going back to the Philippines, you can join in a group tour organized by a qualified Hong Kong or Macau travel agency to Zhuhai, then if you stay in Zhuhai less than 6 days, you do not need to apply the Chinese visa.
Gook Luck
Reply12/14/2011 5:19:00 AMArmie Pili, Indonesia
Hi, My family already bought tickets for Beijing tour on Dec 31- Jan 6th. My parents and 2 siblings already got their visas in the United States so it'll be just me and my brother here in Manila who'd be getting China visas. My stepdad is sponsoring this trip. What documents should I present during visa application? Would it help if I bring photocopies of my parents' approved China visas? Thanks a lot!
12/14/2011 6:03:00 PMGinger :
hi,you'd better apply the visa as soon as possible. i think the time is very tight for you to apply the Chinese visa.
you can check at the official webside of Chinese Embassy in the Philippines for the requried documents.
kind reminder: try to get an invitation letter from a person in China, as well as the photocopy of his or her valid Chinese residence visa and passport information page or Chinese national identity card.
as this is your first Chinese visa, you also need to submit the orginal NBI clearance valid for travel abroad.
Reply12/13/2011 8:29:00 PMPearl, Philippines
Hi. I just want to inquire if I can still get china tourist visa in hongkong? I am now In Wuhan and my visa will Finnish soon. I want to exit hongkong. My sister is legally working in china. If ever my sister can provide all the supporting papers can I get china visa in hongkong? Thank you
12/14/2011 5:20:00 PMAshley :
Hi Pearl,you can try to extend your visa before it expires in the Exit and Entry Bureau in Wuhan, if you have to apply a new one, you can not apply the visa in Hong Kong, you need to apply it in your country.
Reply12/13/2011 2:57:00 AMdipa sharma, China
hi i want to knw i wnt to call my mom to china for 3 mnths bcoz i am pregnant but she dnt hv my irth certificate can u please tell me how to do it wthut certificate i m in guangzhou china, and how many days to get and wht wll be the charges... thnks dipa
12/13/2011 6:38:00 PMAnna :
you can ask your mom to apply a tourist visa and come to China, and then change to a dependent visa when she is in China.Reply12/13/2011 5:00:00 PMryan, Philippines
To whom it may concern,
t
I am writing to enquire about the invitation letter going to macau.if there is a travel agency can entertain this.thanks a lot.
12/13/2011 6:35:00 PMLyla :
Hi Ryan,filipino passport holders are exempt from Macau visa for 30 days, so you don't need to apply a visa for your tour to Macau, an invitation letter is also not necessary.
Reply11/26/2011 7:46:00 PMGina, Philippines
Does the scanned copy of invitation letter is acceptable?
11/27/2011 6:18:00 PMSammy :
you need to provide the original one.Reply11/18/2011 2:06:00 AMMicky, Philippines
I am a Filipino Chinese residing at the Philippines. My father is a Chinese Citizen but resides here at Manila, Do I still need to apply for the Visa? I am Filipino Citizen already. This is for an Official Business trip.
11/18/2011 6:33:00 PMHank :
I wanna to know where you will go to do the business first.