FAQs
1. Question: Must I have a visa to visit China?
Answer: Yes, non-Chinese passport or ID holders must have a valid China visa to enter China.
2. Question: Can I get an on-arrival visa at any airport?
Answer: In some cases, it is possible to obtain an on-arrival visa, but it is best to get your visa in advance. To get an on-arrival visa, you need to go through a complicated procedure; also, it is not certain that your application will be granted.
3. Question: My trip will take me back to the Chinese mainland again after visiting in Hong Kong. Should I apply for a single or a double-entry visa?
Answer: You will need a double-entry visa.
5. Question: Should I apply for a Hong Kong visa?
Answer: People who hold certain passports do not need visas for Hong Kong during a specified period. You need to apply for a Hong Kong visa in a Chinese Embassy or the HKSAR Immigration Department if you do not hold the following passport or wish to stay longer:
| Nationality of foreign country (Territory)/ Type of Travel Document |
Visa free period for visit not exceeding |
| ALGERIA |
14 Days |
| ANDORRA |
90 Days |
| ANGOLA Diplomatic/Official Passport |
14 Days |
| ANGUILLA |
90 Days |
| ANTIGUA & BARBUDA |
90 Days |
| ARGENTINA |
90 Days |
| AUSTRALIA |
90 Days |
| AUSTRIA |
90 Days |
| BAHAMAS |
90 Days |
| BAHRAIN |
14 Days |
| BANGLADESH |
14 Days |
| BARBADOS |
90 Days |
| BELGIUM |
90 Days |
| BELIZE |
90 Days |
| BENIN |
14 Days |
| BERMUDA |
90 Days |
| BHUTAN |
14 Days |
| BOLIVIA |
30 Days |
| BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA |
14 Days |
| BOTSWANA |
90 Days |
| BRAZIL |
90 Days |
| BRITAIN (British citizens) |
180 Days |
| BRITAIN (British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British Protected persons) |
90 Days |
| BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY |
90 Days |
| BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY |
90 Days |
| BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS |
90 Days |
| BRUNEI |
90 Days |
| BULGARIA |
90 Days |
| BURKINA FASO |
14 Days |
| BURUNDI Diplomatic/Official Passport |
14 Days |
| CAMEROON Diplomatic/Official Passport |
14 Days |
| CANADA |
90 Days |
| CAPE VERDE (REPUBLIC OF) |
30 Days |
| CAYMAN ISLANDS |
90 Days |
| CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |
14 Days |
| CHAD |
14 Days |
| CHILE |
90 Days |
| COLOMBIA |
90 Days |
| COMOROS |
14 Days |
| CONGO (REPUBLIC OF) |
14 Days |
| COSTA RICA |
30 Days |
| CROATIA |
14 Days |
| CYPRUS (REPUBLIC OF) |
90 Days |
| CZECH REPUBLIC |
90 Days |
| DENMARK |
90 Days |
| DJIBOUTI |
14 Days |
| DOMINICA (COMMONWEALTH OF) |
90 Days |
| DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
30 Days |
| ECUADOR |
90 Days |
| EGYPT |
90 Days |
| EL SALVADOR |
30 Days |
| EQUATORIAL GUINEA |
14 Days |
| ESTONIA |
90 Days |
| |
|
| ETHIOPIA Diplomatic/Official Passport |
14 Days |
| FALKLAND ISLANDS & DEPENDENCIES |
90 Days |
| FAROE ISLANDS |
90 Days |
| FIJI |
90 Days |
| FINLAND |
90 Days |
| FRANCE |
90 Days |
| GABON |
14 Days |
| GAMBIA |
90 Days |
| GERMANY |
90 Days |
| GHANA |
14 Days |
| GIBRALTAR |
90 Days |
| GREECE |
90 Days |
| GREENLAND |
90 Days |
| GUATEMALA |
30 Days |
| GUINEA |
14 Days |
| GUINEA-BISSAU |
14 Days |
| GUYANA |
90 Days |
| HAITI |
14 Days |
| HONDURAS |
30 Days |
| HUNGARY |
90 Days |
| ICELAND |
90 Days |
| INDIA |
14 Days |
| INDONESIA |
30 Days |
| IRELAND (REPUBLIC OF) |
90 Days |
| ISRAEL |
90 Days |
| ITALY |
90 Days |
| JAMAICA |
90 Days |
| JAPAN |
90 Days |
| JORDAN |
14 Days |
| KENYA |
90 Days |
| KIRIBATI |
90 Days |
| KOREA (REPUBLIC OF) |
90 Days | |
| Nationality of foreign country (Territory)/ Type of Travel Document |
Visa free period for visit not exceeding |
| KUWAIT |
14 Days |
| LATVIA |
90 Days |
| LESOTHO |
14 Days |
| LIECHTENSTEIN |
90 Days |
| LITHUANIA |
90 Days |
| LUXEMBOURG |
90 Days |
| MACEDONIA |
14 Days |
| MADAGASCAR |
14 Days |
| MALAWI |
90 Days |
| MALAYSIA |
90 Days |
| MALDIVES |
90 Days |
| MALI |
14 Days |
| MALTA |
90 Days |
| MARSHALL ISLANDS (REPUBLIC OF) |
14 Days |
| MAURITANIA |
14 Days |
| MAURITIUS |
90 Days |
| MEXICO |
90 Days |
| MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF) |
14 Days |
| MONACO |
90 Days |
| MONGOLIA |
14 Days |
| MONTSERRAT |
90 Days |
| MOROCCO |
30 Days |
| MOZAMBIQUE |
14 Days |
| NAMIBIA |
90 Days |
| NAURU |
90 Days |
| NETHERLANDS |
90 Days |
| NEW ZEALAND |
90 Days |
| NIGER |
14 Days |
| NORWAY |
90 Days |
| OMAN |
14 Days |
| PAKISTAN Diplomatic/Official Passport |
14 Days |
| PALAU |
14 Days |
| PAPUA NEW GUINEA |
90 Days |
| PARAGUAY |
30 Days |
| PERU |
30 Days |
| PHILIPPINES |
14 Days |
| PITCAIRN, HENDERSON, DUCIE & OENO ISLANDS |
90 Days |
| POLAND |
90 Days |
| PORTUGAL |
90 Days |
| QATAR |
14 Days |
| ROMANIA |
90 Days |
| RWANDA |
14 Days |
| SAMOA (WESTERN) |
30 Days |
| SAN MARINO |
90 Days |
| SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE |
14 Days |
| SAUDI ARABIA |
14 Days |
| SEYCHELLES |
90 Days |
| SINGAPORE |
90 Days |
| SLOVAK REPUBLIC |
90 Days |
| SLOVENIA |
90 Days |
| SOUTH AFRICA |
30 Days |
| SPAIN |
90 Days |
| SRI LANKA Diplomatic/Official Passport |
14 Days |
| ST. HELENA |
90 Days |
| ST. HELENA DEPENDENCIES (ASCENSION, TRISTAN DA CUNHA) |
90 Days |
| ST. KITTS - NEVIS ANGUILLA |
90 Days |
| ST. LUCIA |
90 Days |
| ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES |
90 Days |
| SURINAME |
14 Days |
| SWAZILAND |
90 Days |
| SWEDEN |
90 Days |
| SWITZERLAND |
90 Days |
| TANZANIA |
90 Days |
| THAILAND |
30 Days |
| THE SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS |
90 Days |
| THE SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS OF AKROTIRI AND DHEKELIA |
90 Days |
| TOGO |
14 Days |
| TONGA |
90 Days |
| TRINIDAD & TOBAGO |
90 Days |
| TUNISIA |
30 Days |
| TURKEY |
90 Days |
| TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS |
90 Days |
| TUVALU |
30 Days |
| UGANDA |
90 Days |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
30 Days |
| URUGUAY |
90 Days |
| U.S.A. |
90 Days |
| US TRUST TERRITORY OF PACIFIC ISLANDS (holders of US Trust Territory passports only) |
14 Days |
| VANUATU |
90 Days |
| VATICAN CITY |
14 Days |
| VENEZUELA |
90 Days |
| YEMEN (REPUBLIC OF) |
30 Days |
| ZAMBIA |
90 Days |
| ZIMBABWE |
90 Days | |
6. Question: What should I do if I lose my passport before I leave China?
Answer: If you lose your passport, tell your guide immediately. Your guide will accompany you to the Public Security Bureau, where they will issue you a certificate. You then must apply for a new passport in person with this certificate at the nearest embassy of your country. When you get your new passport, you need to return to the Public Security Bureau to apply for a new visa, so that you can leave China.
7. Question: Is it necessary to bring my medical records along on my trip?
Answer: Yes. Travelers should bring copies of their medical records with them. It will be very helpful in case of a medical emergency.
8. Question: Do I need any vaccinations to visit China?
Answer: China only requires yellow fever vaccination certificates for travelers coming from infected areas. However we suggest you follow the advice of
the World Health Organization to get some vaccinations in advance.
9. Question: Is a Tibet Travel Permit necessary to enter Lhasa?
Answer: All non-Chinese passport holders and non-Chinese ID holders must have a Tibet Travel Permit. People who have Hong Kong passports and Macau passports do not need Tibet Travel Permits.
10. Question: How can I get a Tibet Travel Permit?
Answer: Foreigners must be on an organized tour in order for a Tibet Travel Permit to be issued, which is usually done about ten days prior to arrival in Tibet. Foreigners need to provide their travel agencies with copies of valid passports and visas and also some additional information, so their travel agencies can apply for the permits.
11. Question: Do I need to purchase any insurance besides your Travel Agencies' Liability Insurance?
Answer: We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance to protect you against unforeseen circumstances -- such as travel delays -- because the Travel Agencies' Liability Insurance included in your tour package only covers the accidents that happen during the tour. You may read the details of the Travel Agencies' Liability Insurance at the following page: China Travel Insurance
