Until December 31, 2025, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland with ordinary passports can visit China without a visa for up to 15 days. If you’re from Singapore or Thailand, you can enjoy visa-free access to China for up to 30 days.
If your country isn’t listed above, or you wish to stay in China for more than 15 days, we offer a Port Visa Service for just USD 100 p.p. when you book a tour with us. No embassy visits or visa interviews are required, saving you a lot of hassle.
Usually, foreign travelers need a visa when traveling or doing business in China. This China Visa Guide will help you answer almost all the questions you need to know before applying for a China Visa.
This article includes information on China visa types, requirements, applications, costs, visa-free transit policies, and visas on arrival.
China Visa Types
The type of visa you need to apply for depends on the main purpose of your visit to China.
There are four major categories of Chinese Visa: Chinese Diplomatic Visa, Service Visa, Courtesy Visa, and Ordinary Visa.
We usually refer to the Ordinary Visa types of the Chinese Mainland when speaking of Chinese visas.
1. Ordinary Visa
- C (Crew Visa): issued to foreign crew members using international transportation. It includes aircraft, trains, ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities and their accompanying family members.
- D (Resident Visa): Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently.
- F (Visitor Visa): issued to those who intend to visit China for exchanges, visits, study tours, and other activities.
- G (Transit Visa): Issued to those who intend to transit through China.
- J1/J2 (Journalist Visa): J1 is issued to foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. J2 is issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
- L (Tourist Visa): Issued to those who intend to visit China as a tourist.
- M (Business Visa): Issued to those who intend to visit China for commercial and trade activities.
- Q1/Q2 (Family Reunion Visa): Q1 is issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or foreigners with Chinese permanent residence. They intend to go to China for family reunions. Q2 is issued to those who plan to visit their relatives. They are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China.
- S1/S2 (Private Visa): issued to family members of foreigners residing in China for work, study, etc. S1 permits a long-term stay exceeding 180 days. S2 permits are short-term to no more than 180 days.
- R (Talent Visa): Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.
- X1/X2 (Student Visa): X1 is issued to those who intend to study in China for more than 180 days. X2 is issued to those who intend to study in China for no more than 180 days.
- Z (Work Visa): Issued to those who intend to work in China.
2. Hong Kong Visa & Macau Visa
Hong Kong and Macau, as two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) in China, are regarded as third regions from China Mainland. They have their own visa policies, and a China Visa is NOT valid for visiting Hong Kong or Macau.
Ordinary passport holders from 170 countries are visa-exempted from entering Hong Kong. Read Hong Kong Visa for the complete list.
Macau also provides visa exemption for passport holders from 81 countries. Read Macau Visa for the full list.
3. Visa on Arrival for Tourists – Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Hainan
| Visa on Arrival | Valid for | Eligible Ports of Entry | Permitted Area to Stay |
| Shenzhen | 5 days | Luohu, Huanggang, Shekou and Fuyong ports | Shenzhen City |
| Zhuhai | 3 days | Gongbei, Jiuzhou and Hengqin ports | Zhuhai City |
| Xiamen | 5 days | Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | Xiamen City |
| Hainan | 30 days | Haikou Meilan International Airport | Chinese Mainland |
Read China Visa Arrival for more details about China Port Visa or Landing Visa.
4. Tibet Travel Permit
Non-Chinese passport holders and Taiwanese have to get a Tibet Travel Permit with the help of a China-based travel agency, like China Travel, before visiting Tibet.
Foreigners are not allowed to do the application and travel in Tibet independently. You have to travel with a tour guide.
Read How to Apply for a Tibet Permit for more detailed information.
China Visa Requirements – How to Apply for a China Visa
When to Apply for China Visas
As ordinary visas are only valid for 90/180 days for single/double-entry visas from the issue date, you are suggested to apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel.
Where to Apply for China Visas
Find out your visa type. Then submit your application to the visa office of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General based in your country.
A travel agent or a visa agent can also help you deal with the visa in the embassy or consulate office.
Documents for China Visa Application
- Valid Passport: valid for more than six months with at least two blank visa pages
- Visa Application Form: You need to complete it by computer, and print and sign it.
- A recent passport-type photo: 33mm x 48mm
- Relevant proof for your purpose to China: an invitation letter.
China Visa Fees
| Entries | U.S. Citizen | Canada Citizen | Non-U.S. Citizen |
| Single | USD 140 | CAD 100 | USD 30 |
| Double | USD 140 | CAD 100 | USD 45 |
| 6 Months Multiple | USD 140 | CAD 100 | USD 60 |
| 12 Months Multiple | USD 140 | CAD 100 | USD 90 |
NOTES:
- According to the reciprocity agreements, visa fees for some non-U.S. citizens may vary from the list above. Please check with the Visa Office.
- Express I service: pay an extra fee of USD 25 for each
- Express II service: pay an extra fee of USD 37 for each
Read How to Apply for a China Visa to get a step-by-step guide.
China Visa-Free Policy
Visa-Free Transit Policy in China Mainland
There are three types of transit without visa (TWOV for short) policies in China’s Mainland:
| 24-hour TWOV | 72-hour TWOV | 144-hour TWOV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible Countries | Nearly all countries | 54 countries | 54 countries |
| Entry Ports | Most Chinese cities | Guilin, Beihai, Harbin, Changsha | Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Nanjing, Lianyungang, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an/Xianyang, Xiamen, Wuhan, Qingdao, Shenyang, Dalian, Kunming, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jieyang |
| Means of Transport | By air, cruise, or train | By air | By air, cruise, or train |
| Areas Allowed to Stay | The transiting area | The transiting city | The transiting city or region |
30-Day Visa-Free Policy for Singapore and Thailand
Citizens from Singapore and Thailand with ordinary passports can visit China for up to 30 days without needing a visa.
With this policy, travelers can visit any mainland destination in China during this period, except for certain regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, which require special tourist permits.
15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Specific Countries
From July 26, 2023, Bruneian citizens holding ordinary passports can enjoy a 15-day visa-free policy when traveling to China.
From December 1, 2023, until December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia can benefit from a 15-day visa-free entry to China.
From March 14, 2024, until December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders of Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg can visit China for 15 days without a visa.
From July 1, 2024, until December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, and Poland can visit China visa-free for 15 days.
These visa-exempt policies apply to purposes such as tourism, business, transit, and visiting friends and relatives in China.
6-Day Visa-free Policy for ASEAN Groups to Guilin
From May 28, 2015, tourists from the ASEAN nations (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Brunei) traveling in groups (of 2 or more) can visit Guilin for up to six days without a visa.
The requirements are that the group needs to be arranged through a local travel agency and every group member must come in and go out via Guilin Airport.
To get this visa-free trip, you need to apply at least one week in advance and it usually takes about three days to get everything settled.
6-Day Pearl River Delta Visa Exemptions
Foreigners traveling from Hong Kong or Macau can visit the Guangdong Pearl River Delta area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for up to six days without a visa.
This visa-free policy is applicable if you are part of a tour group (of 2 or more people) organized by a local travel agency in Hong Kong or Macau.
Additionally, this policy extends to tourist groups visiting Shantou, as long as you enter and exit directly from Shantou, and your activities are limited to Shantou.
Shanghai 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups
Since October 1, 2016, the 15-day visa-free policy has been operating for foreign tourist groups entering China from Shanghai by cruise.
Under the 15-day visa-free policy, your group can visit and depart from any port within the designated areas as long as you remain together on the same cruise ship.
The visa-free privilege applies to specific regions, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin, and provinces such as Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.
During the 15 days, the group is permitted to explore these areas without the need for a visa.
Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Stay
From May 1, 2018, ordinary passport holders from 59 countries can have visa-free entry to Hainan if they are received by Hainan-based travel agencies.
They must apply for a visa-free stay at least 72 hours before arrival and enter/exit from Sanya or Haikou by flight with a hotel booking confirmation voucher. They can stay and travel in the whole Hainan Province for up to 30 days without a Chinese visa.
The full list of the qualifying 59 countries are:
Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania,
the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, and Belarus.
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