china tourist visa 2023 for malaysian

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From 0:00(Beijing time) on December 1, 2023 to 24:00 (Beijing time) on November 30, 2024, the Chinese government will implement 15-day visa free policy for Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes. Those who do not meet the purposes of visit and time limit for 15-day visa free policy are still required to apply for visas to China.

1. Application Procedures except for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas

1.1 Fill out the visa application form online ( https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/ ), print out the confirmation page and the full form(7 pages in total, preferable double sided), sign the confirmation page and item 9 of the form.

1.2 Submit the application in person with materials (Please see Part 2 for material requirements) in the China Visa Application Service Centre(CVASC) in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Penang or the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu and retain ten fingerprints.

*The following applicants can be exempted from fingerprint collection: Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70; Diplomatic passport holders, or applicants eligible for Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy visas; Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past five years at the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia or the CVASC in Kuala Lumpur with the same passport; Applicants with all fingers uncollectible.

2. Material Requirements except for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas

2.1 Passport

Original passport whose validity period is no less than six months and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate.

2.2 Visa Application Form and Photo

One Visa Application Form completed online (please print out the full form, 7 pages in total, preferable double sided) with one original photo same as the one in the application form.

2.3 Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

If you don't apply for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you are required to provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are currently staying.

2.4 Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizens who used to be Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)

If you apply for a Chinese visa for the first time, please provide your previous Chinese passport and a photocopy of its data page.

If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page.

2.5 In addition to the visa documents in 2.1 to 2.4, the following types of documents shall be submitted:

2.6 After December 1, 2023, Malaysian citizens will still be able to apply for multiple entry visa with duration of stay exceeding 15 days under L, M, Q2 and S2 categories.

In addition to the visa documents in 2.1 to 2.5 mentioned above, the supporting documents (e.g. photocopies of previous Chinese visas or previous records of travelling to China) for multiple entry visa required are as follows:

(1) 3-month multiple entry L-visa: Itinerary issued by the cruise company.

(2) 1-year multiple entry L-visa: Detailed travel itinerary and corresponding irrevocable air ticket, hotel booking and photocopies of previous Chinese visas and previous records of travelling to China.

(1) 6-month to 1-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa within 5 years.

(2) 2-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous 6-month to 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 3 times within 5 years.

(3) 3-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa within 5 years; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times within 5 years; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 5 times within 5 years.

(1) 6-month to 2-year multiple entry Q2-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa within 5 years.

(2) 3-year to 5-year multiple entry Q2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times.

For visiting family members for a short period:

Multiple entry S2-visa with a validity period not exceeding the validity period of the inviting individual's residence permit.

For private affairs such as inheritance, litigation, having real estate in China, etc.:

(1) 6-month to 1-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa within 5 years.

(2) 2-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 6-month to 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 3 times within 5 years.

(3) 3-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa within 5 years; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times within 5 years; or photocopies of previous records of travelling to China for more than 5 times within 5 years.

3. Contact Information

3.1 For Visa applications except for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas, please contact Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Submission of applications time: 9:00 to 15:00.

Submission of express applications time: 9:00 to 12:00.

Collection time: 9:00 to 16:00.

a. Address: Level 5 & 6, Hampshire Place Office, Jalan Mayang Sari, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

b. Business Hours: Monday-Friday. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

c.Call: 603 2176 0888 (Weekdays 9:00-16:00)

d.Fax: 603 2161 2234

e.E-mail: [email protected]

3.2 For Visa applications for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas, Please email the Consular Office of the Embassy at [email protected].

a. Address: 1st Floor, Plaza OSK, 25 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

b. Call: 603 21645272 (Weekdays 9:30-11:30, 14:00-16:00)

c. Fax: 603 21636809

d. E-mail:[email protected]

3.3 For visa applicants in East Malaysia, please refer to the notice on the website of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

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How to Apply for China Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide

From 01 December 2023 to 30 November 2024, the Chinese government will implement 15-day visa free policy for Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes. Those who do not meet the purposes of visit and time limit for 15-day visa free policy are still required to apply for visas to China.

Traveling to China can be an exciting adventure, but before you pack your bags, you’ll need to go through the visa application process. Applying for a China visa may seem daunting at first, but with the right information and guidance, it can be a straightforward process. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know, from the different types of visas available to the step-by-step application process, ensuring that you are well-prepared for your journey to China.

How to apply for china visa.

Applying for a China visa involves several steps and requirements, and it’s crucial to follow them to ensure a smooth and successful application process.

Determine the type of China Visa you require.
Fill in the online application form.
Take passport photo for China Visa and gather the required documents.
Use Travelution Holidays’ runner service to save time and skip personal visits to the visa center.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the China Visa application process:

1. Understanding the Types of China Visas

Before you dive into the application process, it’s essential to understand the various types of visas available for China. The most common categories include:

Tourist Visa (L Visa)

The tourist visa is perfect for those planning a vacation or a short visit to China. It’s usually issued for a maximum stay duration of 30 days.

Business Visa (M Visa)

If you’re traveling for business purposes, the M visa is what you need. This visa allows you to attend conferences, meetings, and other business-related activities.

2. Complete the Application Form

Fill in the China visa application form online . Here are some important reminders when filling the application form:

Important: 1. Be sure to double-check the form for any errors or missing details before printing the form. 2. Print and sign the form in section 9 and on the first page of the form with black ink pen.

3. Gather the Required Documents

Collecting the required documents is a crucial step in the visa application process. The documents may vary depending on the visa type.

Original passport with at least six months of validity remaining, and a minimum of two blank pages.
Completed visa application form
Photocopy of the data page of your passport in portrait orientation, which contains your name, date of birth, date of issuance, expiry date, and other relevant details.
Photocopy of Chinese visa and records of travel to China in portrait orientation (if any).
Photocopy of birth certificate and both parents passport page or identity card in portrait orientation (for applicants under 18 years of age)
Two recent passport-sized photographs with a white background. These photos must match the one uploaded to the online visa application form.
Proof of travel arrangements (flight itinerary, hotel reservation, etc.)

Commercial Trade Activities (M Visa)

A local company letter, printed on the company’s letterhead with address and phone number of local company, addressed to the Chinese Embassy. The letter should include traveler’s full name, passport number, trip details which encompass travel dates and the purpose of the visit.
An invitation letter from a Chinese company or organization must bear the company’s stamp on its official letterhead. The letterhead should include the address and phone number of the Chinese company, along with the traveler’s full name, passport number, and trip details (including travel dates and the purpose of the visit). The letter should be addressed to the Chinese Embassy. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia 229, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Additional documents for non-Malaysians

Photocopy of valid Malaysian visa and latest Malaysia entry stamp. For travellers using the e-gate, please visit the Malaysian Immigration Department with a letter in Bahasa Malaysia requesting for an entry and exit letter for China Visa Application purpose.
Travel history since 2021 to present
A signed declaration is applicable for applicant under 18 years if one of the parents is a China nationality.

Proof of Travel Arrangements for China Tourist Visa

When applying for a Chinese Tourist Visa, it is essential to provide evidence of your travel arrangements to demonstrate your intent and plans for your visit. Here’s a breakdown of the required documentation:

Flight Reservations

You must include a copy of your flight reservations that clearly indicate your onward or return journey. This document should prominently feature your Passenger Name Record (PNR) reference. If you have already booked your flights, you can submit a copy of your electronic ticket (e-ticket) as proof. However, if you haven’t secured your ticket yet, you can provide a flight reservation as an alternative. You can request assistance from a travel agency.

Hotel Reservations

You are also required to submit a copy of hotel reservations made under your name. It’s advisable to choose accommodations that offer FREE CANCELLATION options in case your visa application is rejected or delayed. If you’re unsure about the hotel reservation process, you can seek assistance from a travel agency.

Train Reservations (for travel from Hong Kong to China or vice versa)

In the event that you plan to travel by train from Hong Kong to China, you should include a copy of your train ticket reservation.

Please ensure that all the provided documents are in the English language to facilitate the processing of your China Tourist Visa application. Meeting these requirements will help substantiate your travel plans and increase your chances of a successful visa application.

How to Apply For China Visa for Malaysia Passport

4. Submitting Your Application

The following items are required for submission:

Original Passport
Completed online application form
Supporting documents as listed above

Runner Service

Travelution Holidays provides a runner service to streamline your China visa application. For a fee of RM200 per passport, our runner service encompasses:

Securing a date slot for visa issuance or biometric collection, if applicable.
Submission of your passport and documents to the Chinese Visa Processing Center
Retrieving your passport after the visa has been issued.

If biometric collection is required, our runner will assist you throughout the process, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience at every step. We highly value your time and are committed to streamlining the China visa application process. Through our runner service, you’ll be able to save significant time and effort, allowing you to concentrate on other essential aspects of your travel.

Important: We strongly recommend initiating your visa application at least three weeks before your planned travel dates. P lease consider Malaysia and China public holidays, which could potentially lead to longer processing times.

Chinese Visa Fee in Malaysia

The China visa fee varies based on the chosen processing time. For the Chinese Tourist visa, you can opt for either Single or Double Entries. However, the multiple entry visa is only applicable for the Chinese Business Visa and subject to approval from the China Embassy.

5. Passport Collection

Upon the successful processing and approval of your visa application, our designated runner will assume the responsibility of collecting your passport. The runner will promptly retrieve your passport and return it to the Travelution Holidays office for safekeeping and collection. We will coordinate with you regarding the passport’s return.

FAQs about China Visa Application

Here are some common questions about applying for a China visa:

Do I need a visa to travel to China?

Can i apply for a china visa online.

No, China visa applications cannot be submitted online.

Is it necessary to provide an invitation letter for a China visa?

Business and work visas will require an invitation letter from a Chinese company or organization. Tourist visas typically do not require an invitation letter.

What should I do if my China visa application is denied?

If your China visa application is denied, you can inquire about the reason for the rejection and, if possible, rectify any issues and reapply with a revised application.

Applying for a China visa may seem like a complex process, but by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can navigate through it smoothly. Remember to determine the visa type, check the requirements, complete the application form accurately, gather the required documents, submit your application, and wait for processing. Once you have your visa, you’ll be ready to explore the wonders of China. Safe travels!

Andy Thong is a certified Club Med Specialist and Contiki ambassador. He is a content creator and loves travel. His goal is to inspire you to fill your travel with culture, color, and creativity with spotlights on traditions, craft, cuisines, and festivals around the world.

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How to Apply for a China Visa — a Step-by-Step Guide

From December 1st, 2023 to November 30th, 2024, visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, and Malaysia can stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa for travel, business, transit, or visiting friends and family.

Starting March 14th, travelers from Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Switzerland can also enjoy this visa-free entry.

How to Apply for a China Visa

Planning to visit China, but don't know how to apply for a China visa? We're breaking it down for you with our step by step guide, follow the steps and get your China visa efficiently.

The visa information we provide is for reference only. We are a travel agency. If you book a trip with us, we can provide you with the invitation letter when applying for a tourist visa.

1. Find out if you need a visa

The first thing is to check whether you need a visa or not. You usually need to apply for a Chinese visa unless you meet one of China's visa-free policies . 72- and 144-hour visa-free transit offer great convenience if you have a layover in China.

2. Find out which visa you need.

There are many types of China visa. Choose a visa type that applies to your situation. If you are planning to go on a vacation in China, apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa).

3. Prepare the required documents.

The following list of documents are required for any China visa application:

A valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you enter China.
A complete visa application form (The visa application form can be downloaded from the Chinese embassy website or from our website. You complete it by computer, print and sign it. In some countries such as UK you should complete an online form . On the form, you might find an item "Serial number of invitation letter of the authorized organization", you may skip this item if you don't have an invitation letter, or the invitation letter is not of this type.)
A recent passport-type photograph (head and shoulders only, front view, with a white background, approximately 48mmx33mm)

Along with the aforementioned generally required documents, several additional documents are required depending upon the type of China visa applied for.

For instance, if you are applying for a tourist L visa , you need to prepare an air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation OR an invitation letter issued by a Chinese travel agency. ( An invitation letter could be provided by us without extra charge if a China tour of 3 days or more is booked .)

An invitation letter can replace the air ticket and hotel booking if you are planning to stay with friends or family who live in China and can't provide the hotel confirmation, or if your travel is being organized by a travel agency (or other duly authorized organization) in China . We can provide you with the invitation letter if you book a tour with us.

4. Submit the application.

You may submit the application to the Visa Office at Chinese embassies or consulates, or China Visa Application Service Centers (also called CVASC) if they are operating in your country.

Starting from 2018, visa applicants from more and more countries (including the U.S., the UK, and Canada) have to make their visa application in person and have their fingerprints collected .

The regular service processing time is 4 days, and the rushed service takes about 1 day. The latter is only available in extreme emergencies pending a consular officer's approval.

5. Pay the fee and collect your visa.

Go to the place where you apply for China visa, pay the fee and collect your visa.

The fees vary enormously depending on your nationality and number of entries. Here we listed China visa price for some countries for your reference. It may change based on the updated policies.

The fees shown in the table are only for the cost of visa. If you apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center, the service fee and tax are required.

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When to Apply for a Visa

It is important to get your visa early, but not too early because it is only valid for 90/180 days for single/double-entry visas from the issue date.

It is usually recommended that you apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel .

Apply for Special Permits, If Necessary.

If you are planning on traveling to the Tibet Autonomous Region, you will need to get a Tibet Travel Permit from a Chinese travel agency. As a travel agency based in China for more than 20 years, we can help you apply for the Tibet Travel Permit.

Check the most popular Tibet tours .

Apply for China Visa in Hong Kong

If you are already in Hong Kong and want to visit Chinese mainland, it is possible to get a China visa in Hong Kong. Read our step-by-step guide .

Tailor-Making a Private China Tour

China Highlights is your China tour tailor-making expert. See the recommended tours below for inspiration or check out our ideas and suggestion on How to Plan Your China Tour .

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Malaysians can now travel visa-free to China

Over the last year China has been gradually unwinding its self-imposed three years of COVID-19 isolation, scrapping mandatory quarantine and PCR testing for its own returning citizens, then restarting the issuance of tourist visas.

The country also recently finally called time on a self-swab ART testing process, alongside a mandatory pre-departure health declaration form, both of which seemed utterly archaic in the second half of 2023, when the rest of the world had moved on from the pandemic.

In July 2023, citizens of Singapore and Brunei also had their 15-day visa-free entry approval reinstated , which in combination with the most recent relaxations has now restored international travel between these countries fully to the pre-pandemic process.

China has now announced that it will allow those holding Malaysian passports, which includes around 1 million Singapore residents , to enter the country visa-free from 1st December 2023.

This allows them to enter China without any advance application for tourism, family visits, business or transit purposes, provided their stay is no more than 15 days.

“To further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and Malaysia, from 0:00 (Beijing time) on December 1, 2023 to 24:00 (Beijing time) on November 30, 2024, the Chinese government will implement [a] 15-day visa free policy for Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passport[s] who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia

This latest relaxation is on a trial basis for one year, until 30th November 2024.

If you’re a Malaysian citizen and you have already obtained a visa to visit China, don’t worry. That visa is still valid, and any visa applications that have already been submitted will continue to be processed normally.

However, for those planning to visit between 1st December 2023 and 30th November 2024, you don’t need to progress with any visa application plans for a tourism or business trip to China as a Malaysian passport holder, provided you will arrive in the country from midnight on 1st December 2023 onwards, and your trip is 15 days or less.

Citizens of five European countries also benefit

China is also rolling out the welcome mat for visa-free travel to those holding passports from one of five European countries, a benefit that will also help many Singapore residents with the following nationalities:

🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇮🇹 Italy 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇪🇸 Spain

As with Malaysian citizens, these travellers receive a visa-free benefit for the first time, since they never previously had the option to travel to China for tourism, transit, family visits or business purposes before, without first obtaining a visa.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that these relaxations were designed “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world” .

Singaporeans can already visit China visa-free

In case you missed the news, Singapore citizens have been able to travel to China since 26th July 2023 under the pre-pandemic 15-day visa-free scheme , permitting those holding ordinary Singapore passports to enter the country without a visa for the same tourism, family visit, business or transit purposes, provided their stay in China is no more than 15 days.

Unlike the Malaysia and Europe additions, there is no end date to this benefit, which was already perpetual pre-pandemic.

The benefit was also restored for citizens of Brunei , but not for Japanese travellers, who had also been eligible prior to the pandemic, but still haven’t been included on this latest list.

What about other nationals?

Those holding nationalities other than from Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain will still need to apply for a visa to visit China, even as a tourist.

That doesn’t apply when travelling to Hainan Island , which allows those holding 59 nationalities to travel visa-free for up to 30 days, though onward travel from Hainan to Mainland China for non-visa-waiver nationals is not permitted, without a relevant visa.

Options for Singapore-based travellers to Hainan include regular Scoot, Jetstar and Hainan Airlines services to Haikou.

Singapore Airlines is boosting China flights

Earlier this year, Singapore Airlines announced a surprise suspension for three of its routes to and from mainland China, with regular flights to Chongqing , Shenzhen and Xiamen seeing a rather sudden cessation of service later that same month.

In October a fourth city in China joined that suspension list, with the final Chengdu service operating towards the end of that month, and no planned future flights on the schedule.

Thankfully last month we were happy to report that all four of these cities will be returning to the network later this year, using Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.

Chengdu will restart on 3rd December 2023, with four times weekly flights, increasing to daily during January 2024 but then reducing to three times weekly from February 2024 onwards
Chongqing restarted on 26th November 2023 with three times weekly flights
Shenzhen restarted on 26th November 2023 with daily flights
Xiamen will restart on 3rd December 2023, with daily flights

Plenty of KrisFlyer Saver award space is available on these routes, unsurprising given their relatively short-notice restarts.

These flights will supplement the carrier’s wide-body services to and from Beijing , Guangzhou and Shanghai , which now even offer a First Class cabin in the case of Beijing and a Suites cabin in the case of Shanghai (from January 2024).

This week SIA’s Guangzhou route was hiked to double daily wide-body operation for the first time in five years, though this will also see Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft operating the “second service” from February 2024.

Visa-free travel to China for Malaysian citizens will become a reality from 1st December 2023, at least for an initial trial period of one year, as China expands access to what it calls “the outside world” .

This will also include nationals of five European countries – namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

Singaporeans can already enjoy hassle-free China trips once again, thanks to the reinstatement of 15-day visa-free entry approval in July 2023, and SIA is scaling up flights to China this winter, restoring four cities to its route map in November and December, for a total of seven destinations.

Let’s hope these visa relaxations are extended and also expanded beyond these new countries from next year, for simpler trips to and from China.

(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)

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Updated and Downloadable Visa Application Forms of China 2024/2025

Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on March 7, 2024 :

1. 15 Days Visa Exemption Policy is newly available for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Read more »

2. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.

3. 15 Days Visa Exemption Policy is now available for other 6 countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. Read more »

4. Appointment is not required for visa application in many embassies and consulates.

5. Starting from 00:00 on November 1, 2023, individuals entering or exiting the country are exempt from filling out the "People's Republic of China Health Declaration Card for Entry/Exit."

6. Norway has become the 54th country whose passport holders can transit without visa up to 72/144 hours in China.

7. Starting from August 30, 2023, individuals traveling to China will no longer be required to undergo pre-entry COVID-19 nucleic acid or antigen testing.

8. U.S. citizens holding multi-year multiple-entry visas issued before March 28, 2020, whose visas temporarily lost entry functionality between March 28, 2020, and March 14, 2023, due to the pandemic, are eligible to apply for compensation. Those who choose to apply for compensation will receive a free 3-year multiple-entry visa. Those who choose to waive the compensation can apply for a new 10-year multiple-entry visa at the regular fee.

China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!

Invitation letter is a vital document for Chinese visa application. If you travel with us, we will not only create a valuable tour for you, but also provide you an invitation letter if you request, which will help you obtain your visa successfully. Start customizing your tour in China now!

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years

A China Visa Application Form is an essential requirement for your China Visa Application together with your valid original passport and other necessary supporting documents. All applicants are required to complete the latest China Visa Application Form online, whether you submit application direct to Chinese Embassy or Consulate General, or though China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC). To ensure the application proceeds normally, there are specific requirements for the form applicants should follow.

Meanwhile, visitors from certain countries and qualified for China Visa Waiver Policy can enter and visit China without visa application, but still need to go through custom clearance procedures according to relevant regulations.

China Visa Application Form

China Visa Application Form is the newest version, which is accepted by Chinese Embassy and Consulate General only. Each applicant have to complete the online Visa Application Form of China correctly and truthfully. If the Chinese Embassy and Consulates host online application submission & appointment booking system, or you submit all documents through China Visa Application Service Center, an appointment is required before submission in some countries. (Please note that a completed application form Does Not guarantee you will be granted a Chinese Visa.)

First Page of China Visa Application Form

Note: The above is only one page of the form.

Where to Download China Application Form?

For individual applicants, there are two ways to download the latest China Visa Application Form: from the official website of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates (in PDF/DOC), and from the recognized site of China Visa Application Service Center after you complete the form online. Hand written application form and old versions are NOT accepted.

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What information is needed for china visa application form.

Applicants must offer all information required in the application form. The content of the application form concerns Personal Information (the name, date & place of birth, nationality, gender, marital status, passport details), and other information about the application, your work, education, family, current travel & previous travel, email and communication address and other background information. The last section is to review the above information and make a declaration.

How to Fill in China Visa Application Form

According to the country where you reside in, citizens can apply for China Visa at visa section of Chinese Embassies and Consulates, or through China Visa Application Service Center.

● Submission to China Visa Application Service Center

If you submit through CVASC, online E-application Form submission and online appointment are required. Below are 5 major steps helps you easily and efficiently to finish the visa form:

1. Log on to the http://www.visaforchina.org , choose a service center located in your residence country and region, click the “Step by Step Guidance” to know documents you should prepare, and go to “Quick Access” to create a new application form.

2. Fill in the all sections of the form clearly, completely and truly, and upload a qualified photo , save and submit the form, keep your application number. If the form is completed by another person/agent on behalf of applicant, there is extra part to fill in. Bring 2 right photos to service center if you upload unsuccessfully.

3. Download and Print out the completed form, sign on the 1st and 8th page and write down the date.

4. Enter “Quick Access - Appointment”, use saved application number to book an appointment online, and download the confirmation email after receiving it. (Walk in submission is not accepted unless you meet requirements of recognized exceptions.)

5. Bring the downloaded China Visa Application Form, confirmation letter and all required documents to visit the service center at appointed time.

● Submission to the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General

If you apply for China Visa at visa office of Chinese Embassy and Consulate General directly, you also need to complete the online application form on the official website of the authority - https://cova.mfa.gov.cn, and print out the application form, confirmation page, and related personal forms. And submit your passport, signed forms mentioned above, and other supporting documents straightforward to the Chinese Embassy and Consulate.

Special Requirements of China Visa Application Form

There are some basic rules each applicant should know before filling in the form:

(1) each independent applicant are required to fill in a China Visa Application Form, including a child. If the children are under 18, the parents or lawful guardian must declare and sign on the form with related proof documents.

(2) the form should be filled in completely, clearly and truthfully, carefully reviewed and checked before submission and printed out. Once is submitted, it can not be modified. Any false, misleading or incomplete information may result in denial of the visa or refusal of entry into China.

(3) fill the form without any blank, if some items do not apply to you, type N/A or None in the corresponding spaces.

(4) try to avoid the abbreviation unless it is recognized, like IBM.

(5) with a total page of 4, you may print the form double-sided after completed all the information.

FAQs and Useful Tips of China Visa Application Form

☞ What to do if I forget to print out my online application form?

Once you start a visa application form online, there will be a Application ID created. Remember to write down or print the numbers, so you can retrieve you completed application form, download and print it and make an appointment online.

☞ Where to download Hong Kong & Macau Visa Application Form?

If you are not exempted from Hong Kong/Macau Visa, you can apply for visa/entry permit to Hong Kong/Macau directly from the Chinese Embassy in person, or from the local HK/Macau Immigration Department by post. You can fill in the form, download and print it for submission. (Check Hong Kong Visa , Macau Visa to find out if you need to apply for a visa for Hong Kong or Macau SARs).

For Hong Kong: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/forms/hk-visas/visit-transit.html;

For Macau: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/eng/EDoN.html#EDoN_VII

☞ What should know about the online appointment?

To ensure your submission goes smoothly at CVASC, each applicant should book an appointment, make it early in peak business season. You can cancel, reschedule the appointment online if you can’t attend.

How to Get a Visa for China - Chinese Visa Application Guide

❶ find out what kind of visa you need.

Read different types of Chinese Visa to figure out which kind of visa you should apply for. Determine if you are suitable applicants for each visa type, by judging your purpose of visiting is for travel, business, work, transit, family reunion and etc or not. China Tourist Visa (L Visa) is for visitor going to China for tourism, F Visa is for exchanges, study tour, Business Visa (M Visa) is for commercial and trade, Student Visa (X Visa) is for studying in China. More Chinese Visa Types >>

❷ Apply for a Chinese Visa

According to various visa policy, applicants meet relevant requirements can submit China Visa application at Chinese Embassy, Diplomatic and Consular Missions or special ports of entry. You need to prepare and submit your valid passport with at least 6 months’ validity and blank pages, copy of passport’s first page, completed visa application form pasted with 2 recent photos (color photo with white background, taken within past 6 months, size: 48mmx33mm), sufficient visa fee and service charge and other supporting documents.

❸ Collect & check your China visa

The processing time differs from visa types. Normally, it takes about 4 to 5 business days for applicant to get a China Visa, and the accurate collection date will be noted on the pick-up slip. If you submit China Tourist Visa (L Visa) on Monday, you can pick up on Thursday. Check carefully the visa type, duration of stay, number of entries if they are issued correctly or not, after getting your passport back. Double check the validity when you plan to enter China, otherwise you will be denied entry.

Travel China Visa Free with China Discovery

China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. To fulfill your dream tour to China, we not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also will provide you useful Invitation Letter to help you obtain Chinese Visa, even customize a China Visa-free Tour in Beijing , Shanghai , Xian , Chengdu , Hangzhou and more available destinations if you meet relevant visa requirements.

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● 1 Day Valuable Hong Kong Tour
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Top China Visa-Free Cities

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Ultimate China Visa Guide
Do I Neee A Visa for China
How to Read China Visa
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How to Apply for China Visa
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China’s Visa-Free Policies: Latest Updates

China has fully reopened its borders, promising recovery of international tourism and travel. Many of the visa-free travel policies that were in place prior to the pandemic have therefore come back into effect, enabling people from a wide range of countries to visit China on a short-term basis. In this article, we provide an overview of all of the China visa-free travel policies currently available and explain who is eligible to enjoy them.

UPDATES (March 7, 2024) : According to official news, China will expand its unilateral visa-free travel policy to six additional European countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, during the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024. Ordinary passport holders from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

UPDATE (February 18, 2024): On February 9, 2024, China’s National Immigration Administration announced the expansion of the 30-day visa-free travel policy to the province of Hainan – to include more allowed purposes of entry. The expanded entry purposes for the Hainan visa-free policy include for business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, and sports competitions. However, work and study purposes are excluded from this arrangement.

UPDATE (January 25, 2024): China and Singapore have officially agreed to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Starting from February 9, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

UPDATE (January 8, 2024): China and Thailand have agreed to a permanent visa-free policy starting March 2024, fostering diplomatic relations and stimulating economic activity in their respective tourism sectors. Click here for more information regarding this mutual free-visa agreement between China and Thailand.

UPDATE (December 8, 2023): On December 8, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the Notice on Temporary Reduction of Fees for Applying Visa to China . According to this notice, during the period from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024, China shall cut visa fees by 25 percent across the board for foreign travelers. For more details, please consult with your local Chinese embassy or consulate.

UPDATE (December 7, 2023): China and Singapore are seeking to establish a mutual 30-day visa-free travel arrangement to boost people exchanges between the two countries, according to Reuters . At the time of writing, no further details have been released regarding the timeline or the eligibility, requirement, and application procedures of this new arrangement. Click here for more information regarding this mutual 30-day visa-free travel between China and Singapore.

UPDATES (November 24, 2023) : According to the official announcement on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will grant unilateral visa-free travel for holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, during the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024. Holders of ordinary passports from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days. Click here for more information on this new 15-day visa-free travel/transit policy granted to citizens of five European nations and Malaysia.

UPDATES (November 17, 2023) : According to an official announcement from the China National Immigration Administration (NIA), China has added Norway to the list of applicable countries that qualify for the 72/144-hour visa-free transit on arrival. Starting from November 17, 2023, Norwegian citizens will be able to enjoy the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy offered in 23 Chinese cities, covering 20 cities and 29 entry and exit ports. Click here for more information related to the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy.

After almost three years, China has finally reopened its borders to international travelers and tourists, and in March 2023, it resumed issuing all types of visas to foreigners . This means China has begun permitting people with valid travel documents that allow visa-free entry back into the country and has once again started issuing its short-stay entry permits that are available on arrival for citizens of certain countries.

Below we provide an overview of all the visa-free options that are currently available for people traveling to China, and who is eligible to enjoy these policies.

Countries with mutual visa exemption agreements with China

China has also signed agreements on mutual visa exemption with over 150 countries, which enables certain citizens to travel to China without a visa. However, for the majority of countries, visa-free arrangements apply only to diplomatic or official passports.

A few countries do enable visa-free travel to China for citizens holding ordinary passports. Citizens from these countries are allowed to travel to China without a visa for up to 30 days for the purposes of tourism, travel, business, and visiting family or friends.

These countries are:

The Bahamas
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Maldives
Mauritius
San Marino
Seychelles
The United Arab Emirates

Citizens from the above countries will still need to apply for a corresponding visa to China if they intend to work, study, or settle in China, or intend to stay for longer than 30 days.

Countries with 30-day visa-free travel to China

China and Singapore have officially agreed to implement a visa-free entry policy for their citizens, allowing stays of up to 30 days.

Starting from February 9, 2024, individuals holding ordinary passports and traveling for tourism, family visits, or business purposes will benefit from this new agreement. The agreement, signed in Beijing, marks a significant step in creating closer ties between the two nations and facilitating smoother travel for their citizens.

Countries with 15-day visa-free travel to China

In the past, citizens with a valid ordinary passport from Japan, Brunei, and Singapore have been permitted to travel to China for a period of up to 15 days without applying for a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting to a third country. However, this policy was suspended since the end of COVID-19 restrictions in China.

On July 26, 2023, the 15-day visa-free travel to China policy was resumed for citizens of Brunei and Singapore, the latter of which has been upgraded to a 30-day visa-free travel since February 2024, as introduced earlier.

On November 24, 2023, China announced that its 15-day visa-free travel policy was expanded to five European countries and Malaysia. During the period from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, Holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

Then on March 7, 2024, China announced that it had decided to expand its 15-day visa-free entry policy to another six European countries, including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. During the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from the above countries can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

To note, citizens from these countries would previously also have had to apply for a visa in advance if they:

Expect to stay in China for more than 15 days; or
Intend to study, work, settle down, or attend an interview in China.

At the time of writing, it’s still not clear when this policy will be resumed for citizens of Japan. This means citizens from Japan still need to apply for a Chinese tourist, business, or another type of visa to enter China at this time.

24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit

China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country.

Note that people are excluded from this policy if they are:

Not permitted to enter the country as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations (such as people who have been subject to sanctions or travel bans);
Hold a passport or other international travel document that is valid for less than three months upon the time of arrival, or which has a refusal stamp from a Chinese visa issuing agency;
Have records of illegal entry and exit, illegal residence, and illegal employment in China in the last five years; and/or
Have violated accommodation registration regulations in the last two years and the circumstances are deemed serious.

144-hour visa-free transit

Under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy , foreign travelers can apply for a six-day entry permit to certain Chinese cities upon arrival at the port of entry, provided they hold a passport from one of the 54 eligible countries. They also must show that they are traveling to a third country after leaving China, which means they must show a connecting ticket to a third country when arriving in China. This is a great option for people who want to make a short stop-over to explore various areas of the country.

The 54 countries are:

25 countries in the Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
15 other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.
Six countries in the Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
Two countries in Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
Six countries in Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Eligible travelers can only apply for the 144-hour visa-free transit if they enter through one of the 29 designated ports of entry in 20 mainland Chinese cities. In addition, travelers are only allowed to travel within a certain area on the entry permit and exit the country through designated ports as well. People who travel outside the permitted area and exit the country through a non-designated port may face certain penalties.

For more information on eligibility requirements, permitted ports of entry and exit, and permitted scope of travel, see our dedicated article: 144-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy for Foreigners .

72-hour visa-free transit

Travelers from the 54 countries that are eligible for the 144-hour entry permit are also eligible for the 72-hour visa-free policy . However, there are currently only three entry ports in China that offer 72-hour visa-free entry, as the majority of ports that previously offered it now offer the 144-hour permit instead. The ports are Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Harbin Taiping International Airport, and Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

Travelers who enter through Guiling and Harbin are only allowed to travel within the scope of the cities themselves, whereas travelers who enter through Changsha are permitted to travel within the whole of Hunan Province.

All the same requirements and restrictions for the 144-hour entry permit apply to the 72-hour entry permit.

24-hour visa-free transit

All international travelers (except those exempted due to special circumstances ) that are transiting through China are permitted to apply for a 24-hour visa-free entry permit upon arrival. As with the other two visa-free transit policies, travelers must provide a connecting ticket to a third country. They are not permitted to leave the city in which they arrived during their 24-hour stay and must leave the country within 24 hours.

China visa-free policies for individual travelers and tour groups

Pearl river delta .

People from countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and are traveling in a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macao can travel to the nine mainland Chinese cities of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for up to six days without a visa. The same policy also applies to tour groups visiting Shantou in Guangdong Province, as long as their activities do not extend beyond the administrative area of Shantou.

To be eligible for this policy, the tour group must depart from Hong Kong or Macao.

International tour groups of two and above who arrive on a cruise ship at Shanghai Cruise Port can get 15 days of visa-free travel to Shanghai and other coastal provinces, regions, and municipalities in which the cruise ship berths. These are Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.

The tourists are allowed to travel around the cities in which the cruise has berthed, as well as neighboring cities. This includes Beijing but otherwise does not include any cities or regions outside the above-mentioned provinces and regions.

The tour groups must be organized by travel agencies that have registered with the Shanghai Tourism Administration and Shanghai Customs.

Citizens of 59 countries are now eligible for 30 days of visa-free travel to the province of Hainan for purposes s uch as business, visiting, family reunions, medical treatment, exhibitions, sports competitions, and other needs (excluding long-term working and studying). Eligible travelers are free to travel around the whole province of Hainan and can travel from Hong Kong or any other place outside Mainland China with a direct flight to the island. This visa-free access will count its 30-day duration from 00:00 the day following the entry date.

This policy was previously only applicable to tour groups but was expanded to individual travel as well on March 15, 2023. On February 9, 2024, the 30-day visa-free travel to the province of Hainan was expanded again to include more allowed purposes of entry.

The eligible countries are Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, 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, UAE, Qatar, Monaco, and Belarus.

Tour groups consisting of a minimum of two people from the 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines) that are organized and hosted by a travel agency registered and approved by the tourism authority of Guilin, Guangxi Province, can enter and exit through Guilin airport port and stay in Guilin for up to six days without a visa.

Visa-free travel for tour groups from six countries

Some of the agreements on mutual visa exemption also enable visa-free travel for tour groups. These countries are Azerbaijan, Belarus , Russia , Georgia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan.

The requirements for the tour groups differ slightly between the different countries’ agreements and may include having a minimum of five people in the tour group, and in general, the trip can last up to 30 days. There are no limits placed on where the tour group can travel, but the tours must be organized by certain designated agencies.

Special cards enabling China visa-free entry

Apec business travel card holders .

Holders of a valid Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) can enter China multiple times within the card’s validity period for business purposes for periods of up to 60 days at a time. The ABTC is valid for five years and thus functions as a five-year multi-entry visa.

Only citizens of the 21 APEC member economies are eligible for the ABTC (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia; Singapore; Taiwan, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam).

Note that although Canada and the US do offer ABTCs, they only provide fast-track immigration processing and do not offer reciprocal entry arrangements, meaning that ABTC holders from the US and Canada are not eligible to enter China directly without a visa, and vice versa.

In addition, candidates must engage in regular business travel through the APEC member economies and not hold a criminal record.

Entry to China with the ABTC was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed on August 24, 2022.

Permanent residence card holders

It goes without saying that holders of a Chinese permanent residence card do not need to apply for a visa to travel to China, and can freely leave and enter the country through all passenger ports for work, business, family visits, and travel.

To be eligible for the permanent residency card, foreigners must meet a relatively high bar of work and liquidity requirements, which vary from region to region. For more information on this topic, see our articles on applying for a permanent residence card in Shanghai , Guangdong , and Beijing .

Residence permit holders

Foreigners with residence permi ts issued by Chinese public security organs who are in China for work or study are permitted to leave and enter the country as many times as they wish without applying for a visa each time, provided it is during the vali dity period of the residence permit.

Foreigners and foreign journalists who come to China for work or study are required to apply for a residence permit after first entering the country.

Note that the residence permit will be provided as a sticker in the passport with the word “residence” on it, rather than as a separate residen c e card .

China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates . The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done so since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at [email protected] .

Dezan Shira & Associates has offices in Vietnam , Indonesia , Singapore , United States , Germany , Italy , India , and Russia , in addition to our trade research facilities along the Belt & Road Initiative . We also have partner firms assisting foreign investors in The Philippines , Malaysia , Thailand , Bangladesh .

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General Information
How to get a Visa
Step By Step Guidance(visa)
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Guide to Application for Chinese Visas

（ Updated 1 4 th Mar . 202 3 ）

From the 1 5 th of March 202 3 , the visa requirements for visits to China will be adjusted according to the latest notice from the Chinese Embass y and Consulates in South Korea. The updated processing procedures and material requirements are as follows :

1. Please fill out your visa application form and make a reservation online through https://www.visaforchina.org . Please DON’T forget to print out your visa application form as well as the reservation form in advance before submitting your application at the scheduled time .

2. All Visa applicants must submit the application documents in person and have their fingerprints collected.

Please be noted that fingerprint collection is not required for:

a. Children under 14 years old or adults over 70 years old.

b. Diplomatic Passport Holders, diplomatic officials or courtesy visa applicants.

c. Applicants who have had fingerprints collected and have obtained Chinese visa issued by the same Chinese Embassy, Consulates, or the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers with the same passports within 5 years.

d. Applicants whose ten fingers are all mutilated or whose fingerprints are not able to be collected.

Applicants w ho don’t require fingerprint collection could entrust a third party to submit the application.

3. D ocuments for applying:

a. Visa Application Form and Reservation Form.

b. Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least 2 pieces of blank visa page s . A photocopy of the passport page that contains your photo, personal information, and signature.

c. A recent immigration certificate or entry confirmation slip or a valid Korean alien registration card or a Korean visa (third-country citizens only)

d. Previous Chinese passport or previous Chinese visa (suitable for Chinese nationality, and later joined foreign nationality) .

e. Specific document s for different visa categories:

f. To apply for an emergency humanitarian visa, such as going to China for a funeral or visiting a critically unwell patient, the deceased’s or patient’s identity document (such as a Chinese ID card or a foreigner passport, etc.), a death certificate of the deceased or a medical certificate a critical illness notice of the patient issued by the hospital, relatives Proof of relationship and other documents will be required for submission .

4. All Visa Categories mentioned above shall be applied via the Chin ese Visa Application Service Center. You may contact our center for the specific procedures and requirements for issuing visa.

About the Chin ese Visa Application Service Center:

Busan Chinese Visa Application Service Center

Address ： 5thFloor, C1 Haeundae I ’ PARK, 38 Marine City 2-ro Haeundae, Busan, the Republic of Korea.

Call: 051-9200800

Fax ： 051-920-0866

E-mail: [email protected]

5 . Please contact the Chinese embassy or consulates in Korea for diplomatic and public service visas.

14 th Mar. 2023

Chinese visa application service center

Business Hours: Monday - Friday

Visa application: 9:00-15:00

Payment and collection: 13:00-15:00

NOTICE: Our visa counter will accept rush(express/urgent) service(3rd working day/2nd working day) application until 11:30.

Location： 5 th Floor, C1 Haeundae I’PARK , 38 Marine City 2-ro Haeundae, Busan, the Republic of Korea

Call：051-920-0800 ( Please leave your name and contact number by e-mail when the phone call cannot be connected )

Fax：051-920-0866

Email： [email protected]

How To Apply For China's Tourist Visa: Easy Step-By-Step Guide

I had never been as frustrated with travel planning as when I was applying for my 10-year tourist visa to China this year.

I didn’t blame the fact that China required a visa, I blamed the confusing process of how to apply. The lack of a step-by-step guide for people in the USA mixed with the confusing lawyer-like language used in the China Embassy’s official documents = pure confusion on what to do.

After scouring the web to piece together the full process, I finally set out to apply for the 10-year tourist visa. In less than a week of applying online , I picked up my visa and was good to travel for the next 10 years!

Looking back on it, I’m glad I got it over with early on in my travel planning process. I would’ve hated to have to deal with all of this 1-2 weeks before my trip!

For reference, I applied for the 10-year tourist visa in April, but my trip wasn’t until November.

Once you figure out HOW to apply and actually submit your application, it’s really not too bad. Especially since I’ve created this easy-to-understand guide to walk you through all the steps you need to apply for your very own China tourist visa.

NOTE: This guide is for US citizens applying for the tourist visa (L) within the USA. I don’t have experience with any other countries/nationalities, thanks!

Before Applying For The China Tourist Visa: Things You Need To Know

The first and most important thing I need to mention: there is no way of applying for a China visa completely online . You will need to physically provide your passport to a visa office at some point. There’s no way around this, and that’s because they need to stick your new China visa onto one of the pages in your passport.
You must start by completing a visa application form to apply for a China visa. This can be done online or on paper.
You’ll then need to submit your visa application form + supporting documents to a China Visa Application Service Center (this is a physical place). These are going to be at a Chinese embassy or consulate somewhere in the USA. There are multiple locations.
You can’t just choose any location you feel like. You have to go to the one that services your state/area. More on this later.
a recently-taken color photo behind a white wall (can be uploaded digitally if filling out the application online, or a physical photo if applying on paper application)
a valid passport
printed out visa application + confirmation letter
other supporting documents (more on this later)
You’ll need to visit the visa office twice: first to submit your application, then again in 3-4 days to pick up your passport (with your brand new China visa inside).
You can apply in person for yourself, have someone else turn in the forms for you / pick up your visa for you, or pay a travel agency to do it all for you.
That’s the general overview of the process. Let’s dive into the details a bit more.

Step 1: Find a consulate location that services your area.

The first thing you’ll want to do is locate which Consulate General location you’ll have to go to in order to apply for (and pick up) your visa. You can use this link to see all the current locations.

You CANNOT pick one randomly, you can only go to the one that services your area.

So how do you know which consulate you have to go to? Locate where you live on this list or this list . Your state/region will be listed under one of the consulates. That’s the one you’ll need to go to.

For example, I live in Northern California, so I had to go to the Consulate General in San Francisco . If you live in Utah, your assigned location is the Embassy in Washington DC.

Also, note that the area formerly serviced by the Houston consulate is temporarily being serviced by the Embassy in the United States (DC location) as the one in Houston closed down.

Step 2: Fill out the COVA application

Start your online application . Go to the China Online Visa Application (COVA) and fill out the application using your information.

You’ll be asked all kinds of questions: personal information, the type of visa you’re applying for, how long you want it for, names of family members (parents), work history, emergency contact info, where you’re going to be traveling to in China and on what dates, where you’ve traveled to in the last 12 months, etc.

I would allot 30 minutes of your time to fill out the whole application. It felt like forever when I was applying, but I think it took me about 30 minutes. You can always save your progress if you need to look up information and revisit the application process at a later time.

Just be sure to note your application ID so you can pull it up later.

I’ll give you some pointers on how I filled out my application because some questions were quite confusing.

One of the first things you need to do is upload your passport photo. I took a selfie against a wall and used Lightroom to turn my gray background white. The system accepted the photo. (Background must be white!)
For Given name(s), it should include your first name followed by any middle name(s). It needs to match the name on the passport.
For National ID number, I applied with N/A
For Type of Visa, I selected (L) Tourism. Here are the rest of the visa types for reference.
For Visa Duration, I entered 120 months with a maximum stay of 60 days. I also chose “multiple” for the number of entries.
For Itinerary information, I ballparked my travel dates from city to city (Hong Kong – Xi’An – Chengdu – Chongqing) as I had not yet booked my flights, but I gave the best estimate I could based on where we were in the trip planning process.
Since they are no longer requiring flight confirmations and hotel confirmations, the trip itinerary section doesn’t need to be very detailed. Addresses of hotels didn’t seem to even be required fields (I filled out half of them for the ones we had already booked).
For Work Experience info, I did the best I could but it’s okay not to be exact. For example, I included my previous employer’s general phone number instead of my supervisor’s number. You can also provide a quick description of your job duties (my example: “blogger/travel writer”). No need to go into detail.

Normally visa applications take 3-4 days to process, but you can specify in this application to expedite it (2-3 days).

I chose not to expedite my application. I applied on a Monday and received a pick-up date of Thursday .

How quickly do you need the visa?

If you live in the area and can get to the visa office pretty easily, no need to expedite.
If you’re traveling from out-of-state to apply, you’ll probably want to expedite to save on an extra night’s worth of hotel costs.
If your trip’s departure is like next week, you’ll probably want to expedite to be on the safe side!

Should you apply for a 3-month visa or a 10-year visa? The visa process is the same regardless if you apply for 3 months or 10 years. Moreover, it’s currently the same price!

My entire family and I went for the 10-year option as we knew we’d be visiting China a lot once my parents retired!

Step 3: Print out/gather all your documents.

Once you finish filling out the application, you’ll get a confirmation letter that looks like it’s got QR codes on it. You’ll have to print this out along with a few other things to bring to the visa office.

Here’s the full list that was required of me when I was applying (April 2024). Be sure to check for the latest requirements !!!

Confirmation letter – you need to print and sign this
Completed visa application – you need to print and sign this (on the last page)
Your physical passport
Photocopy of your passport’s bio page (the page that shows the photo and the document number)
Proof of residence documentation (a photocopy of your ID, bank statement, utility bill, etc.)
I did single-sided printing and printed pages in color just in case.
When you print the visa application, make sure to include the confirmation page as the first page.
I did not bring a physical copy of my photo since I had uploaded it along with my online application. This was not asked for at the visa center either.

Step 4: Show up at the visa center.

At the time of writing, you can’t make appointments online. They are taking walk-ins only.

When you are looking for the address of where to go, look for the consulate’s Visa Application Office , not the general Embassy address.

For example, I GPS’ed to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco . Once I got to the door (on Laguna St.), I saw a sign letting visa application visitors know that the Visa Application Office was on the street perpendicular to where I was (Geary Blvd.).

Depending on the time you visit, be prepared to wait.

I showed up at 9:15am on a Monday (15 minutes before they opened) and there were at least 70 people in line in front of me. Despite the crazy-sounding line, it didn’t take as long as I had anticipated! I was out of there by 10:55am.

PRO TIP: For the SF location, show up near closing time as opposed to first thing in the morning. I asked the security guard when the best time to visit was for the shortest lines, and he told me “at the end of the day, right before we close”.

This may vary by location, so take that tip with a grain of salt! But when I went to pick up my visa 3 days later, I showed up at 1:50pm (the visa office closed at 2:30pm) — and he was right — no lines! There must have been 10 people in the entire office compared to my initial visit where there were 100+ people waiting at the same time.

Once you’re there, hand all of your documents to the visa processer. He/she will look your application over (rather quickly) and make sure you have all the necessary docs. They will then take all of your documents (including your passport) for processing/approval.

If all looks good, you’ll get a slip of paper (pick-up slip) telling you exactly what date to come back to pick up your passport. You can come anytime on that date. Again, no appointment is needed.

My experience: For proof of residence, I had actually just brought my physical driver’s license instead of making a photocopy of it. The lady told me I had to go to make a photocopy of it, then go back to her window once I was done with that.

Luckily, the office had a set of photocopiers (costs $0.25 per page) as well as passport photobooths (for people who forget to bring photos for their applications). Bring quarters or some dollar bills in case you need to use the copy machine.

Step 5: Pick up your passport.

After a few days, it’s time to go back to pick up your passport. When you go to pick up your passport, you will pay for the visa at this time.

There’s a separate line that moves much faster for passport pick-ups. For my pick-up, I was in and out of the visa office in under 10 minutes.

Since a lot of people applying for China visas are from out of state, they often worry about how long it takes to pick up their passports.

Again, in general, your passport will be ready in 2-4 days, depending on if you choose expedited service.

Also, you don’t even need to be the one showing up at the visa office! Per the Los Angeles consulate site , “visa applications may be submitted in person by the applicant or someone else with the passport and all supporting documents”.

Once you flip through your passport booklet, you’ll find a brand-new visa glued to one of your passport pages. Viola ! You are ready to go to China!

Lastly, stay updated with the latest info!

The latest info/updates will always be on the China Visa Applications website . I know, it’s hard to read because of how outdated and simple the site looks, but there’s always useful info on there.

Like when I was applying, I was able to see that they had recently reduced the visa fee to $140, regardless of how long the visa’s duration is. And that at the end of 2023, they had actually simplified the visa application to not require flight confirmations, proof of hotel reservation, or invitation letters.

Meanwhile, all the other outdated websites and blog posts out there mentioned needing an invitation letter.

To be clear, as of April 2024 (when I wrote this), invitation letters are NOT required.

Always refer to the China Visa Applications website for the latest info!

Hope this step-by-step guide to applying for the China tourist visa was helpful. You can message me if you have any additional questions about applying for a tourist visa as a US citizen.

Rhea Yasmine Alis Haizan

SINGAPORE: Even as Malaysia anticipates an influx of Chinese travellers following the implementation of a visa-free programme between both sides, it must make efforts to maintain the expected momentum of inbound tourists, an analyst told CNA.

Among the initiatives Malaysia could explore are to implement hassle-free immigration lanes to ensure the ease of travel, as well as conduct studies to understand Chinese tourist purchases and behaviour.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Sunday (Nov 26) that visitors from China - as well as India - would be granted visa-free travel for visits of up to 30 days. This will take effect from Dec 1.

"Next year, Malaysia will be celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties with China," Mr Anwar was quoted by local media as saying during the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) annual congress over the weekend.

Dr Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran, a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s faculty of human ecology, told CNA that the occasion is “a big advantage for Malaysia to (carry out a) massive promotion” to attract tourists from China.

China is one of the biggest markets for Malaysia’s tourism businesses, he said. He warned, however, that other dominant players in the region could pose a threat to Malaysia’s goal of drawing in Chinese tourists.

Malaysia's neighbouring country of Thailand, for example, has waived visas for Chinese nationals from Sep 25 until February next year, to middling results .

Meanwhile, a similar visa-free policy was also announced by China for Malaysia and five other European countries - namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain - that will begin on Dec 1. The visa-free entry into China for these countries is valid for visits of up to 15 days and is part of a one-year trial.

Malaysian tourists whom CNA spoke to said that the removed hurdle of a visa application has piqued their interest to travel to China, although they said that the inability to access everyday apps like Google may pose an issue to their travels.

MAINTAIN MOMENTUM OF CHINESE TOURISTS, URGE ANALYST

The move by Malaysia to grant 30 days of visa-free entry will increase the number of Chinese visitors, said Dr Puvaneswaran, who urged local tour and travel authorities to maintain the expected momentum of Chinese tourists.

“This move is actually a ‘promotion trailer’ to introduce a bigger ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2026’ to the Chinese market,” he told CNA, adding that the influx of Chinese tourists has the potential to reach its peak in 2026.

“Visit Malaysia Year” is a campaign held by the Malaysian government every several years to promote the country as a tourist destination. The most recent in this series was Visit Malaysia Year 2020, themed “Visit Truly Asia Malaysia”.

Dr Puvaneswaran noted that Chinese tourists make up the biggest market for Malaysian tourism businesses, apart from travellers from Singapore and Indonesia in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

When contacted, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) told CNA that Malaysian hoteliers are prepared for the influx of Chinese tourists, adding that increased tourist arrivals would significantly boost the recovery rate of Malaysia's hotel industry.

"The number of arrivals we receive now still lags behind the figures we achieved pre-pandemic," said the association.

"We hope that ... the government would use this opportunity to enhance their China-targeted marketing efforts.

Commenting on the travel pattern of Chinese visitors, Dr Puvaneswaran said that many tourists from China also visit neighbouring countries like Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

“Thus, their travel to Malaysia is not always a lengthy stay,” he told CNA.

To address this, he stressed that Malaysia should diversify its tourism products in order to set it apart from its competitors, especially Thailand.

“There are many cultural and community-based tourism products which are unpolished diamonds in Malaysia. These could be properly established for the Chinese market,” he said.

Beyond that, a mega Chinese New Year Festival next year in Malaysia - marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries - could be organised, suggested Dr Puvaneswaran.

He added that to increase tourism numbers, both the Chinese and Malaysian governments could implement hassle-free immigration lanes, as well as an app to track tourist data in order to further understand their purchases and behaviour.

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Ms Su Yaxuan, a Chinese citizen who is currently residing in Singapore, said that the visa-free entry to Malaysia would make her travel plans there even more convenient.

“In fact, I already have a Malaysia e-visa. I’ve always wanted to visit Malaysia more, and the prospect of visa-free entry simplifies the process for me,” she told CNA.

The Malaysia e-visa has a three-month validity period and costs about RM105 (US$22), according to the Malaysian immigration department’s website.

Ms Su said that the application process for the e-visa is relatively convenient as she does not need to go down to the embassy to submit her documents. It only took three days to obtain the visa, she added.

Nonetheless, the PhD student said that she welcomes the visa-free entry program for Chinese travellers.

“I’ve always had the desire to spend more time in Malaysia because I’m a huge fan of the food, culture, and water sports the country has to offer.

“(The visa-free entry) is particularly exciting because I’ve been considering trying scuba diving in Malaysia and with this new policy, I can explore this opportunity without any additional visa preparations,” said Ms Su.

According to the Global Times, the search index on the major Chinese travel platform Qunar for Malaysia nearly doubled compared to the previous week after the visa-free program was announced.

During the tabling of Budget 2024 in October this year, Mr Anwar said that the government is aiming to pull in 26.1 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026. The government has also allocated RM350 million to boost tourism promotions and activities, he said.

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Dr Song Haiyan, the Associate Dean in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told CNA that more countries are expected to be granted visa-free entry into China in order to prop up tourism in the country.

“The announcement of visa-free countries last week is the beginning of many (more) to be announced in the future,” said Dr Song.

“The main purpose is to encourage international tourists to visit China, which is badly needed for many destinations within China. Although domestic tourism is booming, international tourists are lacking due to the three-year lockdowns.”

According to local media, Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said in July last year that in 2019, 3.1 million Chinese tourists had visited Malaysia, as compared with 1.38 million Malaysians who had been to China.

Explaining why the six countries last week were granted visa-free entry, Dr Song said that the countries “are relatively neutral towards the conflicts between China and the United States, and they are also major import-export countries with China.”

“So visa-free entry for such citizens … will further stimulate the economic ties with these countries,” he told CNA.

He added that moving forward, China needs to simplify the payment systems for foreign tourists.

“International tourists from these countries still prefer cash payments when purchasing goods and services in China.

“Although WeChat and AliPay have linked their payment systems to Visa and MasterCard, there are still many problems in terms of getting the payment systems working properly for mobile phone users from these countries,” said Dr Song.

China’s mobile payment network became highly closed-off to overseas tourists since mobile apps became the predominant payment method in the country in the late 2010s, reported Reuters.

Foreign visitors often find themselves unable to pay for things in China where many shops and restaurants now only accept mobile payment rather than credit cards or cash.

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Ms Sebrina Tai Thye, a Malaysian project engineer, welcomed the initiative by China, particularly after her previous visa applications to enter the country were fraught with numerous difficulties.

“When I had some questions to ask, I was not able to contact the Chinese Visa Application Centre. I tried calling the centre number provided on Google multiple times but no one picked up,” said the 25-year-old.

She added that issues encountered at the visa centre took a long time to be resolved.

“When booking an appointment to submit my visa application, I accidentally booked an appointment for ‘legalisation’ instead of ‘visa’. I was denied entry (at the centre) and had to apply for another appointment on another date … to (submit my visa),” said Ms Tai.

The visa centre is located in Kuala Lumpur, an estimated 3.5-hour drive from Johor Bahru where Ms Tai lives.

Ms Tai added that her visa was not approved on time for one of her business trips to China. “As a result, I had to postpone my flight by a week,” she said, noting that the visa centre website had no information about how long the visa approval would take.

Ms Tai said that while she is eager to visit China for leisure purposes due to the visa-free entry for Malaysians, she found it inconvenient at times as mobile applications she was used to using had been blocked.

“China is a beautiful country to experience. (But) it was quite inconvenient for me to navigate and explore (the country) at first because I was so used to using apps such as Google search engine and Google maps,” she told CNA.

Under China’s Internet censorship policy, several applications which are commonly used worldwide, including Google, cannot be accessed in China.

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Another Malaysian traveller, Mr Johan Ariff, said that he would be interested in travelling to China, especially as he will not need to fork out any money for a visa.

“I won’t need to worry about having to book a visa. And I could also save a lot of money since I won’t have to pay for a visa,” said the 25-year-old maintenance engineer.

A visa for a single entry to China for Malaysians can cost anywhere between RM105 to RM320.

Mr Johan also told CNA that it would be helpful if more information about China were available, especially on social media.

“Since the Chinese society is somewhat restricted … from the world, it’s hard for potential tourists like me in other countries to get a better view of what it’s actually like in China, and how advanced their society really is,” he said.

Malaysia needs time to study Asean joint visa proposal, says Home Minister

Sunday, 21 Apr 2024

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BANGKOK: Malaysia needs more time to consider Thailand's proposal regarding a joint visa programme with six other Asean countries to attract more foreign tourists to the region, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The Home Minister said the proposal is still in the early stages of discussion, and Malaysia needs to obtain more information about it.

"Thailand wants to take advantage of the collaboration of six Asean countries that have potential in tourism and economy.

"But Malaysia is always seeking a balance between economic potential and the interest of maintaining national security," he told Bernama recently.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin previously proposed a "Schengen" or joint visa initiative with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam to further boost tourism in the six member countries, which had combined foreign tourist arrivals of 70 million people in 2023.

In another development, Saifuddin said Malaysia is making several recommendations to China to extend the tourist visa for Malaysians to 30 days from the current 15 days.

He said the proposal will be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for approval first.

Since Dec 1, 2023, Malaysia has implemented a 30-day visa exemption for Chinese citizens, while the Chinese government has granted a 15-day visa exemption for travellers from Malaysia. - Bernama

Tags / Keywords: Saifuddin Nasution Ismail , Srettha Thavisin , Malaysia , Thailand , Asean , Visa

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Thailand Announces Permanent Visa Exemption Agreement With Kazakhstan

Find details here as thailand works on a permanent visa exemption plan with kazakhstan to bring tourism back to pre-pandemic arrival numbers..

By: Pyusha Chatterjee Published: Apr 22, 2024 04:00 PM UTC

Thailand Announces Permanent Visa Exemption Agreement With Kazakhstan

In a strategic move to boost tourism to pre-pandemic levels, Thailand plans to enter into a permanent bilateral visa exemption agreement with Kazakhstan soon. According to the agreement, tourists from Kazakhstan can stay in Thailand visa-free for 30 days at one time and a maximum of 90 days within any given 180-day period. Travellers from Thailand will enjoy the same visa-free privileges.

More about Thailand’s visa exemption for Kazakh tourists

Thailand’s government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, announced that the country’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s cabinet has approved the visa exemption. He added that it will be signed during Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu’s Bangkok visit on April 23, as reported by Hindustan Times .

Chai further added that the agreement will come into effect 30 days after finalising official procedures.

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Thailand has seen a significant rise in tourists from Kazakhstan since the temporary visa exemption programme began in September 2023, contributing to their goal of reaching pre-pandemic tourist numbers (around 35-40 million) by year-end. This popular Southeast Asian destination has already recorded a jump of over 40 percent with 11 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024 so far.

Chinese travellers top the list of tourist arrivals with over two million visitors, closely followed by tourists from Malaysia, Russia, South Korea and India, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand has reported.

With tourism generating roughly 12 percent of Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the visa waiver is expected to further boost revenue in the sector, targeting THB 1.8 trillion (approx. USD 49 billion) by the end of 2024.

(Feature image credit: Sara Dubler/Unsplash)

Related: Thailand, China Declare Permanent Visa-Free Travel Pact; Details Inside

Pyusha Chatterjee

A journalist, Pyusha has previously worked with media organisations including The New Indian Express and Hindustan Times. A solo traveller by choice, she loves exploring life more than anything else, after food of course. When she isn't gardening, writing, reading, cooking or singing out loud, you can spot her watching films and series, debating with .. Read More friends or organising things unnecessarily. Read Less

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.