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China Tourist Visa (L)

Most travelers to China are required to get a China tourist visa, L visa for short, which allows them to travel freely in most parts of China as tourists, assuming that they do not qualify under the visa-free policies of China. Passports, application form, and documents showing the itinerary or an invitation letter from China are the essential application documents.
 

Sample of China Tourist Visa
Sample of China Tourist Visa

In most cases, a tourist can get a single entry L visa with a stay duration of 30 days. UK, US, Canadian, Brazil and Argentine citizens are able to get a 10-year China tourist visa with multiple entries.

If travelling with an organized tour group, you might not have an individual visa in your passport.  Instead, the tour group will be issued a group tour visa bearing all the members' names. In such situations supply your details to the travel agency beforehand and you will have no further concerns.


If travelling independently, you need to handle visa affairs on your own. The process is not complicated if you follow the guidelines below.
 

China Tourist Visa Requirements & Documents

1. Passport

- Your passport  with at least 6 months remaining validity and available blank pages, and a photocopy of passport's data page.
 

2. Application Form

- One accurately completed China Visa Application Form. Please fill in every column of the application form. If the application form is not filled out truthfully, completely and legibly, there could be a delay in processing or refusal of the application.
 

3. Recent Photo

- A recent passport-size color photo with white background.
 

4. Round-trip Tickets Plus Hotel Bookings or Invitation Letter from China

- Documents showing the itinerary including proof of round trip tickets booking and proof of hotel reservation.
- Or, if you are being invited to China, you can submit an invitation letter issued by the inviter, whether it's an entity or individual, with following information:
a. Information on the applicant, including full name, gender, and date of birth.
b. Information on the planned visit, including arrival and departure dates, place(s) of visit.
c. Information on the inviter, including name, contact number, address, official stamp, and signature of the legal representative of the entity or the inviting individual.
 

5. Other Supporting Documents

a. For those not applying in their country of citizenship, a proof of legal stay or residence status is required.
b. In some cases, applicants may need to submit a certification letter from the employer of the applicant with details as follows: name and contact number of the employer, the applicant's income statement, or original copy of recent 6-month bank statement of the applicant.
c. Applicants who intend to travel to Tibet must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit, which can be obtained from Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region by travel agencies.

China Tourist Visa Requirements
China Tourist Visa Requirements
 

How to Get a Chinese Tourist Visa

After preparing all the required documents, make an appointment with Chinese embassies, consulates, or a Chinese Visa Application Center (CVASC) if there are any in your country to submit the application. Generally, applicants aged 14-70 need to go in person. If you don't need to go personally, you can entrust someone else, such as a travel agency or a visa agency to act on your behalf. Applications by mails are not accepted and will be refused at most Chinese embassies, consulates or CVASCs. But the mail-back service is available in more cases. 
 

Processing Time

It normally takes 4 working days for processing a China travel visa. For express service, an additional fee of USD 20 will be charged for two or three working day service. For rush service, an additional fee of USD30 will be charged for same-day service.
 

Chinese Tourist Visa Cost

The visa costs vary depending on your nationality and number of entries. However, according to the Visa Fee Abolition Agreement, the nationals of following several countries can get a visa for free, but must pay for express service, rush service or mail service: Pakistan, Maldives, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovakia and Micronesia. For major countries, the fee is listed below.

China Travel Visa Types US Citizens Canadian Citizens UK Citizens Australian Citizens
Single Entry USD 185 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 109.5
Double Entries USD 185 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 139.5
Multi Entries for 6 Months USD 185 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 169.5
Multi Entries for 12 Months or Longer USD 185 CAD 142 GBP 151 AUD 229.5

Click on China Visa Fees for more information.
 

China Tourist Visa Extension

If you need to stay in China past the allowed stay duration on your visitor visa, you can apply for an extension at the local Exit and Entry Administration of China seven days before your L visa expires. Your passport, a visa application form with your recent color photo attached, a registration of temporary residence, and your travel itinerary will be required for submission. If your application is approved, you can get an extended stay not exceeding the original stay duration on your visa.
 

Further Reading:

8 Tips for Filling Out Chinese Visa Application Form
Top 10 China Destinations for First Time Travelers
Top 8 Reasons Why Your China Visa Gets Rejected
 
- Last updated on Oct. 21, 2024 by Cathy He -
Questions & Answers on China Tourist Visa
Asked by Ben from USA | Oct. 19, 2024 22:05Reply
Multiple types of visas at the same time
I'm interested in traveling to China for a few different reasons and sometimes for multiple reasons on the same trip. As examples, I'm interested in attending an academic conference in Shanghai soon, but I'd also want to tour the city while I'm there. In the future, I may take my children for a tour of China, and I might again visit a university while I'm there and possibly guest lecture.

Would it work if I were to get a 10-year, multi-entry tourist visa to cover all these kinds of trips? Or do I need a separate visa (and possibly even more than one visa at the same time) for each type of visit I make?

Thanks for your help.
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Oct. 21, 2024 00:24
10Reply


You can use the 10-year tourist visa for multiple reasons like those you mentioned.
Asked by Cal from UNITED KINGDOM | Oct. 17, 2024 00:44Reply
Visa with conditional discharge UK
Hi
I’m hoping to travel to China next September and my husband was given a 12 month condition discharge in 2016 for possession of cannabis, it was his first offence and has not been in trouble since, with it being drug related what are the chances of visa being declined please ?
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Oct. 17, 2024 18:51
00Reply


I don't think it affects the simple tourist visa application much.
Asked by Danny Cheng from CANADA | Oct. 14, 2024 18:16Reply
Tourist Visa
I am Canadian and I have about 2 years of passport validity remaining, I wonder is the longest China tourist visa validity I can get is also 2 years ? And I am over 70 Years old, can my family member submit the application form for me ?
Answers (1)
Answered by Daniel | Oct. 14, 2024 23:53
00Reply


There is tourist visas valid for two years but the validity is decided by the consular officer. Since you are over 70 years old, you can entrust your family member to submit your application.
Asked by Peni Camoro Katonitabua from FIJI | Oct. 02, 2024 13:55Reply
Tourists Visa Requirements for Fiji (Oceania)
I am from Fiji, and I would like to attend the Canton Fair 2024 Phase 2 which will be held on the 23 November to 27 of November 2024. Do I need a visa?

- 1 will be in China for two weeks before returning back to Fiji.

Assistance will be very much appreciated.
Answers (1)
Answered by Lori | Oct. 08, 2024 20:45
00Reply


No, you don't need a visa for this as citizens of Fiji enjoy 30 days visa free entry to China.
Asked by Towa from CANADA | Sep. 09, 2024 11:32Reply
10 year visa
I am Canadian and I have about 9.5 years of passport validity remaining. Could I get the Chinese visa until my passport expires?
Should I put for 10 years when I am applying? and will it automatically apply till my passport expires?
Shall I just provide my hotel and flight ticket details for the first entry only? Or Do I have to have family or friend who can send me an invitation letter? I don't know anyone in China. I just want to travel and visit on and on.
Answers (1)
Answered by Lori | Sep. 10, 2024 20:18
00Reply


As your passport is 9.5-year valid, the longest visa validity you can get is also 9.5 years, the same as your passport. You can just provide the materials of first entry while applying. You don't have to provide the invitation letter if you don't know anyone in China.
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