Country Overview

Business Culture

Clothing Size Guides

Communications

Cost of Living

Culture and Society

Demographics

Driving and Autos

Economy and Trade

Education

Educational Resources

Environment

Export Process

Food Culture and Drink

Geography

Government

Health and Medical

History

Holidays and Festivals

Import Process

Language

Kids' Stuff

LGBTQ+

Life Stages

Maps

Media Outlets

Money and Banking

Music

Names

National Symbols

Points of Interest

Quality of Life

Real Estate

Religion

Security Briefing

Social Indicators

Travel Essentials

Travel Essentials: Visa and Passport

Passports

Summary of Requirements

Passport

Required for all travelers

Visa

Required for all travelers except citizens of Singapore, Brunei, and Japan who are staying for up to 15 days, and Mauritius who are staying for up to 30 days

Return Ticket

Applicants for a tourist visa may be asked to provide proof of travel documents exiting China

Additional Restrictions

Aliens exiting China must possess a valid exit certificate
China does not recognize dual citizenship
HIV-positive travelers are now permitted to enter China, but will not be issued residence permits

Passport

A passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into China is required for all travelers.

Visa

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States are required to obtain a visa to enter China.

Visa-Exempt

No visa is required for ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Brunei, and Japan to visit China for up to 15 days, or Mauritius for up to 30 days, for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, or transit.

Transit visas are not required of aliens who hold an airline ticket to the final destination and will stay in a Chinese city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.

Transit visas are not required of citizens of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets, and booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and United States.

Visa Required

Citizens of all countries other than Singapore, Brunei, Japan, and Mauritius (who are not eligible for the transit visa exemption mentioned above) are required to obtain a visa to enter China.

Visa Requirements

A Chinese tourist visa is normally valid for 90 days from the date of issuance for a trip of up to 30 days. The following documents are required to apply for a tourist visa (L):

A passport valid for at least six months past the date of visa application and a copy of its information page
One completed visa application form
One recent passport photo glued or stapled to the application form
Evidence of financial capability to cover the traveling expenses in China, and when necessary, the tickets to the country/region of travel after leaving China
Some applicants visiting relatives in China are required to provide invitation letters from their relatives in China

Note that additional documents may be required in some cases. Additional requirements apply for applicants whose former nationality was Chinese. For more information about a tourist visa and an application, please see the website for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the People’s Republic of China: www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ljzg/3647/3648/.

Visa Types

China issues the following types of visas:

Crew Visa (C)
Resident Visa (D)
Business, Study, or Internship Visa for a stay of less than six months (F)
Transit Visa (G)
Visa for foreign resident media correspondents and their accompanying dependents (J-1)
Visa for foreign correspondents or related personnel who come to China for short-term news coverage (J-2)
Tourist Visa for 30-90 days (L)
Student Visa for more than six-month stay (X)
Employment/Work Visa (Z)
Macao Visa
Hong Kong Visa
Tourist Group Visa
Diplomatic Visa
Official Visa
Courtesy Visa

More Information

Note that information for travel to Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) differs from that of Mainland China. The passport and visa information included here may not apply to these regions. Visit the website below for more information about travel to Hong Kong and Macao. Also note that the information provided here is subject to change. Travelers are advised to obtain the most current information from the primary source. For more information about Chinese visas, residence, and immigration, as well as application forms and fee information, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the People's Republic of China at www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng or contact the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the People's Republic of China; US Department of State