Chinese Visas

What is a Chinese visa?

A Chinese visa is an official document that allows visitors to enter the people's Republic of China within a specified period of time. The Chinese visa includes your name, passport details, visit purpose and date of entry, and exit.

What is a Chinese tourist visa?

A Chinese tourist visa is usually issued to the tourists who come to China as tourists, and can be issued once, twice or more times, usually 30, 60 or 90 days each time. For British passport holders, a tourist visa is valid for two years and allows multiple stays of 90 days per entry. Please note that you cannot apply for this visa more than 90 days before your first entry.

The visa will be issued one or two times. The validity period starts from the date when the consulate issues the visa for you. You need to leave China before the expiration of the validity period. For single entry visas, the validity period is 90 days, for two entry visas, the validity period is 90-180 days.

What is a Chinese business visa?

Chinese business visa is usually issued to passengers who come to China by way of official or private business, and can be issued for one time, two times or more times, and can stay for 30, 60 or 90 days each time.

Business visas are usually valid for two years and allow multiple entries for 90 days each time. Please note that you cannot apply for this visa more than 90 days before your first entry. For all other nationals, the visa can be issued for one, two, or more visits within the validity period from the date of application to the consulate. You need to leave China before the expiration of the validity period. For single entry visas, the validity period is 90 days, for two entry visas, the validity period is 90-180 days, for multiple entry visas, the validity period is 6-12 months.

What is China's transit visa?

Chinese transit visas are used by travelers who travel through China to a third country (or region). These visas are issued on the basis of a train or ship ticket confirming the date of arrival and seat number of the country (or region) of destination. You must also have a valid visa (if required) or residence in the country (or region) of destination.

The visa allows one-way (single entry) or two-time (two entry) transit by train, usually up to 7 days by train and up to 10 days by air. This visa is valid for 90 days. From the date when the consulate issues the visa to you, you should enter China before the expiration of this validity period.

72 hours visa free transit

In addition to 24-hour visa free transit, China also provides 72 hour visa free transit for citizens of 53 countries passing through Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Harbin, Kunming, Shanghai and Shenyang, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, Qingdao, Nanjing, Changsha, Xiamen and Xi'an. Click here to learn more. If you need a transit visa, please contact our visa team, who will guide you through the visa application process.

144 hours visa free transit

In some countries, Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Chengdu, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Kunming, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei also offer 144 hour visa free transit policies. This allows passengers from 53 countries or regions in Guangdong Province, Shanghai Jiangsu Zhejiang region, Beijing Tianjin Hebei region, Liaoning province or Chinese cities Chengdu, Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan and Kunming to transit for no more than 144 hours (6 days) without visa.

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