Getting A Visa For China
Nearly all foreign visitors to China need a visa. Visitors from Japan, Singapore and Brunei do not need to obtain a tourist visa before visiting China for a stay of up to 15 days.
China visas can be obtained from Chinese embassies and consulates overseas or purchased through a registered travel agency, such as iVisa. Visa forms are often available for download from the Chinese embassies' websites. Both single and multi-entry visas for China are available.
A single-entry travel visa for China is designated as type L and is valid for 30 days. The visa must be used within 3 months of the date of issue. 90-day visas and express-issued visas are also available. Single, entry, double entry and multiple entry tourist visas are all available.
90-day visas are activated on the date of issue.
Visa Types
C Flight Attendant
D Resident
F Business or student
G Transit
L Travel or visiting friends/family
X Long-stay student over 6 months
Z Work
To obtain a business or student visa for China you will need to bring an invitation letter/fax from a Chinese governmental department, university or government-authorised company.
China Visa Application
To apply for a China visa you need:
* a completed visa application form
* a passport valid for at least six months from the intended date of entry into China
* a passport photo
* a passport with a blank double page page in it
You can normally collect your passport after three days in the UK, but if you pay extra, you can pick it up the next day, or the same day depending on the fee.
Costs of a visa for China
For Chinese visas obtained in the USA for US citizens the current price (2007) is 100USD for a tourist visa - the price is the same for single-entry visas as it is for multiple entry visa over a one year period. Visa costs will rise if you get your visa through an agency.
Extending Your China Visa
China visas including 30-day tourist visas can be extended at least once at the Foreign Affairs Branch of the Public Security Bureau (PSB). Extensions, as do visas, vary in price according to nationality.
Chinese Embassies Overseas
Japan
3-4-33 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 106-0046
Tel: 03-3403-3388
Fax: 03-3403-3345
E-mail: info[at]china-embassy.or.jp
Website: www.china-embassy.or.jp
Hours: (Monday to Friday) 9.00 am-12.00 pm (except Chinese and Japanese Holidays)
USA
Chinese Embassy in Washington DC
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202)5889760
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Chinese Consulate General in New York, NY
520 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Tel:(212) 244-9392
Fax: (212) 465-1708
Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, IL
100 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Tel: (312) 803-0095
Fax: (312) 803-0110
Chinese Consulate General in Houston, TX
3417 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
Tel: (713) 520-1462
Fax: (713) 521-3064
Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, CA
443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Tel: (213) 807-8088
Fax: (213) 807-8091
Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, CA
1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 674-2900
Fax: (415) 563-0494
UK
Chinese Embassy in the UK
31 Portland Place, London
Tel. 090 0188 0808
Website: www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
Hours: 9.00 am-12.00 pm
Chinese Consulate General in Manchester
Tel: 0161-224-8672
Chinese Consulate General in Edinburgh
Tel: 0131-316-4789
Asian Visas
China 3 Day Transit Visas
Japan Visas - types of available visas for entering Japan.
Hong Kong Visas - visas for entering Hong Kong.
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