China Tourist Visa
China is becoming ever so popular for tourists, especially tourists from the United States. Mandarin is one of those languages that I wished I had started as a little kid as I think it will be one of the most up and coming languages over the next century.
If you are interested in getting a tourist visa for China, the process is well documented. Tourist visas (L Visa) are issued to an foreigners who come to China for sightseeing or visiting family members or friends or for other personal affairs.
You can NOT apply for a visa for China by mail, FedEx, DHL, UPS, internet, or any other method for the vast majority of Chinese embassies and consulates. In almost all cases, you MUST appear in person. If you can’t go to the consulate in person, use one of the visa agencies I recommend below to take care of your visa for you. As of the time of this writing, the only embassies that offer mail service are the Chinese Embassies in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the UK.
- Is a visa required for U.S. citizens: Yes, valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and allows stay in China for up to 30 days.
- Is a visa required for non-U.S. citizens: If you are not a U.S. citizen, check this page here to see if you need a visa.
For some excellent information on the China tourist visa, check out Travel China Guide.
To view more Chinese visas, click here.
Each consulate might require slightly different documents to apply for the visa. First, go to the website of the consulate that is responsible for your jurisdiction.
- If you’re inside the U.S, you can find your jurisdiction here.
- If you’re outside of the U.S., at this site here.
Once at the homepage of your consulate, you will see a link somewhere on the homepage that says “Visas” or “Consular Information.” Click on the link.
Continue to follow the links to find the information on the visa. You will normally see a link that either says “How to Apply for a Visa” or “How to Apply” or, simply, “Tourist Visa.” Gather the required documents.
An example of the required documents can be found here.
- Find out what fees you need to pay for the visa. The fees will be listed on your consulate website.
- The consulates enable expedited processing of visas if you pay an additional fee.
- Submit your documents and the fees to the consulate.
Congratulations! After a period of waiting, the Chinese Consulate/Embassy will give to you your brand new Chinese visa.
Frequently asked questions on visas for China are answered here at the China Embassy website.
Don’t get sick! Check vaccination requirements here at the CDC.
Further Reading
Want Professional Visa Help? If you are a U.S. citizen and want professional help with getting a visa, check out my post on the 4 Best Travel Visa Services in the United States.
Worldwide Moving Guide: Everything you need to know in order to plan your move to 65+ countries around the world.
Find an Embassy or Consulate: Check my Worldwide Embassy and Consulate Finder to find the diplomatic representation nearest you.
Worldwide Jobs Guide: Be sure to check out my posts on how to find jobs in any country in the world.
Worldwide Dating Guide: Also, check out my posts on the best online dating sites in 60+ countries around the world.
About Addison Sears-Collins
Hey! I'm Addison Sears-Collins, the founder of Visa Hunter. You can learn more about me here. Connect with me by liking my fan page on Facebook, connecting with me on Twitter, or check out my website Automatic Addison where I build robots and embedded systems.
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