China Transit Visa
Passing through China on your way to somewhere? You are going to need a transit visa. Here’s how it works.
A Transit (Type G) visa is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his/her way to a third country or region and will stay at a Chinese airport for more than 24 hours or need to leave the airport.
A Transit visa is generally a single-entry visa valid for 3 months with a stay of up to 7 days, unless otherwise specified on the visa application form and approved by visa officers. No multiple-entry transit visas are issued as a rule.
72-Hour Visa Free Transit: Also note that from Jan 1, 2013, passport holders of 45 countries and regions (including U.S. citizens) will be granted a visa-free stay of up to 72 hours while in transit via Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) & Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The destination and departure city cannot be the same.
Countries eligible for the 72-hour transit visa are listed here.
For frequently asked questions with regards to the 72-hour visa-free stay while in transit, click here.
TravelChinaGuide has excellent information on the China Transit Visa.
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, “Transit Visa.” Gather the required documents.
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.
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.
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