China Visa Guide 2026: How to Apply for a Tourist Visa
Not everyone needs a visa — 50 countries can enter China visa-free. If yours cannot, this is how to apply, what it costs and how long it takes.
🔍 Check If You Can Enter China Visa-Free →Which visa do you need?
The letter is printed on your visa and decides what you may do in China. Most visitors need one of the four below.
Sightseeing, holidays and visiting friends — the standard choice for a normal trip.
Trade fairs, meetings and commercial visits. Needs an invitation from a Chinese company.
Visiting close family who are Chinese citizens or foreign residents in China.
Passing through China on your way to a third country. See the 240-hour rule below.
Work, study and long-term residence use different visa categories — apply through your employer or school.
How to apply, step by step
You apply at the Chinese embassy or visa application centre that covers where you live — never from inside China.
- 1Find where to apply
China uses outsourced visa application centres in most countries. Find the one covering your city; you must apply in the country where you legally live.
- 2Fill in the online form
Complete the COVA form on the centre’s website, then print and sign it. It is long — budget an hour and have your itinerary ready.
- 3Book an appointment and go in person
Most centres require an appointment. You give fingerprints on the day unless you are under 14 or over 70.
- 4Pay the fee
Fees depend on your nationality and how many entries you want. Check the fee table on your visa centre’s website — some nationalities pay far more.
- 5Collect your passport
Standard processing is usually 4 working days; express costs more and is faster. You collect from the centre you applied at.
What you need to prepare
- Passport valid for at least 6 months, with blank pages
- Your printed and signed application form
- One recent passport photo to the required size
- Round-trip flight bookings — a reservation is normally enough
- Hotel bookings covering every night of your stay
- An invitation letter if you are visiting friends, family or a business
✈️ The shortcut: 240-hour visa-free transit
If your country is not on the visa-free list, check this before paying for a visa. Under China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy you can enter without a visa for up to 10 days when travelling on to a third country.
- You must be travelling on to a third country — not back to where you came from.
- You may only enter through the ports that take part in the scheme.
- You need a confirmed onward ticket and somewhere to stay for each night.
Official sources: National Immigration Administration (NIA) · CVASC · Chinese Embassy in your country
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