This guide should help you avoid the common mistakes that people make when trying to get a tourist visa for China. It’s not exactly easy to get around the country when you are there. In fact, it can be quite hard the first time or two. Also, if you follow our advice throughout this guide, you will be able to gain intelligence and benefit from our experiences with visas and traveling so that you do not have to spend hours and hours figuring it out for yourself.China is the world’s most populous country with a population of more than 1.35 billion. As a result, it offers a cornucopia of travel opportunities, but it is also sometimes overlooked as a destination due to the difficulty in getting a visa. On this page we will take you through the steps in getting your visa, and then later in your trip we will tell you how to avoid some of the hassle that comes with getting a visa!

Getting A Tourist Visa For China

<!–more–> For many people, travel is an integral part of life. If you are one of those people who enjoy living life on the move and having new experiences, then traveling is certainly going to be a very important part of your life. Generally speaking, it can be very hard to have multiple different currencies. This is especially true if you are going to be traveling for some time and not returning home for months on end here and there. This is where China Visa Centre’s services really come into their own.

Tourist Visa

Tourism in China requires a visa and is typically a single entry visa with a stay duration of 30 days. US citizens may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry visa.

The tourism visa requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months and it must have at least two blank pages. You must also have an invitation letter from a china travel agency or an individual or round-trip tickets and a hotel booking.

Regular service fee per visa:

$349

The China Embassy has suspended visa services for Tourist visas. Please contact the embassy directly for guidance on visa requirements.

• Requirements
• Fees

Passport

You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must:

• Be valid for six months beyond the length of your requested visa (for example, if you are requesting a 12 month visa your passport must be valid for 18 months )
• Contain at least two blank visa pages for the visa stamp (amendments and endorsement pages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement)
• If requesting multiple entries, the passport must contain at least two blank facing visa pages, there can be no stamps or amendment endorsement type on the pages 
• Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way

If your passport does not meet these requirements, please contact China Visa Service Center at 1-800-799-6560 for further details.

Photograph(s)

The Chinese Consulate requires a photograph that meets very strict requirements. We strongly recommend that you submit your photograph electronically to China Visa Service Center so we can ensure it meets the stringent characteristics mandated by the Chinese Consulate. Follow https://www.mychinavisa.com/photo-service to upload your photo.

All electronic photo submissions must be taken within the last six months against an all-white background. It must show a full frontal view of your head, face centered in the middle, the tops of your shoulders, and display a neutral (non-smiling) expression with eyes open, mouth closed, and ears visible. No background light or shadows are permitted. You may not wear eyeglasses, jewelry, or headwear except for religious purposes. Do not wear a white shirt. 

Should you elect to submit an actual photograph then it must meet all of the above criteria and:

• Be exactly 48 mm tall by 33 mm wide 
• Be printed on high-quality photo paper
• Not be affixed to your application, with no evidence of adhesive tape or staples

Note that most passport photo vendors produce photos that are 2 inches by 2 inches and are not acceptable. China Visa Service Center cannot submit applications with incorrectly formatted photographs.

Letter of Invitation

CET Academic Programs will advise you how the Invitation Letter requirement will be fulfilled for participants from your program.  Please contact CET Academic Programs if you have any questions on what you should submit to meet this requirement.

To fulfill the tourist visa invite requirement, you must select one of the following options:

• A copy of your round trip airline ticket, or
• Itinerary and airline confirmation: A copy of your day-by-day cruise itinerary, or if on a tour, your tour itinerary. In addition you must provide a copy of your confirmed airline reservations showing all segments of your flights from state of residence in the U.S. to China and returning to the U.S. to your state of residence. Your itinerary and flight information must include your full name as it appears on your passport, or 
• A copy of an official letter of invitation from a governmental agency or individual sponsor.  If you obtain a letter of invitation from an individual sponsor in China, the invitation must include the following:
  • Your name, gender, date of birth
  • Purpose of applicant’s visit
  • Date of arrival and departure
  • Places to visit, specific names of cities required
  • Details of your flight itinerary and hotel reservation
  • State who will bear the cost of the applicant’s lodging while in China
  • Information on the sponsor: name of the unit, phone number, address, copy of sponsor’s passport or ID
  • Have company or organizations seal/stamp

If your invitation is from a non-governmental sponsor your letter must include your job title/occupation, passport number with issue and expiration date. The relationship of the applicant and sponsor must also be stated. If the individual inviting you is in China on a work permit then you must provide a copy of the inviter’s residence permit

The invitation may be a copy, fax, or printout but the consular office may request the original.

Proof of State Residency

You must provide a proof of your current address of residency. The document must either be a copy of the front of your driver’s license or government ID, or a utility bill. The document must:

• Display your name as it appears on your passport
• Display the current residence address as provided on your visa application

Please note, if you must submit a utility bill the consulate requires electric, gas, or a water bill; phone and cable bills are not accepted.

China Visa Service Center Order Form

Provide the China Visa Service Center Order Form included in this kit.

Visa Application Form

One fully completed and signed visa application form. The application must:

• Be completed online
• Include answers for all required fields (NA where not applicable)
• List the name of the traveler exactly as it is written in the passport
• Be printed single-sided
• Be dated and signed in blue or black ink
• Be enclosed with all other documents in your visa application kit

China Visa Service Center provides a guide to assist you in completing the application. To access the guide follow this link: https://www.mychinavisa.com/forms?formname=China Application Tour Kit Guide.pdf or type the address into your browser.

Travel Record

You must provide a copy of the travel record form included in this kit. The form must:

• Include all countries that you have visited in the last 28 days 
• Be signed
• Include entry/exit dates of each travel

Health Declaration

Applicants must provide the Health Declaration Form which can be found within the China Visa Service Center Application kit.

Authorization Letter

You must provide a letter of authorization found in this kit, authorizing China Visa Service Center to submit and collect your visa application and documents on your behalf.

Former PRC Nationals or Individuals Born in Chinese Territories

If you are a former PRC passport holder or were born in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau:

• You must write your name in Chinese characters for question 1.2 on the visa application form
• You must provide a copy of your most recent China visa and a copy of the passport in which the visa was issued
• If you have never been issued a China visa you must submit your original China passport and a copy of your Green Card, and a copy of your Naturalization Certificate
• If you were adopted from China you must also include a copy of your adoption papers showing adoptive parents names, name change, and photo with parents (do not include the original papers).  If applicable, include a copy of your naturalization certificate and U.S. birth certificate.

Applicants Under the Age of 18

All minors under the age of 18 traveling to China must:

• Provide a copy of their birth certificate
• Provide a copy of both parents’ passports or drivers’ licenses
• Provide a copy of the parents’ proof of U.S. residency status (if not U.S. citizens)
• Provide a notarized letter of consent from both parents (if the parents are not accompanying the minor on the trip) that states the child has permission to travel. To access a sample consent letter, follow this link: https://www.mychinavisa.com/forms?formname=ParentalConsent.pdf or type the address into your browser
• On Page 4 (Part 4) of the application, both parents must sign Part 4 and print the name of the minor
• On Page 4 (Part 5) of the application, one parent’s information must be filled in and that parent must sign Part 5

Media Professionals and Religious Professionals

If you are a religious professional, media professional or employed by a media company, even if you are not traveling for business purposes, you must submit both a personal statement and a letter from your employer on company letterhead indicating that you are not traveling on company business and will not be performing any media or religious related work.

Urgent Applications

If you have an urgent visa application that carries a tight deadline, China Visa Service Center can help you to save valuable time and avoid expensive delays. A China Visa Service Center expert will review all of your documents to certify your application is accurate, complete and ready for submission. We will contact you personally to quickly handle any mistakes ensuring your application is submitted correctly. Visit https://www.mychinavisa.com/visa-pre-check-service to learn more about this service.

Cruise Passengers

Cruise ship passengers: You must list the city where your ship docks in China in the Chinese address section of the application form.

Previous Visas

If you have been granted a China visa in the past, you must provide a copy of the most recent issued China visa. If the visa is not located in your current passport, you must submit the original passport containing the previous China visa.

U.S. Embassy Registration (Recommended)

The U.S. State Department recommends U.S. citizens register with the U.S. Embassy(s) in the countries they plan to visit. Feel more secure about your international travels by having China Visa Service Center register your trip with the U.S. Department of State. Registration notifies the U.S. Embassy in each country of your travel plans and enrolls you in the State Department travel advisory and warnings program. To enroll in this optional service complete the registration form in this kit and send it to us with the rest of your documents.

China Visa Validity

Applicants will be eligible for a 10-year visa provided that the traveler has at least one year of remaining validity on their U.S. Passport. If you have less than one year you will be granted a six-month visa to China.

China Visa Service Center can help you renew your passport. Call 1-800-799-6560 for more information.

U.S. Citizens Born in Certain Countries

U.S. citizens born in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tunisia, Turkey, or Syria who are currently traveling to China with their American passport will need to make a personal appearance in order to apply for a visa to China. China Visa Service Center will be unable to assist you with your visa request.

NGO/Non-Profit Workers

If applying for a tourist visa, you must provide an employer letter and personal statement. Processing time varies on a case by case basis. If your employer is a NGO or nonprofit your application will require additional review by the China Visa Section.

Applicants with Criminal Record

Travelers with a criminal record will be required to appear in person at the consulate in order to provide biometrics.

Proof of Vaccine

You may provide your original CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card showing full vaccination status or you may provide a notarized copy of the front and back of the Vaccination card.

Additional Documents

You must complete a “Where You Stay” form included in this kits.