Visa For Mainland China
Visa applications for mainland China
China has a special visa for mainland China which allows you to travel independently to numerous places. This guide will tell you where you can go using this visa, and how to apply for one (or extend it).
Purpose of Travel Visa: Short visit visa (mainland travel)
We’ll be covering how to obtain a Chinese visa, the various types of visas and their costs, as well as suggestions in terms of planning. We hope this article will be a valuable source of information for any traveler who may require a visa to enter mainland China.
Do you want to travel to mainland China? You can! There are many options that allow a U.S. citizen to travel to China and experience many of the world’s most extraordinary areas that are known for tourism attractions, like Yangshuo in the Guangxi region or Shanghai in the Yangtze River Delta. But there is one thing that the majority of these extraordinary places have in common: they require a visa and they do not accept all visa types, especially if you’re a citizen of a developed country!
We live in a modern world that is constantly being updated with experience, information and technology. One of the best ways to see a completely different way of life, culture and history is by traveling. There is hardly anyone that doesn’t want to travel at least once in their lifetime.
The first step to obtaining a visa for mainland China is to determine whether or not you need one. If you’re a US citizen who is traveling to mainland China for sightseeing, business, or study purposes, then you’ll need a tourist visa.
Once you’ve determined that you do indeed need a tourist visa, there are two ways to apply: online or at an embassy or consulate. You can apply online by visiting the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website and completing the application form there. You will need to provide some personal information such as your name, address, phone number, and passport number. You’ll also have to submit photos of yourself and your passport photo page (you can take these photos with your smartphone).
You may also apply for your tourist visa at an embassy or consulate in Canada or another country where one exists; however, it’s important to note that this may take longer than applying through the online application center. If this method sounds appealing to you but doesn’t work with your schedule, then consider taking advantage of our visa services!
A visa for mainland China is required by all foreign visitors to the country. In order to apply for a visa, you must first have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from China.
You may also need to submit an application form, a passport photo and possibly other documents depending on whether you are applying in person or by mail. If you are applying in person, you will also need to provide your fingerprints and facial image.
You can apply for a Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC or at other Chinese embassies around the world.
Visas for mainland China can be a complicated process, but it’s not as difficult as it seems.
First of all, you’ll want to get your Chinese visa at least three weeks before you intend to travel. It’s also important that you apply in the correct location—if you’re not sure where that is, contact us and we’ll help you out!
If you are planning to visit mainland China, you will need a visa.
You can apply for a Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General in your home country or in another country. If you apply for a Chinese visa in another country, you may need to pay additional fees.
A Chinese visa is valid for a single journey to mainland China. It is not valid for Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan. You should check with the authorities of those places if they issue visas which are valid for travelling there from mainland China.
If you plan to visit mainland China and need a visa, you can apply here.
Visa application procedures
Nationals who are not from visa-exempted countries are required to apply for a Chinese visa prior to entry into China. When applying for a visa, the applicant can choose to apply either through a travel agency or directly to the Chinese diplomatic missions.
In the latter case, the local diplomatic mission may outsource the handling of applications to a Chinese Visa Application Service Center (Visa Center), or a Chinese Visa Application Service Facility (CVASF). The Visa Center is “a commercial service organization registered in accordance with local laws and regulations and recognized by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General to handle the daily routine work of processing ordinary visa applications”. The CVASF is similar organization but is run exclusively by VFS Global. Visa applicants residing in countries that host Visa Centers or CVASFs are required to submit their applications to these organizations instead of the Chinese embassies or consulates. Applicants are also required to pay service fees when applying through the Visa Centers or CVASFs on top of the visa application fees.
The most recent visa application form, form V.2013, is in use since 1 September 2013. The form can be retrieved through the website of any Chinese diplomatic mission, Visa Center or CVASF. Only forms filled out with a computer are accepted, and older versions, as well as handwritten application forms, are no longer acceptable. Visa applicants also need to physically sign the declaration box of the form. Since May 2018, fingerprints of all 10 fingers of the hands, and in some cases voiceprints, are collected as part of the application process.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, all visas issued before 28 March 2020 became invalid except C visa and resident permit marked work, personal matters and reunion. Currently, passengers can only apply the following types of visas under specific conditions:
- Q2 visa if one of family members have critical health risks or attending the funeral.
- Z visa (work visa) with PU letter. PU may be exempted if applying from Hong Kong with Chinese-branded vaccine certificate or from Greece (vaccination certificate not required) or South Korea (Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna accepted with work permit)
- X1 or X2 visa (student visa) if applying from South Korea with vaccination certificate.
- F, M, S1 or S2 visa if applying from South Korea with vaccination certificate and invitation letter.
- R visa if holding ‘confirmation letter for high level foreign talents’ and applying from South Korea. Their spouses or children may apply S2 visa without vaccination certificate.
- Q1 visa if parents or spouse are Chinese and applying with Chinese-branded vaccine certificate.
- M visa with PU or TE letter.
Visa-on-arrival for emergency purposes
Visitors who would normally require a visa are able to obtain a visa on arrival at the following airports if they satisfy the following requirements:
- have genuine emergencies which prevent them from applying for a visa in advance;
- hold an invitation letter issued by a government-approved sponsor or Chinese authorities;
- have confirmation from immigration authorities that the visa will be issued on arrival; and,
- have a government-approved sponsor to meet them at the airport.
Conclusion
Touriago is a unique travel website in the sense that it recommends not just one thing to do on your trip, but multiple things for you to do and experience. The site won’t tell you what to do. It is entirely up to you. Touriago allows you to customize your trip based on what you want to see, learn about, and experience during your travel time. This is the key advantage travel apps like touriago have over travel books and guides.