11 Most Important Things You Should Know About Chinese Visa

Here are the most useful visa-related tips and advice for you.

1. Always Check China Visa-Free Policy First

Why not take advantage of the visa-free policy to visit China if you qualify for it? You should know there are cost-effective ways to travel to China.

At present, ordinary passport holders of Singapore, Brunei, and Japan can visit China without a visa for a tourist tour, business, or family and friends for no longer than 15 days.

International transit passengers may get 144-hour Visa-free Transit in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and 20 other cities (27 ports) in the Chinese mainland. Or they can obtain a 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption and layover tour in Guilin, Harbin, Changsha.

Tourists from 59 countries can enter and stay in Hainan visa-free for 30 days at most.

Besides, there are other visa exemption rules implemented in China.

2. Apply for a China Visa by Yourself or via a Visa Agent?

It’s difficult to say whether getting a China Visa is complicated or not. People may give different opinions based on individual situations.

If you have time and energy or have experience obtaining a visa before, we suggest you apply yourself. It will save you money and give you experience for future visa application cases. It’s always better to learn and rely on yourself.

Those who don’t fully understand China Visa application procedures, or have a tight schedule, better seek help from the agency.

3. Best time to apply for a Visa for China

In regular situations, it takes about 4 to 5 working days. Some foreigners can also use expedited services (Express or Rush Service) to speed up the visa processing time to 1-2 working days. Therefore, we advise you to apply for a China Visa one month before your proposed travel date (to China).

Before you apply, check the office hours and holiday schedule for the Chinese Embassy/Consulate or China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC). Leave enough time for preparation, and avoid busy periods before & after holidays.

Tips: Chinese Embassy or Consulate may request applicants to provide other documents or supplementary materials.

4. Invitation Letter for China Visa

An invitation letter is required for a China Visa Application if you plan to visit China for the tour, study, and other purposes.

Default fax, photocopy, or printout of the invitation letter is valid. But, the consular officer has the right to require the applicant to provide the original. To ensure authenticity and avert sending materials again, we suggest submitting the original invitation letter at the first time of application.

5. Is a Physical Examination Report required or not?

You do not need a physical examination for regular China Visa applications (China Tourist Visa – L visa).

However, applicants may be required to submit a medical examination report when applying for a China Student Visa or China Work Visa in some countries, including Rwanda, etc.

6. Make an Appointment in Advance?

If you apply for a China visa via China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in the UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and 40 other countries or regions, you must use the application form number to make an online appointment beforehand. Otherwise, CVASC will decline your application.

Some Chinese Embassy / Consulates also require advanced appointments to save time and ensure each application proceeding in order.

You can submit directly to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the US during office hours. No appointment is needed. A few embassies will accept walk-in submissions.

7. Apply for a China Visa by Post?

So far, a postal China Visa application is accepted in Australia, where applicants can mail application materials to China Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) and get things back by postal. Thus, Express and Rush Services are not available. And the postal application takes around ten working days.

Most China Visa Application Service Centers have optional postal-return services for applicants. You must pay extra express fees.

Some Chinese Embassies / Consulates abroad may offer mail-back services for convenience.

8. Get an Express Visa for China

A regular China Visa application process takes around 4 to 5 working days. However, if you need to get a visa to travel to China urgently, you can pay for Express or Rush Service when submitting your application to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. The expedited service will shorten the visa processing time (1 to 2 working days).

[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Warm tips:

– Not all Chinese Embassies / Consulates offer Express or Rush Service, so you need to check with the official first if you are in need.
– There are submission and collection hours, so pay attention to them.
– The Chinese Embassy / Consulate has the right to request supplementary documents. That may cause longer processing time even though you’ve paid for expedited service.[/box]

9. Alteration of Types & Validity of China Visa

– Before arrival in China

If your trip plan changes or the validity of your China visa is shorter than expected, it’s doable to reapply for a China Visa with the same procedures and payment. But, you have to request the obtained visa voided by the visa office. Visa fees are not refundable, and you need to pay for a second application.

– After entry into China

Once your purpose of stay has been changed, or your visa will expire soon, you may apply for China Visa Renewal and Extension at the Exit & Entry Administration Department of the local Public Security Bureau (PSB). The application needs to be done seven days before the expiration date.

10. China Visa refusal / Find Possible Reason

Accidents sometimes happen. Though submitting all required documents, some people may get a China Visa rejected, even for no specific reason. You must understand there is always a reason for that denial. Would that affect later applications? Can I apply as soon as possible? Any advice for another submission? The first step is to calm down and figure out the situation.

Below are some possibilities of the refusal you can take a reference:

– Issues of application materials:

Passport: Check whether your passport has a validity of at least six months left, or have at least two blank visa pages, or has a refusal stamp, or is damaged;
Application form: Check if all answer boxes are filled truthfully and correctly as required; don’t give any false information;
Photo: Check if the photo size, color are correct;
Supporting Documents: Check the Invitation letter, air ticket booking, hotel reservation, travel itinerary, and the purpose and date of visiting China.

– Bad records:

Having a past or current criminal record, or involving in any illegal activities could cause a denial.

– Proof of Finance:

If the provided financial certificate can’t support you during the trip, the officer may doubt your intention (illegal work in China).

– Other Reasons:

You forgot to make temporary accommodation during the last trip to China; you have a police record in China; you stayed illegally in China before; you lack an essential explanation for the relationship between you and the person inviting you; you have come from a terrorist country, etc.

11. What to Notice for Entry in China?

1. Before taking a flight, cruise to enter China, please check if your visa is valid and has enough entries approved. If it expires or no valid entry is left, you must apply for a new China Visa.

2. Visiting China with animals, plants, currency, and items must comply with Chinese laws and regulations.

3. You can’t perform activities not related to the reporting purpose. For example, if you hold a tourist visa, you can’t work or reside in China.

4. Any overstaying is forbidden. Pay attention to the passport and China Visa validity. Extend the visa in advance if necessary.

5. Without permission, you can’t travel to areas restricted to foreigners.

6. If you hold an invalid China visa, you will not enter China.