Do US citizens need a visa for China?
Yes, for a normal tourist trip. Unlike Canada and the UK — which China added to its 30-day visa-free list in 2026 — the United States is not on that list. You apply for an L (tourist) visa before you travel.
What kind of visa do US citizens get?
Thanks to the US–China reciprocal agreement, American tourists are usually issued one of the most generous visas available:
Validity from issue — you don’t reapply each trip.
Unlimited entries during the validity period.
Typical stay per entry (some travelers get 30 or 90).
Good news: your Chinese visa stays valid even after your US passport expires. Renew the passport and travel with both — the old one holding the visa and the new one for ID. (This US-specific rule differs from Canada, where the 10-year visa expires with the passport.) If your 10-year visa was issued before 26 March 2020 and unused during the pandemic suspension, confirm its status with the consulate before you fly — later-issued visas work normally.
Apply at the embassy or a consulate — not a CVASC
The US has no Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) network — that outsourced system serves the UK, Canada and Australia. In the US you apply directly at the visa office of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC or one of four consulates general. (The Houston consulate closed in 2020; its states are now handled by the DC embassy.) You must use the office covering your state of residence.
| Office | Covers (summary) |
|---|---|
| Embassy — Washington DC | DC, MD, VA, WV, DE, KY + the former Houston district: TX, FL, GA, NC, SC, AL, AR, LA, MS, OK, TN, PR |
| Consulate General — New York | NY, NJ, CT, PA, OH + New England (MA, RI, VT, NH, ME) |
| Consulate General — Chicago | IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, WI, ND, SD, NE |
| Consulate General — San Francisco | Northern CA, NV, OR, WA, AK, HI, ID, MT, WY |
| Consulate General — Los Angeles | Southern CA, AZ, NM, CO, UT + US Pacific islands (Guam, etc.) |
Since 30 September 2025, all US posts use the new China Online Visa Application (COVA) system at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/. The old cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn address no longer works.
What you need to prepare
Since 1 January 2024, tourist (L) applicants in the US no longer need flight bookings, hotel reservations, an itinerary, or an invitation letter. The list is short:
PassportValid 6+ months, with at least 2 blank visa pages.
PhotoColor, 33 × 48 mm (1.3 × 1.9 in), white background, full face, no glasses. Taken within 6 months.
COVA formCompleted online; print the barcode status page to bring with your passport.
Proof of residenceA licence, state ID, or utility bill showing you live in that consulate’s district. Plus any previous Chinese visa.
How to apply, step by step
Complete the form onlineAt consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/ (US switched to this on 30 Sep 2025). Upload your documents for pre-review.
Wait for pre-reviewWhen status shows “Passport to be submitted,” print the barcode page. You have 30 days to bring the passport in.
Submit the passportTake the passport + barcode page to the visa office. You may entrust a friend or agency — short-stay visas need no fingerprint through 31 Dec 2026.
Pay & collectStandard processing is about 4 business days. Express (+$25) is 2–3 days. Check the visa details on pickup.
How much does it cost?
US citizen fees are set by reciprocity. China’s consular fee reduction runs through 31 December 2026 — the rates below are the reduced figures. After that they may rise, so applying before year-end locks in the lower cost.
| Entry type | US citizen fee |
|---|---|
| All entry types (single, double, or 10-year multiple) | US$185 flat |
Express service adds US$25; urgent adds US$37. Pay by card or money order at the visa office. Fees and rules change — confirm the current amount on your consulate’s official site before you apply.
Common questions
Do I need a visa if I stay under 10 days?
Only under the 240-hour transit rule (connecting onward to a third country/region). A normal visit of any length still needs an L visa.
Is my old 10-year visa still valid?
Usually yes if issued after 26 March 2020, or reactivated since. Visas issued before that date were suspended during the pandemic — check with the consulate if yours falls in that window.
Can I apply fully online?
Partly. The form and documents go online via COVA, but the physical passport must be submitted (in person or by an entrusted person/agency).
Do I need a visa for Hong Kong or Macau?
No — US passport holders enter Hong Kong (90 days) and Macau (30 days) visa-free. But crossing into mainland China from there still requires a mainland visa unless you qualify for transit.
Start from the top
Our first-time guide walks through visa, packing, money, and your first 24 hours in order.