China’s unilateral 30-day visa-free entry now covers about 50 countries (including the UK, Canada, most of the EU, Australia and New Zealand). If you’re from one of those, you may not need any visa for a short trip. You need a tourist (L) visa if any of these apply:
Not sure which rule applies? Start with our 240-hour transit guide or the first-time guide, then come back here if you need a full visa.
An L visa is issued with a number of entries, a maximum stay per visit, and an overall validity window. The consulate decides the exact combination, but here is the usual range:
Requirements were simplified after 2024 — for most applicants, tourism no longer requires an invitation letter. Typical documents:
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months, with blank visa pages.Photo
Recent colour photo on a white background, about 33 × 48 mm (roughly 1.3 × 1.9 in).Itinerary
Round-trip flights and hotel bookings for your stay. (US applicants no longer need these for a tourist L visa since 2024.)Application form
Completed online through the new China visa system, then submitted at a Visa Application Service Center.Exact requirements vary by country and consulate. Check the official Chinese embassy or visa center site for your location before you apply.
Complete the form onlineUse the new China Online Visa Application System at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/. The US rollout launched on 30 September 2025; most countries moved to it through 2025.
Book & submitMany centers require an appointment and online submission before you show up in person with your passport and documents.
Pay the feePay the visa fee plus any Visa Application Service Center handling fee when you submit.
Collect your visaStandard processing is usually about 4 working days; express options cost more. Check the visa details before you leave the counter.
Fees are set on a reciprocal basis — China charges what your country charges Chinese citizens — so they differ by nationality. Typical single-entry tourist (L) fees in 2026:
A Visa Application Service Center usually adds a handling fee of about US$10–30. The visa fee is non-refundable, even if the application is refused. Your local center lists the current amount.
Both joined China’s 30-day visa-free list in February 2026. Read the specifics before you apply for a full visa.
Apply early. Embassy workloads and holiday closures vary by country, so leave a buffer of at least 2–3 weeks before your departure date. Good news for 2026: fingerprint collection is waived for most short-term (under 180-day) tourist visa applicants through 31 December 2026.
You can apply to the local PSB Exit-Entry office before it expires, but approval is not guaranteed. Plan your trip length around the stamped stay instead.
Some centers accept mail-in applications for eligible applicants; others require an in-person appointment. Check the rule for your nearest center.
A recent colour photo on a white background, about 33 × 48 mm (1.3 × 1.9 in), taken within the last six months. The center’s spec is the one that counts.
Most Visa Application Service Centers issue a reference number you can track online, and some send email updates once a decision is made.
China’s unified online visa application system launched on 30 September 2025 (US embassies) and rolled out to most countries through 2025. You now fill the form digitally before the appointment.
Fees, appointment steps, and processing times differ by consulate. We broke it down separately in the US visa guide.
Practical first-trip China guides — visas, VPN, eSIM, Alipay, trains, and city routes.