FAQ

1. Prepare Documents: Gather all required materials based on your application type.
2. Complete Application Form: Fill out the Application Form of the People’s Republic of China for Visaonline.
3. Book an Appointment: Schedule an appointment to submit your application through the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC).
4. Submit Documents: Attend your appointment and submit the application materials in person at the Visa Center.
5. Pay Fee and Wait for Processing: Pay the visa fee and await the review result.
6. Collect Visa: Once approved, collect your passport with the visa as instructed.

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1. Basic Materials:
   • Original passport and a photocopy of the bio-data page (valid for at least 6 months, with at least two blank visa pages).
   • Recent color passport photo (48mm × 33mm, white background).
   • Completed Application Form of the People’s Republic of China for Visa.
   • Appointment confirmation slip (if required).
2. Travel-Related Materials:
   • Round-trip flight itinerary/reservation.
   • Hotel reservation(s) or proof of accommodation in China.
   • Detailed travel itinerary.
3. Additional Materials (if applicable):
   • Previous passports (if you have prior Chinese visas).
   • Any additional documents requested by the Visa Center.

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• It is recommended to apply at least 1 month​ before your intended travel date to avoid delays.
• Some applicants may be required to attend an interview, as notified by the Embassy/Consulate or Visa Center.
• Visa fees vary by country and visa type. Please refer to the official website of the local Chinese Visa Application Service Center for the latest fee schedule.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit the official website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC)​ or consult the nearest Chinese Embassy/Consulate.

1. Processing Time

1. Standard Processing:
   • Approximately 4–5 working days​ (counted from the date of submission of complete and qualified documents).
2. Express Service​ (if available):
   • 3 working days: Requires payment of an express fee (amount varies by country/region).
3. Urgent Service​ (if available):
   • 1–2 working days: Requires payment of an urgent fee (subject to local visa center announcements).
4. Important Notes:
   • Processing may be delayed during peak seasons (e.g., holidays, tourist seasons).
   • Additional documents or an interview may be required, which can extend the processing time.

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2. Visa Fees

1. Standard Visa Fee:
   • Fees vary by nationality, visa type, and place of application. Common references (check local visa centers for exact amounts):
     • U.S. citizens: Usually USD 140​ (single/multiple entry, possibly with additional reciprocity fees).
     • Citizens of other countries: Typically between USD 30–100​ (e.g., about CAD 100 for Canadian citizens).
2. Additional Service Fees:
   • Visa Application Service Center Fee: Approximately USD 20–40 (varies by country).
   • Express/Urgent Service Fee: Additional USD 20–50 or more, depending on location.
3. Payment Methods:
   • Most visa centers accept cash, credit cards, or bank transfers.

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3. Visa Validity, Entries, and Duration of Stay

1. Validity:
   • Usually ranges from 3 months to 10 years, depending on the applicant’s nationality, documents, and reciprocity policies.
     • U.S. citizens: Up to 10 years​ validity for tourist visas.
     • Citizens of other countries: Commonly 3 months to 1 year.
2. Number of Entries:
   • Single, double, or multiple​ entries.
3. Duration of Each Stay:
   • Usually 30 days​ (calculated from the day after entry), but some nationalities may receive 60 or 90 days.
   • Note: The actual duration is determined by the border officer upon entry. Do not overstay.

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4. Important Reminders

1. Visa validity ≠ duration of stay:
   • Validity​ refers to the period during which you may enter China; duration of stay​ refers to how long you may remain per entry.
2. Extending your stay:
   • To extend your stay, apply in advance at the local Chinese public security authorities. Tourist visas are generally not extendable.
3. Stay updated:
   • Visa policies are subject to change. Always check the latest information on the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC)​ website.

Here is a comprehensive list of visa-free and visa-on-arrival policies for foreign ordinary passport holders entering mainland China for tourism purposes, including permitted stay durations. Policies are subject to change; always verify with official sources before travel.

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1. Visa-Free Entry (Bilateral or Unilateral Agreements)

Note:​ "Visa-free" generally applies to tourism, business, or family visits. It does not permit work, study, or other long-term activities.

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2. Transit Visa Exemption

Requirement:​ Must hold confirmed onward tickets to a third country/region.

1. 24-Hour Transit Visa Exemption

• Applicable to:​ All nationalities.
• Stay:​ 24 hours.
• Condition:​ Must stay within the designated transit area of the port of entry.

2. 72-Hour Transit Visa Exemption

• Applicable to:​ Citizens of 54 countries​ (including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Schengen Area countries, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and others; see official list).
• Stay:​ 72 hours.
• Designated Ports:​ Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Xi'an, Guilin, Kunming, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Tianjin, Harbin, Qingdao, Changsha, Nanjing, and others.

3. 144-Hour Transit Visa Exemption

• Applicable to:​ Citizens of the same 54 countries​ as the 72-hour policy.
• Stay:​ 144 hours (6 days).
• Permitted Area:​ Allows travel within designated regional clusters (e.g., Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Chengdu-Chongqing, Fuzhou-Xiamen, Wuhan, Changsha, Qingdao, Xi'an, Harbin, Kunming, Jinan, Hangzhou, Dalian, Nanjing, etc.).

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3. Regional Visa-Free Policies (No Onward Ticket Required)

1. Hainan Island 30-Day Visa-Free

• Applicable to:​ Citizens of 59 countries​ (including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and others).
• Stay:​ 30 days.
• Condition:​ Entry must be through Hainan's open ports, and travel is restricted to Hainan Province.

2. 15-Day Visa-Free for Cruise Tours via Shanghai

• Applicable to:​ Foreign tour groups (minimum 2 people) organized and received by Chinese travel agencies.
• Stay:​ 15 days.
• Condition:​ Entry must be by cruise ship via Shanghai.

3. 144-Hour Visa-Free for Tour Groups in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

• Applicable to:​ Foreign tour groups organized by travel agencies in Hong Kong or Macao.
• Stay:​ 144 hours (6 days).
• Condition:​ Travel is permitted within the 9 Greater Bay Area cities plus Shantou.

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4. Visa-on-Arrival (Limited and Specific Circumstances)

Important:​ China does not​ offer a general tourist visa on arrival. Visa-on-arrival is only available in very specific scenarios:

General individual tourist visas on arrival are not available.​ Most travelers must obtain a visa in advance or qualify for one of the visa-free policies above.

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5. Important General Notes

1. Visa-Free ≠ Guaranteed Entry:​ Border officers may request proof of onward/return tickets, hotel reservations, and sufficient funds​ and can deny entry at their discretion.
2. Passport Validity:​ Passports must typically be valid for at least six months​ beyond the date of entry.
3. Policy Changes:​ Visa policies, especially for countries like Japan and Singapore, can change based on bilateral relations. Always verify the latest rules before your trip through official channels.
4. Activities:​ Visa-free entry is strictly for short-term tourism, business, or family visits. Working, studying, or other long-term activities are prohibited.
5. Visa-on-Arrival Caution:​ Do not assume visa-on-arrival is available unless you are certain you meet the very specific criteria listed in Section IV.

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6. How to Verify the Latest Information

• Visit the official website of the National Immigration Administration of China (NIA).
• Consult the Chinese embassy or consulate​ in your home country or the local port of entry immigration authority.

Final Reminder:​ This list consolidates visa-free, transit visa-free, and special visa-on-arrival policies. Citizens of most countries still require a pre-arranged visa (e.g., an L Tourist Visa) to enter China. Always confirm the specific requirements applicable to your nationality before finalizing travel plans.

As a professional customized tourism enterprise with 25 years of accumulation, our core advantages are reflected in three dimensions: "customization depth, resource barriers, and service accumulation" Customized depth: We do not create a "patchwork of scenic spots", but design an "exclusive memory based" itinerary based on your lifestyle, interests and preferences (such as photography, cultural research, parent-child interaction, etc.) (such as planning an exclusive experience of "Qinghai Salt Lake Starry Sky Observation+Expert Explanation" for astronomy enthusiasts); Resource Barrier: With 25 years of accumulation of over 500 exclusive resources worldwide (such as private tastings at the Ruyi Dali Centennial Winery and meetings with African tribal chiefs), we can achieve a deep experience in places that others cannot go to; Service accumulation: Establish a "360 ° emergency support system" to ensure your travel experience from visa pre-approval to dynamic adjustments during the trip (such as temporarily adding local festival experiences), to after-sales "travel memory packages" (photo retouching, itinerary story manuals).

Support convenient payment through multiple channels and currencies: International payments: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and other credit cards; Third party platforms: PayPal, Alipay (international version), WeChat Pay (international version); Bank transfer: It is necessary to confirm the arrival time in advance (usually 7 working days in advance) to ensure the validity of the reservation. The payment process adopts a "tiered payment" approach (such as paying a 30% deposit when booking, 50% after confirming the itinerary, and the final payment 7 days before departure), which is subject to the "Service Terms".

Transparency of expenses, strictly distinguishing between "already included items" and "additional items": Already included: usually includes customized itinerary airfare, hotels, exclusive transportation, tickets to designated attractions, and customized services (such as private guidance and experiential activities); Additional items: taxes and fees (airport tax, hotel tax), personal expenses (dining, shopping, tips), out of trip attraction/experience fees, visa fees, travel insurance (optional/mandatory), rescheduling/refund fees due to personal reasons, etc. A detailed fee list will be provided during the booking process to ensure there are no hidden expenses.

Flexible adjustment of payment policy based on product type: Regular customized tour: Pay a 20% -50% deposit to lock in resources, and pay the final payment 15 days before departure; High end customized/scarce resource products: If it involves charter flights or exclusive venue rentals, payment may need to be made in stages (at the time of booking, itinerary confirmation, before departure); Special products: Some hotels/airlines require full prepayment, which will be clearly informed at the time of booking.

To comply with airline policies and age restrictions: Most airlines only allow children aged 5-12 to apply for "unaccompanied services", and they need to submit the application to the airline in advance and pay the service fee; Some small airlines may not provide this service due to capacity and safety configuration limitations. It is recommended to confirm the airline details with our travel consultant in advance to avoid travel risks.

Must meet both destination entry requirements and airline ticketing policies: Most countries/regions (such as Southeast Asia and the Schengen Area in Europe) require "round-trip airfare" for entry, otherwise entry may be denied; If you hold a long-term visa (work visa, study visa, etc.), you can enter the country with a one-way ticket, but you need to provide proof to the airline and customs; Airlines may have additional reviews for one-way tickets, and it is recommended to confirm destination visa requirements in advance.

Rescheduling: Ticket rescheduling depends on the type of cabin (reschedulable/non reschedulable), usually resulting in a "rescheduling fee+fare difference", and must be operated within the time limit specified by the airline; Changing the destination: It is equivalent to "ticket refund and rebooking", which requires paying a refund fee and rebooking, resulting in higher costs. Specific policies are subject to airline and product terms, and it is recommended to communicate in advance to minimize losses.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we offer insurance plans that are tailored to the itinerary Cooperative insurance covers guarantees such as medical rescue, itinerary cancellation/delay, lost luggage, emergency evacuation, etc; For special itineraries such as adventure tours and cross-border tours, customized "high-risk sports protection" and "multi country joint travel comprehensive insurance" can be provided. You can also purchase through third-party platforms on your own, and we will assist you in confirming whether the coverage is suitable for your itinerary.

Implement a tiered cancellation rule (specific to the "Cancellation Terms"): Cancellations made more than 30 days before departure: free or with only a small handling fee; Cancellation 15-30 days before departure: a penalty of 20% -30% of the total fee will be charged as a breach of contract; Cancellation 7-15 days before departure: A penalty of 50% -70% of the total fee will be charged as a breach of contract; Cancellations made within 7 days prior to departure may incur full charges. It is recommended to confirm the cancellation policy when making a reservation, or choose the "flexible cancellation" product to reduce risk.

By accumulating airline miles: You can accumulate flight miles by taking flights with partner airlines during your travels; When the mileage reaches the airline's redemption standard, it can be exchanged for free tickets (or upgrades, hotel benefits, etc.); Mileage can also be accumulated through credit card consumption, membership activities, and other means. The mileage rules (validity period, redemption ratio) of different airlines vary. Our travel consultants will assist you in understanding the policies of our partner airlines and maximizing the value of your benefits.