China is the most populated nations in the world; the country is blessed with natural beauty like vast landscape with tress and grassland, desert, mountain, lakes and rivers etc. more than 14,000km of coastline. The capital city of China is Beijing; this is a city that mixes modern architecture with historic sites like the Forbidden City Palace, Tiananmen Square etc. it is one of the most developed countries in the world and the people of are friendly.
Another popular city in China is Shanghai, this is a city with the iconic Great Wall of China which runs east-west across the country’s north.
To enter China a visa is required. Whether you are going for studies, business, tourism, etc. certain processes are involved before you can be issued a visa. In recent years, amid the ongoing globalization, the Chinese Embassies and Consulate-General have been working hard to improve the quality of their visa services. About dozens of Chinese Visa Application Service Centers have been established throughout Europe, North America, and Asia to provide quality Chinese visa services so you too can take advantage of this opportunity.
Tourist Application Requirement for a China Visa
Passport
Applicants must provide their actual signed passport including a copy of the personal information page of your passport. The passport must have the following;
- The passport must be valid for six months beyond length of your requested visa (for instance, if you are requesting a 12 months visa your passport must be valid for 18 months)
- The passport must contain at least 2 blank visa pages for the visa stamp (endorsement and amendment pages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement)
- If the applicant is requesting multiple entries, the passport must contain at least two blank facing visa pages, there can be no stamps or endorsement or amendment type on the pages
- The passport must not be torn, altered, frayed, or separating in any other way.
Photographs
Applicant must provide one color passport-type photograph that meets the criteria listed below;
- The photograph must be taken within the last six month on an all-white background and printed on high-quality photo paper
- The photograph must be 48 mm tall by 33 mm wide.
- Applicant must provide the full frontal view of their head with your face centered in the middle and with a neutral (non-smiling) expression, ears visible and eyes open.
- The photograph must be have no background light or shadow over your face
- Applicants may not wear jewelry, glasses or headwear except for religious purposes.
- Applicant should not wear any garment identical to the photo background.
- The photo should not be affixed to your application and it may not show evidence of adhesive staples or tape.
Letter of Invitation
Applicant must select one of the following to fulfill the tourist visa invite requirement.
- A copy of your round trip flight ticket booked with an airline or
- Itinerary and airline confirmation: A copy of your daily cruise itinerary or if on a tour, your tour itinerary. In addition, applicant must provide a copy of your confirmed airline reservation showing all segments of your flights from state of residence in the United States to China and returning to your state of residence in the United States. Your itinerary and flight information provided must include your full names as it appears on your passport, or
- A copy of an official letter of invitation from an individual sponsor or from a governmental agency. If you have a letter of invitation from an individual sponsor in China, the invitation must include the following;
- Your name, gender, date of birth
- Purpose of applicant’s visit
- Date of arrival and departure
- Places to visit with specific names and cities
- Details of your flight itinerary and hotel reservation
- State who will bear the cost of your lodging while in China
- Information on the sponsor: name of the unit, address, and phone number, copy of sponsor passport or ID
- Have organization or company stamp or seal
If the applicant invitation is from a nongovernmental sponsor, the letter must the following;
- Your job title or occupation
- Passport number with issue and expiration date
- The relationship of the applicant and sponsor must be stated
- If the individual inviting you lives in China on a work permit, you must provide a copy of the inviter’s residence permit.
- The invitation may be a copy, fax or printout but the consular office may request the original.
Proof of State Residency
Applicant must provide a proof of current address of residency. The Document must either be a copy of your government ID, utility bill or driver’s license. The document must have the following:
- Display of your names as it appears on your passport
- Display the current residence address as provided on your visa application.
If you must submit a utility bill, please note that the consulate requires water bill, gas or electric bill; phone and cable bills are not accepted.
Visa Application Form
- It must be completed online
- Chinese visa application form includes a total of four pages. Include answers for all required fields (NA where not applicable)
- List the name of the traveler exactly as it is written in the passport
- Be printed single-sided
- Be dated and signed in blue or black ink
- Be enclosed with all other documents in your visa application
- It must be printed and signed after filling out the form.
- Submit the completed form to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center
Travel Record
Applicant must provide a copy of the travel record form which include all countries you have visited in the last 28 days, it must be signed with entry and exit dates of each.
Health Declaration
Applicant must provide Health Declaration
Individuals Born in Chinese Territories or Former PRC Nationals
If you were born in China, Taiwan, Macau or Hong Kong or you are a former PRC passport holder, you must do the following;
Applicant must write their name in Chinese characters for question 1.2 on the visa application form
- Applicant must provide a copy of their most recent China visa and a copy of the passport in which the visa was issued.
- If the applicant has never been issued a China visa, applicant must submit your original China passport and a copy f your Green Card, and a copy of your Naturalization Certificate
- If applicant were adopted from China, you must also include a copy of your adoption papers showing adoptive parents names, name change and photo with parents (don’t include the original papers) if you include a copy of your naturalization certificate and U.S birth certificate
Applicant under the Age of 18
All minors under the 18 traveling to China must provide the following;
- A copy of their birth certificate
- A copy of both parents’ passport and driver’s license
- A copy of the parents’ proof of U.S residency status (if not US citizens)
- A notarized letter of consent from both parents that states the child has permission to travel (this is needed if the parents are not accompanying the minor on the trip)
- On page 4 (Part 4) of the application form, both parents must sign Part 4and print the name of the minor
- On Page 4 (Part 5) of the application form, one parent’s information must be filled in and the same parents must sign Part 5.
Media Professionals and Religious Professionals
IF you are media professional or you are employed by a media company or you are a religious professional, even though you are not traveling for business purposes, you must submit both a personal statement and a letter from your employer on company letterhead stating that you are not traveling on company business and that you will not be performing any media or religious related work.
Urgent Applications
If you have an urgent visa application that has a tight deadline, you can be helped. you cab login to visacentral.com/visa-pre-check-service/
Cruise Passengers
Cruise ship passengers: Applicants must list the city where their ship docks in China in the Chinese address section on the application form
Previous Visas
If an applicant has been granted a China visa in the past, they must provide copy of the most recent China visa. If the visa is not located in your recent passport, you must submit the original passport the contains the previous China visa.
China Visa Validity
Applicants will be eligible for a 10-year visa given that the traveler has at least one year remaining validity on their US passport. If applicant have less than one year, they will be granted a six months visa to China.
US Citizens Born in Certain Countries
US citizens that are born in Iraq, Nigeria, Iran, Cameroon, Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria, or Tunisia who are currently traveling to China with their American passport will need to make a personal appearance in order to apply for China visa.
NGO/Non-Profit Workers
Applicants for tourist visa must provide an employer letter and personal statement. If your employer is a NGO or nonprofit your application will need additional review by the China Visa Section, the processing time vary on a case by case basis.
Applicant with Criminal Record
Applicants with criminal record will be required to appear in person at the Chinese consulate in order to provide biometrics
Proof of Vaccine
Applicant may provide an original CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card showing full vaccination status or may provide a notarized copy of the front and back of the vaccination card.
Business Visa Application Requirement for a China Visa
Passport
Applicant must provide their actual signed passport that includes one copy of the personal information page of your passport. The passport must contain the following;
- The passport must be valid for six months beyond the length of the requested visa (for instance, if you are requesting for a 12 months visa, the passport must be valid for at least 18 months)
- The passport must contain at least two blank visa pages for the visa stamp (the amendment and endorsement pages can’t be used to fulfill the requirement)
- If applicant is requesting multiple entries, the passport must contain at least two blank facing visa pages, no amendment or endorsement type on the pages or stamp.
- The passport must not be altered, torn, frayed or separating in any other way.
Photograhps
Applicant must provide one color passport photograph type that meets the following criteria;
- The photograph must be taken within the last six months in an all white background and printed on high-quality photo paper.
- The photograph must be 48mm tall by 33 mm wide exactly. Many passport photo vendors provide standard photos that are 2 inches by 2 inches.
- The photograph must show full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression, ears visible and eyes open.
- There should be no background light or shadow over your face
- Applicants may not wear eyeglasses, jewelry or headwear except for religious purposes when taking this photo
- Applicant should not wear any garment identical to the photo background
- The photo should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive staples or tape
Letter of Invitation
Applicant must provide a letter of invitation
Business Cover Letter
Applicants are required to provide a Business Cover Letter from your US based company. All letters must be printed on company letterhead that displays a US mailing address.
The letter must be addressed to Embassy of china
Proof State Residency
Applicant must provide a proof of your current address of residency. The document must be a utility bill, government ID or a copy of the form of your driver’s license. The document must display the following
- Your name as it appears on your passport
- The current residence address as provided on your visa application.
If you must submit a utility, the consulate requires water bill, gas or electric bill as cable bill or phone bill are not accepted
PU Letter
If you have secured your PU it must show the consulate applicable to your jurisdiction.
Visa Application Form
- The application form must be completed online
- Include the answers for all required fields (NA where no applicable)
- List the name of the applicant as it is written in the passport
- Must be printed single-sided
- Must be dated and signed in blue or black ink
- Must be enclosed with all other necessaru document in your visa application
Former PRC Nationals or Individuals Born in Chinese Territories
- If you were born in China, Taiwan, Macau or Hong Kong, or you are a former PRC passport holder;
- You must write your name in Chinese character for a question 1.2 on the visa application form
- You must provide a copy of your most recent China visa given you and a copy of the passport in which the visa was issued.
- Applicant that has never been given a China visa must submit their original China passport and a copy of their Naturalization Certificate, and Green Card.
- If the applicant were adopted from China, the adoption papers must be provided with the names of adoptive parents, name change and photo with parents (do not include original papers). If applicable, add a copy of your naturalization certificate and US birth certificate
Religious Professionals and Media Professional
If you are a employed by a media company, or you are a religious professional or you are a media professional, even if you are not traveling for a media purposes, you must submit a personal statement and a letter from your employer on company letterhead stating that you are not traveling on company business hence will not be performing any media or religious related work.
Previous Visas
Applicants that have been given a China visa in the past must provide a copy of the most recent issued China visa. If the visa is not on your current passport, you must submit the original passport that contains China visa
China Visa Validity
Applicant will be eligible for a 10-year visa if the applicant has at least one year remaining on their US passport. If applicant has less than a year on their passport, they will get six months visa to China
US Citizens Born in Certain Countries
If you are a US citizen but you were born in Nigeria, Iraq, Cameroon, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria or Tunisia, and you are traveling to China with your American passport. You will need to make a personal appearance at the consulate in order to apply for a visa to China
Proof of Vaccine
Applicant may provide their original CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card showing full vaccination status or may provide a notarized copy of the front and back of the vaccination card
Travel Record
Applicant must a provide a list of all countries you have visited
It must be signed
Must include entry/ exit dates of each travel
NGO/Non-Profit Workers
If you are applying for a business China visa, you must provide a personal statement and an employer letter. If your employer is an NGO or a nonprofit, your application will require a additional review, the processing time varies on a case by case basis.
Applicant with Criminal Record
Applicant with a criminal record will need to appear in person at the consulate in order to provide biometrics.
