Special Topic: China Visa Guide

When people hear the word “visa,” almost immediately they shudder and three words erupt from their lips, “Too much trouble.” I shyly admit that the first time I heard that I needed a visa for China, I almost decided against going altogether. I imagined hours upon hours filling out paperwork, at an embassy laden with unfriendly staff in a room resembling the Department of Motor Vehicles in the USA, which I loathe so much. Nothing sounds more inconvenient than a trip to a consulate, carrying passport photos and a folder filled with Xeroxed papers and certificates.

The first time I came to China, I was uninformed. I recall trying to call five Chinese consulates in the USA; 3 were either closed, or didn’t answer, or had outdated web pages. I remember that I had read that I had to go to the consulate myself to get the visa, which sounded super since the closest one was in Texas and I happened to live in Georgia at the time. Realizing that driving to Texas was out of the question, I started to look online to see what options I had in terms of getting a visa.

Photo: Andrea Hunt

Types of Visas:

First of all, there are different types of visas. Depending on how long you want to travel, you need to consider your options. Also, remember that if you plan on going to any other country and back to China, you need to have a multiple entry visa. This also includes Hong Kong and Macao. Mind that you plan this accordingly, or you will have to spend an extra day, and your money, in Hong Kong waiting for them to process a new tourist visa for you. It’s better if you aren’t sure how long you are going to China for, if you just get the longer visa to be on the safe side.

If you plan on traveling around China for a long time, you will probably need to renew the visa you have at some point. The kinds of visas that are available inside the country are NOT always the same as what is available outside the country. For example, during the Olympics here in Beijing, foreigners could not get a tourist visa for more than a month’s duration while those outside of China could still get them for up to a year. Many times, the regulations change without notice. It’s always best to plan ahead and then check once you are in China. When you are IN CHINA, check this section on where to renew your visa by city.

If you are trying to get to China, the first thing you need to do is assess what kind of visa you are going to need to arrive in China. This article will dissolve the mystery involved in what kind of visa to get.

If you are traveling to China to backpack around, you are probably only going to need a tourist visa. However, there are regulations that allow you to change over one visa to another. These restrictions often change; to find out the most current visa regulation check online.

Tourist Visa (L Visa) - this type of visa is issued to foreigners who enter China temporarily for touring, visiting family, or other personal affairs. Single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visas are all available for tourists. The duration of (each) stay is 30-90 days. However, these visas can be good for up to a year, meaning you can come in one, two, or multiple times for up to 90 days per time during a year period.

Business Visa (F Visa) - issued to foreigners who are invited to China for a business visit, research, or lecture, and scientific, technological and cultural exchanges. Single-entry, double-entry, and multiple-entry business visa are available. The duration of (each) stay is 30-90 days. This visa is probably the most flexible and varies the most because sometimes it can be renewed. The nice thing about this visa is if you come to work for a short time then you can stay and travel around for a few months on the same visa and leave China and come back on the same visa.

Work Visa (Z visa) - if you plan on staying and working in China legally for a while then you will need a Z visa. This visa is issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members. Only single entry work visa is available from certain companies. Multiple-entry is not granted for work visas all the time so be sure and check. The duration of stay varies. To see what kind of work visas are available.

Student Visa (X/F Visa) - issued to foreigners who come to China for study or intern practice for a period of six months or more. Only single entry student visa is available. The duration of stay varies. Multiple-entry is possible for 1-year study. If you come to study in a long-term program then you will need a student visa.

Special Topic: China Visa Guide

Now that we have established the kind of visa that you need, you need to figure out how and where to get one. If you are in the USA, you have 2 options: Go to the consulate yourself, or pay a visa service to do it for you. There are not very many Chinese consulates in the USA, so you may have to use a visa service anyway. Here is a list of consulates in the States:

Chinese Embassy in Washington DC
Address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202) 5889760
Fax: (202) 588-9760

Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, IL
Address: 1 East Erie Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 573-3070/3071
Fax: (312) 803-0122

Chinese Consulate General in Houston, TX
Address: 3417 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
Tel: (713) 520-1462
Fax: (713) 521-3064

Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, CA
Address: 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Tel: (213) 807-8088
Fax: (213) 807-8091

Chinese Consulate General in New York, NY
Address: 520 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 244-9392
Fax: (212) 465-1708

Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, CA
Address: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 674-2900
Fax: (415) 563-0494

Online Services USA:
If you want to use a service, here is a list. It’s very simple, you just send your passport with a check and specify how quickly you need it, they will send your passport back to you, with a new Chinese visa, within a few days.

China Visa Service Center
VisaRite

From the UK: Visa Information

From Australia: Visa information

If you are in Europe:
You can get the visa information online and fill out the forms and go to the embassy yourself.

A list of Chinese Embassies in Western Europe

Also, here is an online service for many places worldwide, check to see the location closest to you.

If you have a more specific question, please refer to our Q and A section and we will do the best to answer your questions to the best of our ability!

Special Topic: China Visa Guide

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China Explorer> Getting to China Part One
China Explorer> Route One: Best of China in Ten Days Part One
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