How to Obtain a Chinese Visa

American citizens are required to obtain a Chinese visa before visiting anywhere in China except for Hong Kong. Americans are allowed to stay in Hong Kong for up to 90 days without a visa. Obtaining a Chinese visa is a straightforward process but all the regulations must be followed to the letter. The Chinese government is has very rigid rules for obtaining a visa to visit its country.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chinese visa application form
• Round-trip airline ticket
• Hotel reservations or letter from Chinese host
• Passport-sized picture
• $130 fee (as of 2009)

1. Get a valid passport first. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your airline tickets say you will be leaving China. The Chinese government will not issue you a visa if your passport expires before then. Your passport must also have at least 1 completely blank page for the Chinese visa. The Chinese government will not stamp a visa on a page with anything else written on it.

2. Log on to the Chinese Embassy website and download the visa application form. We provide a link to the website below. Fill out the application completely. Include all of your personal information, reason for visit, itinerary and where you will be staying. If you are staying with Chinese citizens, they are required to write a letter stating that you are their guest. Include this with your application. You must also designate the length of the visit and number of entries into the country that you are requesting. Sign the form at the bottom.

3. Include a copy of your round-trip airline tickets, your hotel reservations, and a passport-sized picture with your Chinese visa application. Also include a $130 Chinese visa fee (as of 2009). A 2- to 3-day express service is $20 extra. One day rush service is $30 extra. All payments must be with a major credit card, cash, money order or cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted.

4. Add a copy of an Alien Employment License or Foreign Experts Work Permit if you want a work visa. Add an original visa notification issued by an authorized Chinese unit if you want a business visa. If you only want a tourist visa, you don't need to add anything else.

5. Mail the Chinese visa application package to the address on the application form by registered mail or through a courier service. Typical processing time is 4 days once the package arrives. If you can wait, this is the best way to obtain a Chinese visa. If you are in a hurry, you can apply in person at a Chinese embassy or consulate and pay for express or rush service. Visa services will do this for you for an additional fee.

Tips & Warnings

• American passport holders who were born in China are required to submit their last U.S. passport and Chinese visa with their application. If this is the first Chinese visa they are applying for with a U.S. passport, they must include their last Chinese passport.

Resources

• Chinese Visa Forms

[changeling]

on 2/5/2009 Wow. Who knew? Excellent article. Thanks for sharing.