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Chinese Visas

How to Obtain a Chinese Visa

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Chinese Visas

How to Obtain a Chinese Visa

 

Chinese Visa Information

If you are traveling to China, you will likely need a Chinese Visa. The information below will explain a bit more about Chinese visas and how to get them. If you are ready to get a China visa now, please visit our China Visa Order Form.

Below is a video that describes information about Chinese travel visas.





What Is a China Visa?

A visa is essentially a pre-approval from a foreign government to enter their country.

Example of Chinese Visa in a U.S. Passport
An Example Chinese Visa Document in a U.S. Passport

While U.S. citizens can travel to most countries without any type of documentation, many countries like China, India, Brazil, and Russia do require a visa in advance.

After submitting the required paperwork to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC or one of the Chinese consulates in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco,

Embassy of the Republic of China in Washington, DC
Embassy of the Republic of China, Washington, DC

the approved visa is inserted into your passport. If your trip is coming up soon, please see our urgent Chinese visa information

When checking in for an international flight to China, the airline will verify that you have the appropriate visa in your passport. When you arrive in Beijing, Shanghai or any other Chinese airport, immigration will review your passport and visa.

Passport and entry control in Beijing, China
Passport and Entry Control in Beijing, China

If your documents are not valid, you will be turned away and made to take the next flight out of China. If your documents meet the requirements, you will be allowed entry into China. Once in China, you are free to travel wherever you like, however any time you leave mainland China, your documents will need to be re-verified upon your return.

How Long Are Chinese Visas Good For?

Chinese visas can vary in length from 30 days up to 10 years. Generally speaking, Chinese visas issued to U.S. citizens are valid for 10 years, however they may choose to approve a shorter duration visa at their discretion. Non-U.S. citizens typically receive visas valid from three months to one year. If you need this visa quickly, please review the rush Chinese visa information.

What Is Chinese Visa Validity?

Visa validity can cover two aspects of a visa how long the visa is good for and how long the traveler can stay in the country known as "length of stay". As noted above, Chinese visas for U.S. citizens are generally valid for 10 years (with some exceptions) and the length of stay is usually 60 days per entry. This means that a U.S. citizen who is issued a 10 year Chinese Tourist Visa or Chinese Business Visa may enter China for up to 60 days at a time, as many times as they like over a 10 year period. There are limits to the number of days a non-Chinese citizen can spend in China, which is generally limited to 180 calendar days per year.

How Does Our China Visa Service Work?

ItsEasy is the leader in Chinese visa application services for international travelers based in the US. We assist travelers with US passports as well as non-US passport legally residing in the US who need to obtain visas for travel to China. The most common requests we have are for Chinese tourist visas and Chinese business visas for travelers going to China in the near future.

For those in tight situations, we offer fast China visa services. If you are really in a crunch, we offer urgent China visa services, too.

ItsEasy is registered to submit China visa applications for customers who choose not to apply in person (the Chinese Embassy and consulate offices will not accept China visa applications by mail, so applicants must either appear in person or use an approved service).

Visa Office in Embassy of China in Washington, DC
Visa Issuing Office in Embassy of China, Washington, D.C.

Our website provides you with clear and easy to follow instructions for completing the application and collecting the required documentation, not to mention that we are here to support you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year!

We do encourage you to review the requirements provided on our site which will explain the process and each item or document that is required.

We provide a helpful China Visa Application Guide which will explain how to fill out the application correctly. In recent years, the Chinese Embassy has become more strict about how the application is filled out including that it must be typed (as opposed to handwritten which they no longer accept) and no field can be left blank (blank fields must now be answered as "N/A"). The Chinese Embassy will also not accept signatures in anything other than black or blue ink.

Once we receive your documents, our Chinese visa specialists will review everything provided to ensure your application materials will process quickly and without incident. If there are any issues with your visa application to China, we will reach out to you right away to resolve the issue.

ItsEasy Visa Specialist Team
Members of the ItsEasy Chinese Visa Specialist Team

Traveling to China can be a momentous project, obtaining your China visa doesn't have to be! You can count on ItsEasy to obtain your Chinese visa!

ItsEasy maintains the visa requirements to all countries, including china. Use the widget above to see your particular requirements for visiting china based upon your citizenship and state of residence in the USA.

Sample Requirements For China

Below is a sample set of requirements for visiting China using a Tourist Visa Visa. These requirements are only a SAMPLE. To get the EXACT requirements for you to visit China, please go to our TripBuilder page and enter in your specific information that is your exact situation.

China Tourist Visa Requirements

Special Information About China Embassy/Consulate

Effective immediately, the Consulate of China in New York now requires notarized copies of proof of US status for all non-US citizens. This means you must submit a notarized copy of your Green Card, I-94, or I-20 with your visa application to ensure smooth processing.

Special Information About China Embassy/Consulate

NOTE: Processing times for all China visas start the day AFTER we receive all correct physical documents in office. This does not include shipping times.

China Videos

Important Issues with China Tourist Visa

In this video we go over the common mistakes with China Tourist Visas

1.1  Passport

• Submit your current, signed passport. Visas are stamped directly into the passport, so the original is required.

1.2  Photo Requirement

Submit two (2) identical, color, passport-style photographs. The photos must be recent and generally should not be the same as those used for the passport itself.

Photo Criteria:

• Plain white background
• Printed on photo paper
• No glasses or jewelry
• Neutral expression

1.3  Proof of Residency

• Provide a legible, color copy of the front AND back of your driver's license or state-issued ID. No other forms of residency proof are accepted.

1.4  Travel to Turkey or Pakistan

• If you have ever visited Turkey or Pakistan, complete and provide the affidavit below.

1.5  Previous Chinese Visa Holders

• Submit previous Chinese visas. If they are in an old passport, include that passport or provide a letter explaining its absence (e.g., lost, stolen, damaged).

1.6  Applicants Under 18yrs

• Applications for minors are treated individually. Additional requirements apply.

1.7  Former Chinese Nationals

• Submit your previous Chinese passport or proof of a previously issued Chinese visa. Former Hong Kong citizens must provide an original previous Chinese visa or appear in person at the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

1.8  Travel History Form

• Complete the China Travel History Form.

1.9  Where You Stay Form

• Complete the Where You Stay form.

1.10  Visa Application

• Complete the online visa application.

1.11  Job Description Form

• Submit a completed job description form. This fillable PDF must be printed and included with your application.

1.12  Special Notice

• For US citizens, China typically issues a visa valid for multiple entries up to 10 years if the passport is valid for more than a year. In some cases, the visa might be limited to fewer entries or a shorter validity period.

1.13  Work in Media

• Applicants who work in the media or for a media company must appear in person to submit their application. We cannot assist media industry applicants in any capacity. (We can assist with Document Preparation and Pre-Check Service.)

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