Required Documents for a Tourist Visa to China (Printed)
In which countries can you get a tourist visa to China
Travelers can obtain a Chinese tourist visa at anyChinese consulate, regardless of citizenship and country of residence.
Chinese consulates are located in the following countries:
Printed documents along with the passport are accepted at the consulate only after your online application receives the “Approved“ status in your personal account. The application and all attached documents are valid for 30 days.
Preparing documents for a Chinese tourist visa
Step 1 - Purchase tickets to and from China, as well as tickets for all domestic travel within the country
When purchasing tickets, keep in mind that obtaining a Chinese visa takes about two weeks at best. First, online applications are reviewed for about a week. And it takes a few more business days to review the package of documents at the consulate.
Even more time may be required to process applications from citizens who have visited Turkey or Taiwan (there is no exact information on this).
We advise purchasing refundable tickets in case the process drags on.
Step 2 – Book accommodation in China
For the chinese visa, it doesn't matter whether you stay in a hotel or in an apartment - either option will do. But we recommend booking a returnable accommodation, just in case.
Step 3 - Create a travel itinerary for China
There are no clear requirements for the plan, it can be drawn up in free form (but the more detailed the better). The main thing is that it clearly corresponds to the bookings of tickets and accommodation. Below we have attached a screenshot of our trip plan — you can arrange it the same way. This is how we described all 28 days of our stay in China.
Step 4 - Prepare photos on a white background (digital and printed - 2 pieces)
Specific photo sizes are required for a Chinese visa: 3.3x4.8, as well as a clear correspondence of the proportions of the face, otherwise the digital system will not accept the photo (and will not allow you to proceed to the next steps of the application).
The photo requirements for a visa to China are attached below, which you can bring to the photo studio:
Step 5 - Request a bank statement
Request a statement from your bank showing your available balance, with an estimate of ~$100 for each day of your stay in China (per person). Banks can issue these statements in English. Make sure the name on the statement matches your name on your passport.
Step 6 - Collect documents related to employment
If you are officially employed, then everything is simple: you need a letter from your workplace indicating your place of work, position, and monthly salary (in English).
If you are a sole proprietor or self-employed, then the package of documents will be larger: a certificate of registration and a certificate of income. If you have a contract with a company you collaborate with, attach that as well (all documents must be translated into English).
If you do not have an official income, you need a letter from a sponsor (relative) stating that they agree to pay for the trip. The letter must be accompanied by a bank statement showing the sponsor's account balance and a copy of a document confirming your relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
Step 7 - Compose a single letter confirming identity, financial solvency, and the purpose of the trip
This letter is required from foreigners who do not officially work in the country to obtain a Chinese visa. You can view a template for such a letter at the consulate. But you can safely use our example as a basis.
Step 8 – Buy Travel Insurance
Insurance is not on the mandatory list of documents for a Chinese visa, but we noticed that sometimes consuls pay attention to its presence. An extra plus on the way to the coveted "Approved" will not hurt.
Step 9 - Fill out the online visa application form
The questionnaire must be filled out after preparing the documents, as all of them will need to be attached to your application.
Step 10 – Receive an invitation to the consulate
First, your online application is reviewed within 1 week. It may be assigned the status “Approved“ immediately, or they may clearly state in the email what changes or additions need to be made to the questionnaire.
As soon as your application is “Approved“, a certificate with a barcode will be sent to the email, which must be printed out along with the package of documents.
Step 11 - Print all prepared documents
Be careful if you are planning a trip, for example, as a couple. Common documents must be printed in duplicate (for example, reservations, travel plan, etc.).
What to print:
- — Accommodation reservation
- — Ticket reservation
- — Travel plan
- — Visa certificate with barcode
- — Visa application form
- — Bank statements
- — Documents on employment
- — Employment Letter
- — Insurance
- — Copy of passport – photo page
- — Copy of entry stamp pages into the country where the Chinese visa is being issued + residence permit (if you have one)
- — Copies of previous Chinese visas and passport photo page (if visas are in old passports)
Step 12 - Withdraw cash to pay for the visa
The exact cost of the visa that suits you can be found in the “Visa Fees” section. The payment amount must be in local currency.
Step 13 - Submit documents to the Chinese consulate
The address and working hours of the consulate where you submitted your documents can be found on the website by going to the “About Us” tab. In most cases, there is a live queue with e-ticket with a place number in the queue.
My online application was initially rejected due to the photo. I always wear several earrings in one ear. Because of this, when I applied for a Chinese visa, I was refused (with the option to edit the application and resubmit)..
Unfortunately, after uploading a new photo, I was still rejected for the Chinese visa.
After the second rejection, I immediately filled out the online application again and resubmitted it for review, from the same account. This time the application was approved and I received an invitation to the consulate.