How to get a visa
Check if you even need a visa and how to acquire it if you do: a step-by-step detailed guide.
First, check whether you need a visa at all. Citizens of more than 45 countries can now enter China visa-free for short stays of up to 30 days, including most of the EU, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea. The list updates regularly, so check the latest from your nearest Chinese embassy before you book.
If you're flying through Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu or several other major airports and staying under 240 hours (10 days), the transit-free policy may apply to citizens of 54 countries. You enter on your onward boarding pass, no visa required.
If neither applies, you'll need a tourist (L) visa. Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in your country. Most applications take 4 working days; allow 4–6 weeks of buffer before travel.
What you'll need: a passport valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages, a recent passport photo against a white background, a completed COVA online form, your flight itinerary, hotel bookings or an invitation letter, and the fee (varies by nationality).
We provide an invitation letter to every confirmed guest, plus a step-by-step checklist tailored to your nationality, the nearest CVASC, and exactly which documents that office wants. If you'd like us to walk you through it on a call, just ask.
Once approved, your visa is glued into your passport. Double check the entry dates, single vs multiple entry, and the maximum length of stay before you leave the office.
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