Visit China: Find out if you need a visa

Passport

• Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity,
• and with at least two blank visa pages,
• and a photocopy of the passport’s data page.

Visa Application Form and Electronic Photo

• Please complete the Visa Application Form.
• Upload your electronic photo (click to check the rules for photos).
• Print the Visa Application Form and sign.

Physical Photo

Submit a physical photo along with your application. Your photo should meet the following requirements:

• Photo size: 33x48mm;
• Printed in color with white background;
• Meet the rules for photos (click to check the rules for photos).

Proof of legal stay or residence status (only applicable for non-local applicants)

If you are applying for a Chinese visa at a location that is not your country of citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopies of the following documents provided they are valid and provided by the authority of the country you are applying from.

• Certificates of residence
• Visa of stay
• Employment status
• Student status
• Residence permit
• and/or other valid certificates of legal staying

If you have previously owned Chinese citizenship and have now obtained foreign citizenship, you must additionally provide:

• A photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your former Chinese passport in original and a photocopy of its data page. If you can’t provide the previous passport, please provide a written statement for the Embassy’s further review.

If you have obtained Chinese visas before, you should also present a photocopy of a previous Chinese visa held each time applying for a new one.

If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change.

If you are under 18 years old with one or both parents being or having previously been Chinese citizens and you are applying Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide:

• Passport copy of both parents.
• Stamped and signed Certificate of Kinship in original form.
• A photocopy of the permanent residence permit of the parent(s) being or having previously been a Chinese citizen.

If you are traveling to China for the purpose of a family reunion, you will need to provide:

• An invitation letter that contains:
  • Information of the applicant including the full name, gender, and date of birth;
  • Details of the planned visit including:
    • purpose of visit
    • arrival and departure dates
    • place(s) to be visited
    • the relationship between the applicant and the inviting party
    • details of any financial support to be provided during the stay in China
  • Information of the inviting party including:
    • name
    • contact telephone number
    • title
    • address
    • stamp
    • the signature of the legal representative or individual
• Photocopy of Chinese ID or foreign passport and permanent residence permit provided by the inviting party.
• Original and photocopy of certification showing the relationship of family members between the applicants and the inviting parties, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, family certificate, or notarized certification of kinship.

“Family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters, and parents-in-law.

If you are traveling to China for the purpose of fostering care, you will need to provide:

• Original and photocopy of the natural parents’ or guardians’ passports, as well as the notarized and authenticated certification showing the relationship between parents or guardians and children.
• Foster entrusted notarization issued by Chinese Embassies/Consulates General in foreign countries or Foster Care Power of Attorney notarized and authenticated in the country of residence or in China;
• A letter agreeing to foster care issued by the trustee living in China who has agreed to provide foster care services and a photocopy of the ID of the trustee.
• A photocopy of the certificate indicating the parent(s) resided abroad when the child was born, providing that either or both parents of the child are Chinese citizens.