Notice on Further Adjusting the Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on March 14, 2023:
In order to further facilitate the entry and exit of Chinese and foreign personnel, it has been decided to make the following adjustments to the visa and entry policies for foreigners entering China, effective from 00:00 March 15, 2023 Beijing time:
1. The entry function of visas which were issued before March 28, 2020 and still valid will be restored.
2. Overseas visa offices will resume issuing various types of visas (including Tourist Visa) for foreigners to travel to China, with specific requirements detailed in the visa application guidelines of Chinese embassies or consulates.
3. Port visa offices will resume issuing various types of port visas for lawful purposes.
4. The policies of visa-free entry for Hainan, Shanghai International cruise arrival, Guangdong for Tourist group entry of foreigners from Hong Kong, Macau, and ASEAN tourist groups entering Guilin, Guangxi will be restored.
China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call 86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!
Invitation letter is a vital document for Chinese visa application. If you travel with us, we will not only create a valuable tour for you, but also provide you an invitation letter if you request, which will help you obtain your visa successfully. Start customizing your tour in China now!
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Two Ways to Get Chinese Visa Quickly
Want to get a Chinese Visa quickly and not willing to wait? Well, there is always a way out. So far, there are two major options you can choose to obtain a fast China Visa. One is taking advantage of the urgent visa services (including Express Service & Rush Service) offered by the Chinese Embassies and Consulates before departure. Another one is applying for Chinese Visa upon Arrival in certain cities or through emergency reasons.
The average ordinary application takes about 4 working days, express visa takes usually 2~3 working days and rush service need about 1~2 working days only. So it’s more convenient and faster to use the two expedited visa services than a regular application. Visitors can even apply and get a Chinese Visa in the same day, if use the Same Day Rush Service and apply China Visa on Arrival at special entry ports.
Please note that, the exact Chinese Visa processing time is different in countries and regions around the world. Additional visa expedited fees will be charged accordingly. For special cases, the Chinese Embassies and Consulate reserve the right to investigate for a longer time as stated.
When you want to travel to China urgently, you may apply for the China Visa express service or rush service and pay additional fees. If need, firstly you shall figure out where to submit a China Visa Application (Where to Apply for Chinese Visa), a Chinese Embassy and consulate, or a China Visa Application Service Center. Then, check whether the visa expediting services are available or not, because express service is offered in nearly all embassies and visa centers, while the rush service is not wildly provided in embassies. The details below are given to help you get your China visa fast and quickly.
If all required documents are prepared appropriately, a regular Chinese Visa application normally takes 4 business days to be processed. If you wan to obtain the visa one or two days earlier, you may choose the express service to save time. The processing time depends on cases, that is, applicants can pick up the visa on the 2nd ~ 4th working day.
China Visa Express Service Fees
The Chinese Embassies and Consulates abroad will charge extra stepped-up visa fees at local currency rate. The total cost of a visa to China differs from your nationality, the visa type, where you apply and which service you choose. You only need to pay for the visa fees if submit application directly to the Chinese Embassies and Consulates. If you apply at a visa service center, you have to pay visa fees and service fees both, and courier fee if you request.
Take the visa fee of 6-month Multiple Entry China Visa as example:
| Nationality & Residing Country | Where to Submit | Total Cost of Regular Application | Total Cost of Express Application | Postal Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Chinese Embassy & Consulate |
USD 140 (Visa Fee Only) |
USD 165 (Visa Fee Only) |
N/A |
| UK | China Visa Application Service Center |
£151 (Visa Fee: £85 + Service Fee: £66) |
£182 (Visa Fee: £104+Service Fee: £78) |
£90 |
| Canada | CAD162.15 (Visa Fee: CAD 100 + Service Fee: CAD 62.15) |
CAD 228.79 (Visa Fee: CAD 135 + Service Fee: CAD 93.79) |
CAD 93.79 | |
| Australia | AUD 169.5 (Visa Fee: AUD 120 + Service Fee: AUD 49.5) |
AUD 227 (Visa Fee: AUD 150 + Service Fee: AUD 77) |
AUD 71.5 |
Notes: 1.) Visa Fees are tax-exempted and charged by the embassy. 2.) Application service fees are collected by the visa center, and Value Added Tax (VAT) will be levied. 3.) The above fees listed are VAT included. You can check the updated schedules of fees on official websites.
Visitors who hope to get Chinese Visa as soon as possible may apply for rush service when submitting the application. A typically rush application takes about 1 to 2 working days, so generally applicants can pick up on the 2nd or 3rd working day, few can obtain on the same day once the application is submitted before fixed time. Since rush service is not valid in all countries and only open to specific situations, you’d better check if you can use this kind of service.
China Visa Rush Service Fees
Just like application using express service, rush application also charges more than a regular China Visa application. The rush visa application fee is collected by Chinese Embassies and Consulates, visa center will collect rush servie charges, and the accurate amount vary from countries.
Take 6-month Multiple Entry Chinese Visa as an example:
| Nationality | Where to Submit | Regular Visa Application Fee | Rush Service Fee | Total Cost of Rush Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Chinese Embassy & Consulate | USD 140 |
USD 37 |
USD 177 |
| British Citizens | China Visa Application Service Center | £85 (service fee exclusive) |
Only for special cases, like humanitarian reasons, etc. |
refer to the official website |
| Canadian Citizens | CAD 150 | CAD 90.30 | CAD 240.30 | |
| Australian Citizens | AUD 170 | AUD 99 | AUD 269 |
Tips: If you use the mail-back service at the visa application service, you have to pay extra courier fees for the delivery service.
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For specific situations, visitors can apply for China Port Visa at the port of entry upon arrival. That is, you can get a Chinese Visa in the same day once you meet relevant requirements. Only a few application procedures at the immigration office, you will obtain the arrival visa fast and quickly. There are two major types of China Port Visa based on different inbound cities and reasons.
If you will travel and only stay in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Xiamen Special Economic Zones, you can apply for the Special Economic Zone Tourism Visa of PRC China at certain ports of entry. The validity period is 5 days for Shenzhen, 3 days for Xiamen and Zhuhai. If you want to travel to other cities, you have to apply and obtain a new Chinese Visa from the local Exit & Entry Administration Office of Public Security Bureau.
Foreigners in the 3 particular cases may submit visa application at arrival ports: 1.) invited by the exit & entry units with credit rating level A or B; 2.) high-level talents and investors approved by the official authority; 3.) emergency entry invited by registered sponsor, including humanitarian reasons, urgent entry for business, engineering issues, family matters and so on.
Notes: Individual can apply in the Immigration Office in person. Travel agency should apply on behalf of the the group tourists. The host organization/person can arrange China Port Visa for the applicants before his/her arrival.
Useful Links:
China Visa Free Policy / China 72 Hour Transit Visa Exemption / China 72 Hour Transit Visa Exemption
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1. Can I Get a Chinese Visa in One Day?
The fastest way to get a Chinese Visa abroad is choosing the Same-day Rush Service, which will be processed within 1 business day. However, the Same (One) Day China Visa service is only valid for direct submission to Chinese Embassy and extreme emergency in very few countries, such as US.
If the Same-day Rush Service is available in your area of US, applicants must submit application before 12:00 pm, pay the visa fees and service charges, and may pick up the visas in the afternoon on the same day.
2. Is China Visa express and rush service provided in UK?
For applicants in UK, you can use the Express Application Service at the China Visa Application Center, which normally allows you collect the visa on the third working day. You have to pay extra express application fee to Chinese Embassy in UK and concurrent express service charge to the visa center.
Currently, rush service is only opened to certain situations. Check with the visa center and embassy if you are in need.
3. Are there special rules about the submission and collection date?
Please bear in mind, the best time to submit application is about 1 month before your departure, if you apply too early, you will waste validity period, and too late can not gurantee you obtain a visa appropriate. And there will be a peak time before and after public holidays.
Also, remember to pick up your visa on time. Otherwise, the obtained visa will become unclaimed if it has not been collected within 90 days after issuing date.
4. Express and Rush service is not provided for postal application.
Since shipping time is not included in the visa processing time, postal applicants in Australia can NOT use Express or Rush Service, for the processing takes at least 10 working days and mailing back needs more days.
5. Other important tips about the quick China Visa processing time.
The above mentioned visa service and processing time is for normal cases and listed for reference only. Under special circumstances, you may wait for longer time because the embassy might request an interview or supplementary documents.
China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. We not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also can provide Invitation Letter to help you obtain Chinese Visa. If it’s your first time travel to China, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Guilin are the top recommended destinations with best representative tourism attractions of. The great cultural, historical, natural landscape will fulfill your dream tour to China. For those who want an in-depth discovery in China, featured China Panda Tour, Ancient Silk Road Tour, High Speed Train Tour, Colorful Ethnic Tour are good ways to find more interesting places and authentic locals.
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Introduction to China Visa
China Visa Application
China Visa Exemptions
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