What should I know about the tourist visa for China?
China Tourist VisaBesides a few exceptions, a China Tourist Visa is required. When to apply for a visa and what are the steps to follow to obtain it? The point on the essentials to know if you plan to leave for China.
Do I really need a China tourist visa?
In general, all foreign nationals who wish to stay in China must apply for a Visa. However, there are a few exceptions.
For example, nationals of Japan, Singapore and Brunei are visa-exempt provided they stay there for only 15 days.
It is also possible to do without a visa for tourism in China for transits to a third country. This China visa exemption for transit affects nationals of 45 countries, including France. Here is the complete list of these countries: France, Spain, Belgium, England, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Malta, Sweden, Greece, Iceland, Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Ukraine, Slovenia, Slovakia, United States, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, Korea South, Singapore and United Arab Emirates.
In order for the visa requirement to be lifted during transit to a third country, in the context of a trip to Asia for example, it is important that it lasts only 72 hours and that the passenger is in possession of a confirmed ticket for the third country and, if necessary, a visa for the country. This visa-free transit is only valid for transit in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian or even Shenyang, Guilin and Kunming and Harbin. It should be noted that a round trip from France or any other country to one of these cities in China is subject to the visa requirement, even if the stay lasts less than 72 hours.
Since January 30, 2016, the maximum authorized transit time has been reduced from 72 hours to 144 hours, or 6 days. This new regulation only affects stays in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai. In other words, travelers are free to depart or arrive from any of Shanghai's airports, seaports and train stations, or from Hangzhou or Nanjing airport.
French nationals have the possibility of staying on the island of Hainan without a visa, but for this they must go through a travel agency and be part of a group of at least five people. It is also important that the stay does not exceed 15 days. Vacationers are also not allowed to leave the island throughout their stay. At the end of their trip, they must go either to a foreign destination or to Macao or Hong Kong. French nationals can also travel to Hong Kong or Macao without a visa, provided that the duration of their stay does not exceed 90 days.
How to obtain the visa for tourism in China?
If your situation does not correspond to the points mentioned above, you will need to obtain a tourist visa for China. To do this, it is important to have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the return date and that has two consecutive blank pages. You must also complete and sign an application form and accompany it with a photo ID. The visa application file must include:
A photocopy of the return plane ticket.
A photocopy of the passport information pages.
The photocopy of the hotel reservations or the accommodation certificate which mentions the name and address of the establishment where you will be staying.
The certificate of travel insurance that remains valid during your stay in China. This insurance will cover your care and possibly your repatriation in the event of accident or illness. You may be asked for a specific certificate. With the Globe Partner contract, ACS undertakes to provide you with this certificate at no additional cost within 2 working days.
A certificate of income, in this case the account statements for the last three months or a work certificate or a school certificate for adult students.
If you are going to China to visit a friend or family member, you must attach a letter of invitation from this person to your visa application. If this letter of invitation comes from a parent, it must be accompanied by a family certificate such as a family record book and an identity document from said parent. This identity document can be a residence permit in China, if the parent is a foreigner, or a Chinese identity card, if the parent is a Chinese national.
If the letter of invitation is from a friend, it must contain personal information about you, such as surname, first name, sex, date of birth, etc., but also the name, address, telephone number and signature of the individual inviting you. The schedule of your stay, with your arrival and departure dates and the places you wish to visit must also appear on the invitation letter.
If your stay in China is part of an organized tour, you must attach a certificate from the organization of the tour to your visa application. This certificate exempts you from providing proof of the hotel and the flight.
Finally, if you send your minor children to stay in China, their application for a China tourist visa must include an authorization to leave the territory signed by both parents or legal guardians, a photocopy of the family record book, as well as a copy identification documents of parents or legal guardians.
Once all the documents required for the visa application have been gathered, all you have to do is make an appointment with the visa center of the Chinese embassies and consulates to submit your application (see contact details). It is prudent to make this request between one to two months in advance, since you must enter Chinese territory no later than three months after obtaining a visa. Once the appointment has been obtained, you must go to the Center on the scheduled date and submit your application. A receipt with the date of withdrawal of your visa will be given to you. The validity period of this China tourist visa is 30 days, but you will be able to extend it by a period of 30 days once in China. The visa application is not free, it is necessary to count 60 euros per person for each application. You will only have to pay this amount at the time of withdrawal. Please note that visa applications by post are not accepted.
Case of Tibet
Foreign tourists wishing to visit Tibet must have a Chinese passport and visa. As they are not allowed to travel alone to Tibet, they must go through a French or Chinese travel agency that has a special license. Chinese authorities also require the minimum number of travelers per tour operator to be five. An Entry Permit or TTB Permit and a Foreigner's Travel Permit or PSD Permit are also required to visit Tibet. Generally, it is the travel agency that is responsible for obtaining these permits. Requests must be made to the competent authorities at least ten days before the date of entry.
The visa is compulsory to stay in China, although there are some exceptions for certain nationals, depending on the length of their stay. ACS undertakes to provide you within 24 hours with a specific insurance certificate for China which will allow you to obtain your visa during your appointment at the embassy. Discover the Globe Partner contract, which will allow you to apply for a visa for China!
Category: Advice for travelers
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