China Visa Guide for First-Time Visitors
Everything you need to know about getting a Chinese tourist visa — from application to approval.
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China Visa Guide for First-Time Visitors
Getting a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) is straightforward once you know the process. Here's everything you need.
How can a foreigner renew a Chinese tourist visa without leaving China?
Strictly speaking you don't renew a tourist (L) visa inside China — you apply to extend your stay. You do that in person at the Exit-Entry Administration of the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) in the city where you're staying, and the National Immigration Administration's service guide says to apply at least 7 days before your current period of stay expires. Approval is at the bureau's discretion and is not guaranteed, so apply well ahead of your deadline and have an onward plan in case the extension is refused.
The numbers that matter, per the NIA and the Beijing government's English service page:
- How long you can add: a tourist (L) stay is normally extendable by up to 30 days, once. You'll be asked for a travel plan and itinerary to support it.
- Decision time: the PSB decides within 7 working days of accepting a complete application — which is why the "apply 7 days early" rule exists. Your passport stays with the bureau while it's processed.
- What to bring: your passport, a completed Visa/Stay Permit/Residence Permit application form, a compliant photo, and your temporary residence registration (the slip your hotel files for you, or the one you got at the police station for a private stay — see our hotel registration guide).
- Fee: CNY 160 for most nationalities; some pay reciprocal rates — for example around CNY 760 for US citizens and CNY 469 for UK citizens. Rates are set per nationality, so confirm yours at the counter.
If you are already in China and this is your situation, the full walkthrough — which office, how early, what the counter asks for, what happens if you entered visa-free — is in our guide to extending your stay without leaving China. The application process for a fresh visa from outside China is covered step by step below.
Do you need a visa to enter China in 2026?
Many travelers no longer do. Ordinary passport holders from around 50 countries — most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and the UK and Canada since 17 February 2026 — can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days, a trial scheme currently running to 31 December 2026. If you are not on that list (US and Mexican passports are not), you either apply for a visa or, when you are flying on to a different third country, use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme.
Two things people get wrong here:
- Don't plan on stretching the 30 days. The official notices set the visa-free entry at 30 days and say nothing about extending it; extension applications inside China are handled case by case by the local exit-entry bureau, and you should not build a trip on one being granted. If you know you need longer, get a visa before you fly.
- The old 72/144-hour transit rules are gone. They were replaced on 17 December 2024 by the 240-hour (10-day) scheme, which now covers 55 nationalities through 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions (State Council, 4 November 2025). The region limits are real — see our 240-hour transit guide before you plan a route.
The UK and Canada addition was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 February 2026 and covers business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit (gov.cn).
Visa Types
- L Visa — Tourist visa (most common)
- M Visa — Business visa
- F Visa — Exchange/visit visa
Application Process
Step 1: Fill Out the Online Form
Visit the China Visa Application Service Center and complete the COVA form.
Step 2: Book an Appointment
Schedule an appointment at your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.
Step 3: Prepare Documents
- Valid passport (6+ months remaining)
- Completed application form
- Passport-size photo
- Round-trip flight itinerary
- Hotel reservations or invitation letter
Step 4: Submit and Wait
Processing typically takes 4 business days for standard service, or 2-3 days for expedited.
Tips
- Apply at least 1 month before your trip
- The visa is usually valid for 3 months from issue date
- Single-entry visas allow a 30-day stay