CNTO - China National Tourist Office

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A GUIDE TO APPLY A VISA TO CHINA

In accordance with "the Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit of Aliens" and other relevant regulations, the aliens who apply for the Chinese visa shall fulfill the following procedures and provide the pertinent documents.

A. Basic Requirements
a. One completed application Visa Form (requires Adobe Acrobat).
(please go to Adobe to download the Acrobat Reader in order to view the visa form).

b. One recently taken 2 inch half-length, bareheaded, full-faced photo.

c. A valid passport with enough blank pages.

B. Pertinent Documents
The pertinent documents required for applications for visas of different types are as follow (except the applications on which the mutual agreement has been reached between China and foreign countries):

Tourist, Business, Residence, Employment, Study, Transit, Crew, Journalist or Diplomatic

C. Other Requirements
a. For the first visa application of the foreign-born children of Chinese descent, please provide their birth certificates and one of their parents' foreign passport or foreign permanent residence identity card (for example: the US green card) in addition to the relevant documents required for by the above regulations.

b. Applicants who were born in China, applying for the Chinese visa for the first time must aslo provide their Chinese passports or their previous foreign passports along with the above mentioned documents/materials.

D. Pick-Up Visa and Visa Fee
Normally visa may be picked up on the fourth working day since the date of the application. Only with the consent of the consul could it sometimes be expedited by paying rush service fee. The rush fees are: US$30 for the same-day pick-up (application must be submitted before 12 noon), US$20 for the next-day and the third-day pick-up. With your receipt, visa shall be picked up in person or by someone entrusted.

For visa fees, please check with the Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate-General in the United States of America

Please pay in cash or Money Order (made payable to Consulate General of P.R. China).
Personal check is unacceptable.

Attention: the governing guidelines on the issuance of visa are the pertinent laws of the P.R.C., the international practices and bilateral agreements, etc. Upon receiving the visa, it is the responsibility of the applicant to study and learn the information on visa, thus making the travel plan accordingly. Should any adjustment be made to the visa information, please report to the consul immediately. This Consulate General is not responsible for any inconvience or loss arose from the negligence or the misunderstanding of the visa information.

E. By Mail Only For China Passport Renewal, Amendment, and Document Authentication
a. From May 1, 2003, we now only accept visa application by mail for China passport renewal, amendment and document authentication. Applications must send to the local Consulate Office.

If applicants applying the China Visa for the first time, please contact and visit the local Consulate Office. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates do not take visa applications sent by mail. Applicants are required to come to the visa office for visa application. If an applicant cannot come personally, he/she may entrust a relative or friend or travel/visa agent to come to the visa office for application process.

b. In addition to the pertinent document and payment for visa application, the applicant should also send one self-addressed and fully prepaid Express Mail label and envelop for the return mail. An additional US$5 will be charged for the handling (Please Send Money Order for all payments). Normally, postage of your returned envelope should not be less than your first mail. Postage for authentication should be more than your first mail.

c. A Visa should be applied for one month before the applicant departs from USA in order to avoid any delay or loss during the delivery. We do not offer rush service for application by mail.

d. The Passport and Visa Office of the Consulate General only accepts Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS, DHL and Airborne as the returned post or delivery service. Any other returned services, including Register Mail, will not be accepted.

e. Applications using other mail or delivery service than the above-stated service, and applications with insufficient postage will be delayed or rejected. All the responsibilities aroused should be taken by the applicants.

f. Rush service is not available for mail application. It will take about 20 days to hand your application. If you want to use your document in the next 20 days, please come to our office to apply in person. You may also ask for help form your relative or visa agents.

F. Application for Visa / Entry Permit to Hong Kong / MACAO SAR of China
a. US citizens to visit Hong Kong SAR for short-time tour, business visit can stay in Hong Kong for 90 days without applying visas. But the following US citizens to visit Hong Kong are required to apply visas in advance: US citizens intend to stay in Hong Kong longer than 90 days; US citizens intend to enter Hong Kong for employment, investment, education, training or residence.

b. Currently there are 36 countries from which citizens can visit Macao free of visa; citizens from other countries can apply for the visa to enter Macao at the airport when they arrive at Macao.

In accordance with the relevant Law of the People's Republic of China and the international practices, the consul is entitled to request other documents from the applicant, and the consul is also entitled to reject the application.