Last edit by: mnbp
Your Forum Ambassadors are maintaining this guide. Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; wiki contents may be printed by using the (lower right wiki corner).
Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
Visa Information for the People's Republic of China (PRC, Mainland China)
Main source: Visa Page - Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America (external website)
Important: China's visa terms and conditions changed effective 12 Nov 2014 as far as duration, and 1 July 2013 for requirements and procedures. Do not rely on information posted prior to that date.
Note new FT thread regarding up to ten year visa duration: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...ov-2014-a.html
The PRC allows certain foreigners to transit China without a visa if they will be exiting the country within 24, 72 or 144 hours provided various other conditions are met. Please see the separate China 24, 72, and 144 hour Transit Without Visa ("TWOV") rules master thread and Wikipost for detailed rules and discussion.
The best source of current visa and travel document requirements is IATA'S TIMATIC, as that is what the airlines rely upon to determine whether they will permit you to fly. Star Alliance provides a free, easy-to-use TIMATIC tool to help you identify your exact requirements based on nationality, residency and specific itinerary. The SkyTeam alliance website contains a link which also allows you free use of TIMATIC, including good printouts of the information.
Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED). The old FAQ: Visa-Free Transit / TWOV thread is also closed but available for reference.
China Forum Ambassadors: moondog----------anacapamalibu----------jiejie----------mnredfox
China Visa / Visas Master Thread (all you need to know)
#1006
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
#1007
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,890
Was not looking to spread rumors, and do understand the life of its own comment. Actually came here to see if others had heard anything .. glad its nit true..Thanks for your insights.
#1008
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 226
I currently have an 'L' visa, which are now only for tourism, but on my next trip I plan on visiting and staying with my partner's (who is a Chinese citizen) family and friends for Chinese New Year. Can I technically visit and stay with family/friends with an 'L' visa or do I need to get a Q/S visa?
If I cannot stay with family/friends, should I book ultra cheap hotels for the duration of my stay, so they register me with the PSB, but instead stay with family/friends?
Based on piecing together multiple answers from above, it looks to be that I can stay with them officially, but I want to confirm.
If I cannot stay with family/friends, should I book ultra cheap hotels for the duration of my stay, so they register me with the PSB, but instead stay with family/friends?
Based on piecing together multiple answers from above, it looks to be that I can stay with them officially, but I want to confirm.
Last edited by HGF; Jan 6, 2016 at 6:18 pm
#1009
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,056
I currently have an 'L' visa, which are now only for tourism, but on my next trip I plan on staying with my partner's (who is a Chinese citizen) family and friends. Can I technically visit and stay with family/friends with an 'L' visa or do I need to get a Q/S visa?
If I cannot stay with family/friends, should I book ultra cheap hotels for the duration of my stay, so they register me with the PSB, but instead stay with family/friends?
Based on piecing together multiple answers from above, it looks to be that I can stay with them officially, but I want to confirm.
If I cannot stay with family/friends, should I book ultra cheap hotels for the duration of my stay, so they register me with the PSB, but instead stay with family/friends?
Based on piecing together multiple answers from above, it looks to be that I can stay with them officially, but I want to confirm.
#1010
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 226
#1011
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,056
Please don't construe this as advice, but rather a pragmatic FYI.
#1012
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
I would make the effort to register, especially if you're going to be there more than 3 days. Your hosts may also prefer this if they are play-it-by-the-book people. However, don't be surprised if the relevant PSB/police office is "closed" for registrations due to the holiday, in which case you're off the hook.
#1013
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
I have always thought that this 10-year visa for US citizens is subject to the vagaries of Chinese goodwill--even though there is a treaty in place that supposedly "guarantees" these to be issued. Given the state of the world, it would not take too much deterioration in relations between China and the USA for these 10-year visas to be abrogated either temporarily or permanently. The Chinese are perfectly capable of acting unilaterally or in concert with whatever the US does on its visa policy. There is precedent for this. China has, in the not too distant past, tossed obstacles at both French and Norwegian visa applicants, due to completely unrelated events that happened to anger the Chinese. Tightening up visa policy is a favorite Chinese tactic, since it can be seen as "retaliation" that would make a point without provoking more serious retaliation on political, economic, or military terms---visa obstacles typically impact low-value targets such as tourists, students, etc.
For any US citizen who has a better than 50/50 chance of visiting China at least once in the next few years and has the disposable cash to get one of the 10-year visas, I would suggest doing so sooner rather than later.
#1014
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,417
I currently have an 'L' visa, which are now only for tourism, but on my next trip I plan on visiting and staying with my partner's (who is a Chinese citizen) family and friends for Chinese New Year. Can I technically visit and stay with family/friends with an 'L' visa or do I need to get a Q/S visa?
If I cannot stay with family/friends, should I book ultra cheap hotels for the duration of my stay, so they register me with the PSB, but instead stay with family/friends?
Based on piecing together multiple answers from above, it looks to be that I can stay with them officially, but I want to confirm.
If I cannot stay with family/friends, should I book ultra cheap hotels for the duration of my stay, so they register me with the PSB, but instead stay with family/friends?
Based on piecing together multiple answers from above, it looks to be that I can stay with them officially, but I want to confirm.
#1015
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,890
I have a bit different take on this and I thank @worldiswide for sharing, even if this does seem to be just rumor. While there may be nothing to the scuttlebutt, all of us who know China can probably think of instances where early rumors turned out to be later facts.
I have always thought that this 10-year visa for US citizens is subject to the vagaries of Chinese goodwill--even though there is a treaty in place that supposedly "guarantees" these to be issued. Given the state of the world, it would not take too much deterioration in relations between China and the USA for these 10-year visas to be abrogated either temporarily or permanently. The Chinese are perfectly capable of acting unilaterally or in concert with whatever the US does on its visa policy. There is precedent for this. China has, in the not too distant past, tossed obstacles at both French and Norwegian visa applicants, due to completely unrelated events that happened to anger the Chinese. Tightening up visa policy is a favorite Chinese tactic, since it can be seen as "retaliation" that would make a point without provoking more serious retaliation on political, economic, or military terms---visa obstacles typically impact low-value targets such as tourists, students, etc.
For any US citizen who has a better than 50/50 chance of visiting China at least once in the next few years and has the disposable cash to get one of the 10-year visas, I would suggest doing so sooner rather than later.
I have always thought that this 10-year visa for US citizens is subject to the vagaries of Chinese goodwill--even though there is a treaty in place that supposedly "guarantees" these to be issued. Given the state of the world, it would not take too much deterioration in relations between China and the USA for these 10-year visas to be abrogated either temporarily or permanently. The Chinese are perfectly capable of acting unilaterally or in concert with whatever the US does on its visa policy. There is precedent for this. China has, in the not too distant past, tossed obstacles at both French and Norwegian visa applicants, due to completely unrelated events that happened to anger the Chinese. Tightening up visa policy is a favorite Chinese tactic, since it can be seen as "retaliation" that would make a point without provoking more serious retaliation on political, economic, or military terms---visa obstacles typically impact low-value targets such as tourists, students, etc.
For any US citizen who has a better than 50/50 chance of visiting China at least once in the next few years and has the disposable cash to get one of the 10-year visas, I would suggest doing so sooner rather than later.
#1016
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,056
They've never given a hoot about our showing up with L visas and putting down a private residence as an address. (My partner is naturalized but has plenty of relatives over there.) Admittedly, we had a long string of L's before the Q visas existed. Likewise, the police didn't give a hoot about doing the private residence registration despite the L visa.
#1017
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 226
They've never given a hoot about our showing up with L visas and putting down a private residence as an address. (My partner is naturalized but has plenty of relatives over there.) Admittedly, we had a long string of L's before the Q visas existed. Likewise, the police didn't give a hoot about doing the private residence registration despite the L visa.
Last edited by HGF; Jan 6, 2016 at 10:39 pm
#1018
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,056
Well before, the L visa covered the situation that a Q visa is now for, so an L visa was intended to allow visits to relatives before. With the split, I didn't know if I could visit relatives and stay with them on an L visa now or if I needed to get a Q. At least how I interpreted the visa definitions was that if there are separate visas for visiting people in China, then if you have an L visa, you are not visiting anyone and thus have to stay in a hotel or some other sort of accommodation that is not someone's private home.
#1019
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Well before, the L visa covered the situation that a Q visa is now for, so an L visa was intended to allow visits to relatives before. With the split, I didn't know if I could visit relatives and stay with them on an L visa now or if I needed to get a Q. At least how I interpreted the visa definitions was that if there are separate visas for visiting people in China, then if you have an L visa, you are not visiting anyone and thus have to stay in a hotel or some other sort of accommodation that is not someone's private home.
#1020
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,056
Your interpretation is incorrect. Plenty of people right now get L tourist visas by invitation method from a Chinese or resident expat friend, and often include staying at a private residence as part of the visa application support. As @moondog says, visa category is completely different issue from where you stay inside China.