Jun 4, 2013, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: mnbp
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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Note that posts made prior to 1 July 2013 have been archived, but are still available for reference at China Visa / Visas Master Thread (ARCHIVED).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
(lower right wiki corner).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)
Jun 15, 2016, 1:59 pm
#1246
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
Fast, informative reply. Thanks a lot.
It looks like Allied is the cheapest (for my situation, at least). Plus OMAT & TPG both have $5 discounts for them, and Mile Nerd & Tagging Miles both have $10 discounts (links below).
I called with a question, and someone answered in less than a minute, and was able to answer it. For anyone else who's wondering, the processing time listed on their website (10 business days) does include both their handling time, and the embassy's time as well. 10 business days is the total of those two.
Their office in DC is near Embassy Row, so it meets that criteria as well (good idea, by the way).
So this seems to be a really good option - hopefully I'll be just as happy with them ~12 business days from now.
http://alliedpassport.com/milenerd/
http://alliedpassport.com/taggingmiles/
http://alliedpassport.com/onemileatatime/
http://alliedpassport.com/thepointsguy/
It looks like Allied is the cheapest (for my situation, at least). Plus OMAT & TPG both have $5 discounts for them, and Mile Nerd & Tagging Miles both have $10 discounts (links below).
I called with a question, and someone answered in less than a minute, and was able to answer it. For anyone else who's wondering, the processing time listed on their website (10 business days) does include both their handling time, and the embassy's time as well. 10 business days is the total of those two.
Their office in DC is near Embassy Row, so it meets that criteria as well (good idea, by the way).
So this seems to be a really good option - hopefully I'll be just as happy with them ~12 business days from now.
http://alliedpassport.com/milenerd/
http://alliedpassport.com/taggingmiles/
http://alliedpassport.com/onemileatatime/
http://alliedpassport.com/thepointsguy/
Jun 16, 2016, 3:44 am
#1247
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
There's reciprocity in fees and reciprocity in requirements. For USA citizens, a former example illustrating the difference is the reciprocity fee for enter Argentina versus the visa requirement for Brazil.
Jun 19, 2016, 5:32 pm
#1248
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 16
IF (unlikely IMO) the Embassy says that they want a flight out of Guangzhou not Hong Kong, then you invoke the @moondog strategy of reserving said flight CAN-BKK but not paying for, print out receipt to submit to Embassy, then cancel flight. Expedia US site usually allows one to do this. Or you could do that straight off and for visa application purposes, just keep HK out of it. Remember once you get a visa, you can rearrange plans at will, nobody back checks.
During the process you do see claims that the ticket is refundable, and has free cancellation within 24 hours, but then there's all the fine print that makes you wonder if they will really refund it. Also that bit about "WE don't charge a fee to cancel, but the airline might and we would pass it on to you."
So if you know a way to get an acceptable flight booking page that you can print out, without entering payment info, please do share it.
Jun 28, 2016, 10:32 am
#1250
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Delta PM, IHG, HH
Posts: 12
Hi all,
I tried to search and find a similar question to mine, but I failed!
In any case, I have a 10 year business visa (M category, US citizen). However I am planning to travel to China for purely tourism purposes in the near future. Is it possible to enter China with a M visa for tourism, or do I need a separate tourist visa (L category).
thanks for any insight!
I tried to search and find a similar question to mine, but I failed!
In any case, I have a 10 year business visa (M category, US citizen). However I am planning to travel to China for purely tourism purposes in the near future. Is it possible to enter China with a M visa for tourism, or do I need a separate tourist visa (L category).
thanks for any insight!
Jul 2, 2016, 9:50 am
#1253
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
Hi all,
I tried to search and find a similar question to mine, but I failed!
In any case, I have a 10 year business visa (M category, US citizen). However I am planning to travel to China for purely tourism purposes in the near future. Is it possible to enter China with a M visa for tourism, or do I need a separate tourist visa (L category).
thanks for any insight!
I tried to search and find a similar question to mine, but I failed!
In any case, I have a 10 year business visa (M category, US citizen). However I am planning to travel to China for purely tourism purposes in the near future. Is it possible to enter China with a M visa for tourism, or do I need a separate tourist visa (L category).
thanks for any insight!
Jul 11, 2016, 8:15 pm
#1254
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
Out of interest: have any UK citizens applied for Chinese Visas while in the US? What kind of fees were you charged? Also, what kind of documentation did you bring - are they happy enough seeing just your US Visa, or do you need additoinal forms / your I-94 / etc.?
The consulate website only lists fees for US citizens ($140) and other ($30 for a single entry). However the Chinese consulate in the UK has separate fees for UK citizens (85 GBP) vs other (20 GBP) and US (90 GBP). I'm guessing that means there will be a larger fee, similar to the US citizen fee, too?
Also, as a UK citizen I would now be eligible for the 2 year Visa, does anyone have any experience getting this while applying from another country? It would be annoying to get charged the higher UK fee (which is flat across all visa categories, i.e. single/double/multi), and still only get a single entry Visa - but I'm guessing I don't have much choice in the matter (I won't be in the UK until after my China trip).
The consulate website only lists fees for US citizens ($140) and other ($30 for a single entry). However the Chinese consulate in the UK has separate fees for UK citizens (85 GBP) vs other (20 GBP) and US (90 GBP). I'm guessing that means there will be a larger fee, similar to the US citizen fee, too?
Also, as a UK citizen I would now be eligible for the 2 year Visa, does anyone have any experience getting this while applying from another country? It would be annoying to get charged the higher UK fee (which is flat across all visa categories, i.e. single/double/multi), and still only get a single entry Visa - but I'm guessing I don't have much choice in the matter (I won't be in the UK until after my China trip).
Jul 16, 2016, 8:11 am
#1255
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rock Island, IL
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 377
As I was filling out the application, I called them and asked a question. Phone was answered very quickly and answered all my questions.
I got the 10 year Visa with 60 days. This is my 3rd Visa from China. Past Visa's were for one year. Great not to have to go thru this every year in the future. This was a tourist Visa. My others were for business.
Highly recommend them!
Jul 16, 2016, 11:11 am
#1256
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
10-year, multiple entry tourist and business visas are the standard now for US passports...unless you are recommending them solely based on service.
Jul 16, 2016, 3:25 pm
#1257
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,058
I get my visas at PRC consulates in the USA, and always work such into my travel plans. This gives me complete control wrt the process.
That having been said, for our business guests, I typically Google "China visa", and choose the cheapest agency. In the event I stumble upon a bad apple, I will advise. No bad apples, thus far.
Jul 16, 2016, 10:31 pm
#1259
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
The visa agencys are the one exception to bad customer service from what I've experienced. Their service is superior to the airlines lol.
They get the job done quick, are friendly about it, and answer any questions you have.
They get the job done quick, are friendly about it, and answer any questions you have.
Jul 17, 2016, 6:25 pm
#1260
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 44
Business and tourist visas.
Hi Everyone, just a brief question. I am going to China as a Chinese translator for a client, and I wanted to know if I should get a separate business visa from my tourist visa? I think so, right? Will they give me a 10 year business visa, or just an individual one for this trip?
Thank you!
Hi Everyone, just a brief question. I am going to China as a Chinese translator for a client, and I wanted to know if I should get a separate business visa from my tourist visa? I think so, right? Will they give me a 10 year business visa, or just an individual one for this trip?
Thank you!