Traveling is such a great avenue to unwind from the busy life we have. There are so many countries to choose from and some require a visa either upon arrival or before arrival to the destination country
To begin let us focus on one country and get to know step by step the process in applying for a visa.
CHINA
A great nation of culture and tradition with many heritage sites built centuries ago. Who would not want to visit China? I guess you want to visit China too. So let us get started by checking if you belong to the list of countries with visa-free entry to China.
- Japan
- Singapore
- Brunei
The citizens of these countries are allowed to enter China visa-free for 15 days through all ports.
China has given visa-free transit to 25 European Countries under Schengen Visa Agreements.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Monaco
The other countries that are qualified for the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy are:
- Russia
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Cyprus
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Ukraine
- Serbia
- Croatia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- Macedonia
- Albania
- Belarus
Countries like Canada, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and the Republic of Chile are also included in the list. While Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, UAE, and Qatar were also given the 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit.
Next, you have to decide what visa you need as there are many Chinese visa types. Do you need a Chinese tourist visa? Do you need a Chinese student visa? Lists of Chinese Visa types
CHINESE VISA REQUIREMENTS
Here are the documents you need to have regardless of the type of visa you are applying for:
- Passport with 6 months validity
- Chinese visa application form (filled in)
- Travel itinerary (round trip ticket and hotel accommodation included )
- Chinese visa invitation letter, if needed
- Recent passport-sized photo
- Proof of financial subsistence
Now that you have all these things ready, you will now move to the next step:
WHERE TO SUBMIT THE VISA APPLICATION
Look for the nearest Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate in your area. Go there personally or apply for your Chinese visa through a travel agency.
The processing of your visa application usually takes 4 working days. However, you can have your visa application processed faster when you pay an additional fee. Take note that certain Chinese public holidays may hasten the visa processing.
For your convenience, you can submit your visa application ahead of time.
HOW MUCH DOES A CHINESE VISA COST?
The cost of a Chinese visa depends on the country. For Americans, it would cost $140. For others who do not come from the US, the cost would range from $30 to $90.
Some consulates charge a higher fee for multiple entry visas, while some countries charge a fixed fee whether you apply for a single, double or multiple entry visas.
HOW LONG IS THE VALIDITY OF A CHINESE VISA?
Chinese visa has a different period of validity. 10-year Chinese visa validity is for citizens of the US, Canada, and the UK. The 3 months to 1-year period is the most common visa validity.
