L Visa for tourists
China Tourist visa is issued to those who intend to go to China for touring, sightseeing or visiting friends. It is usually issued for up to 60 days stay per visit and multiple entry valid up to 10 years for US passport holders, while it is usually issued up to 60 days stay per visit but only for single or double entry valid for 3 or 6 months for non-US passport holders. 10 years visa is not guaranteed. Chinese Consulate may issue the applicant a visa with limited entry, shorter duration and validity at their discretion. In order to apply for China Tourist Visa, please prepare and send in the application according to the detailed requirements explained below.
The materials he/she should prepare are as follows:
1. Passport
Original signed passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a copy of the passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate.
2. Visa Application Form (Form V.2013) and Photo
One completed Visa Application Form with a photo on glossy photo paper glued onto the form (your photo must meet the requirements).
3. Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to non-U.S. citizens)
The applicant must provide the original and photocopy of the valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where he/she is currently staying.
4. Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizens who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)
- If the applicant held a Chinese passport in the past but doesn’t hold the Chinese nationality now, he/she should provide his/her previous Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.
- If the applicant has obtained Chinese visas before and wants to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, he/she should present the photocopy of the previous passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. (If the applicant’s name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, he/she must provide an official document of name change.)
5. Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation, etc. or an invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China.
The invitation letter should contain:
A. Information on the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)
B. Information on the planned visit (arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, etc.)
C. Information on the inviting entity or individual (name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative or the inviting individual)
NOTE:
1. In accordance with a 2014 China-U.S. visa arrangement, U.S. citizens may be eligible for 10-year multiple entry visa. The remaining validity of the U.S. passport must be over 12 months.
2. The applicant should guarantee that all information provided in the application is true and correct. Any false, misleading or incomplete information may result in denial of the visa or refusal of entry into China.
3. The Visa Notification Letter and the official media letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout. An applicant may be required to submit an original invitation, provide other supporting documents, or schedule an interview with the consular officer.
4. The consular officer will make decisions on whether or not to grant a visa and allowed validity, duration of stay and number of entries based on individual application.
5. If the applicant is applying for the Chinese visa for the first time, he/she should provide more materials besides those mentioned above. The other materials he/she should offer are as follows:
The bank statement of the last 6 months and a receipt offered by the bank;
- BIR-stamped income tax return form;
- Certificate of employment with income and years of working;
- Certificate of commercial registration(if the applicant is running an individual establishment or self-employed);
- Professional ID, students’ ID, etc.;
- Other materials proving the financial status, employment and studying of the applicant.