Planning a trip to China and struggling to understand the Chinese Visa Application Process? We have been to China twice, and here we will outline everything we discovered about how to get a Tourist Visa For China In Australia. Much of the general process will apply to Chinese Visa applications all over the world, but it’s always best to check your specific circumstances. Although it can seem pretty confusing, we are happy to say that applying for a Chinese Visa In Australia was a pretty straightforward and simple process.
CONTENTS
How To Get A Tourist Visa For China Video
Do I Need A Chinese Visa?
What Are The Chinese Visa Requirements?
How To Get A Tourist Visa For China From Australia
Chinese Visa Application Process: How We Did It
Things To Know About The Chinese Tourist Visa (L-Visa)
Chinese Visa Frequently Asked Questions
How To Get A Tourist Visa For China Video
Do I Need A Chinese Visa?
People from most countries will need to get a Chinese Visa, with exceptions for people from Singapore, Brunei and Japan in certain circumstances. As an Australian citizen travelling to China for tourism purposes, you will need to get a Chinese Visa (L Visa). You may also be eligible for a 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa, but we will get into that more later. Most of this article will be about the Chinese L Visa.
What Are The Chinese Visa Requirements: Things You Need To Apply For A China Visa
- Original Passport with at least 6 months validity remaining and photocopy of the passports data page
- Photocopy of previous Chinese visa’s in previous passports, if applicable
- Passport Photo
- Visa Application Form
- Evidence of flights in and out of China
- Evidence of hotel reservations in China
- An invitation letter can be used instead of flights/accommodation if you can get one, but this is usually mainly used if you are travelling on an organised tour.
How To Get A Tourist Visa For China From Australia
We read quite a few bad reviews about the China visa process in Sydney Australia, so before we even began we were not looking forward to getting our Chinese visa in Sydney. It ended up being one of the easiest visa processes we have had.
The main thing you need to know is to meet the Chinese Visa Requirements checklist above. And that you no longer apply at a Chinese consulate or embassy, rather at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center which you can find at visaforchina.org (It looks like in America you still need to apply through a Chinese Consulate or Embassy as they are not listed on visaforchina.org).
This is how we did it.
Chinese Visa Application Process: How We Did It
Step 1 – Meet The Chinese Visa Requirements
You will need to make sure you meet all of the Chinese Visa application requirements listed above before you apply for your Chinese Visa. Most of this is pretty straight forward with the exception that you will need to have evidence of your accommodation and flight bookings. We were a little concerned about booking everything without having a guaranteed visa, but in the end, we didn’t think there would be an obvious reason as to why we wouldn’t get the visa so we were happy to book.
There are some ways around this, like booking refundable flights through specific airlines and booking accommodation with a free cancellation policy. Booking.com is a great hotel booking website that also has a lot of accommodation with free cancellation policies.
Step 2 – Make An Appointment At Your Local Chinese Visa Center
How to make your Chinese Visa Appointment in Sydney? Or at any Chinese Visa Center? All you need to do is visit visaforchina.org and select your nearest Visa Center. In the ‘Quick Access’ section, you can make your appointment online.
We read on their website to avoid the hours of 10 am to 1 pm as this was the busiest time, and they also recommended making an appointment to avoid waiting time. We had heard about people waiting for hours, so book an appointment when possible. This will be a time bracket of 1 hour and during that time it is stated that you should not need to wait for more than a few minutes.
Step 3 – Fill Out An Application Form + Prepare Documents
We filled out our application online at visaforchina.org and printed it off and prepared all the documents we needed to provide. These include passport, photocopies of previous passports and previous Chinese visas if applicable, proof of flights (round trip, in and out of China), as well as accommodation bookings. You can see the full list of required documents here. It took us about 10 minutes each to fill out and check our applications.
Step 4 – Go To Your Chinese Visa Appointment
Then we just headed to our appointment in Sydney. The Sydney Chinese Visa Service Center is located at Level 1, 140 William Street, Woolloomooloo. As you arrive you select a ticket for appointments. We literally only had time to get out our papers, passports and sit down, then we were called up.
We provided all the necessary documents, along with our passports. You will be provided with a collection receipt that will have an expected collection date as well as other details. The process was straightforward and easy and the staff were friendly.
Step 5 – Check The Status Of Your Visa Online (optional)
You can check the status of the visa online at visaforchina.org too which was great, although you don’t need to do this.
Step 6 – Collect Your Chinese Visa And Pay
We then went back to collect and pay for our Chinese visas. Again, super easy, we were in and out in 10 minutes. It only took about 4 business days from start to finish to get our Chinese Visa.
Overall our experience of getting a Chinese visa in Sydney was super quick and easy. The whole process seemed really well organised and the staff we dealt with were friendly. Both times we were there it did not seem that busy, so I guess if it was full, your experience may differ. We collected our passports and visas at a supposedly busy time of the day, and we were surprised it was not that busy. It was also a very convenient location, in the city, close to public transport. Compared to other visas we have got in Sydney, this was the easiest and most straight forward for us.
Have you had this same easy experience or did we get lucky? Let us know in the comments.
Things To Know About The Chinese Tourist Visa (L-Visa)
How Much Is A Chinese Visa?
The current price of a single entry Chinese L-Visa is $109.50 AUD per person for the regular service.
How Long Is A Chinese Visa Valid?
Our Chinese Visa was valid to enter for 3 months from the application date. This means the last day you can enter China is on the last day of your validity. It does not mean that you need to leave China on this date.
How Long Can I Stay In China?
The duration of your stay usually depends on how long you ask for. Usually, it is 15, 30, 60 or 90 days, or close to the time-frame you asked for. Our last Chinese Visa allowed us 90 days stay in China.
So to recap:
Price: $109.50 AUD
Validity: Valid to enter for 3 months from application date.
Duration: Up to 90 Days
Entry: Single Entry or Multiple Entries
Category: L-Visa
Chinese Visa Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easy to get a Chinese Visa? As an Australian Citizen applying in Australia, we found the process fairly easy. The most difficult thing is the requirement to have flights and accommodation booked before getting your visa.
How long does it take to get a visa to China? It took us about 4 business days from start to finish for the regular service. You can also pay more for an express and rush service which are quicker.
How much does a Chinese Visa cost in Australia? Currently, it costs $109.50 AUD per person.
Can you apply for Chinese visa online? No. Although you can book appointments online and complete your application online, you still need to print it out and either visit a Chinese Visa Application Service Center, or in Australia, you can also mail it in.
What do I need to bring for a Chinese visa appointment? A completed Chinese visa application form, a passport photo, photocopies of your passport and of previous Chinese Visas, and evidence of inward and outward flights and accommodation.
Which visa is required for China? For a Chinese tourist visa, it is the L-Visa.
Can I extend my Chinese visa? You may be able to extend your Chinese tourist Visa for 30 days in China. According to visaforchina.org: “You may apply for an extension of the “duration of stay” of your visa at a local public security authority before it expires, but without an assumption that the application will be automatically approved.” I have also heard that this may require more documentation and requirements.
How far in advance should I apply for my Chinese Visa? Visaforchina.org states that you should apply for your Chinese Visa at least one month before your trip but no longer than three months.
Do you have to apply for a Chinese Visa in your home country? No. We have applied for a Chinese Visa in our home country of Australia, but also in Vietnam a few years ago, which also involved a land-crossing into China by train. There may be a few more hoops to jump through, or not, but it is definitely possible.
What is the China tourist visa length of stay and validity? From what we can gather, the Chinese tourist visa maximum length of stay is 90 days, however, you will most likely be given 15, 30, 60 or 90 days based on your request/itinerary, or close to the time-frame you asked for. This differs from validity, which is generally 3 months from the date your visa is approved. Validity is the time you have to enter China.
What about China Transit Visas? You may also be able to get a China Transit Visa if you enter through certain ports. These are essentially visa on arrival (VOA), not visa-free entry to China. These transit visas allow you to stay in that province of China for either 72-hours or 144-hours (depending on where you enter). You can read more about it on visaforchina.org and about the 144-hour policy and FAQ on Beijing Airport website. But, as they are not a certainty, even though you shouldn’t have any problems, it may still be worth your while to apply for a Chinese L-Visa before your trip instead.
Where Can I Get A China Visa Application Form? You can find it online at visaforchina.org but you do need to print it out, either before or after you fill it in.
Can I Get A 10 Year Visa To China? It looks like citizens of America, UK, Canada, Israel and Argentina may be able to get a Chinese Visa with 10 years validity. This does not mean 10 years of ‘duration of stay’ in China, but 10 years of validity mean you can enter as a tourist multiple times throughout the 10 year period without having to reapply for a new Chinese Visa. From our research, it does not look like this is available to Australians.
Do I Need A Visa To Visit Hong Kong and Macao? Hong Kong and Macao have separate entry requirements that you can find here:
During our trips, Australian Citizens could get 30 days visa-free entry to Macao and 90 days visa-free entry to Hong Kong. However, as the world situation is constantly changing, it’s best to check before your trip.
Read More:
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