Visas For China

Chinese Visas

As the world’s oldest continuous civilisation occupying an incredibly vast area, you’ll find no shortage of reasons to visit China. From classic experiences like exploring the Great Wall, to simple pleasures such as sampling the different types of tasty street food, one visit to China is never enough.

Australian citizens require tourist visas for China, and the Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website will point you to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China for further explanation of the various visa types.

There are four different types of visas for China:

  • diplomatic visa
  • courtesy visa
  • service visa
  • ordinary visa

Ordinary visas are further divided into 16 categories, so below you’ll find an overview of the most relevant China visas for Australians.

Types Of Tourist Visa For China

Visa category ‘L’ is issued to people who intend to travel to China as a tourist. This will be the relevant visa for the majority of Australian citizens going on a holiday. However, there are other China visa categories which may be relevant, so it’s wise to consult with your Flight Centre Travel Expert about which China visa is right for you. For example, Visa category ‘G’ is issued to those who intend to simply transit through China. Visa category ‘Q2’ is issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China, and intend to stay in China for no longer than 180 days.

Travel Tip: Note that Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Reasons (SAR) and have separate visa and entry administration to mainland China. Be aware that if you exit mainland China to visit Hong Kong or Macau, you may require a new Chinese visa to re-enter mainland China.

How To Apply For A Chinese Visa

Each visa has different requirements that need to be met in order to apply. Some of the items and documents you will need to produce to apply for the ‘L’ visa include your passport with at least 6 month’s validity, a completed visa application form, itinerary and hotel reservation or invitation letter. All of these requirements are detailed on the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China’s site.

The Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in Australia do not accept visa applications from ordinary passport holders. To apply for a Chinese visa, you’ll need to submit your application to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVAS) located in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra or Perth. You can apply by person at the above centres, or by mail. A regular, single entry visa to China for Australian citizens will cost around $110. Visas to China are usually processed in about 4 working days, while mail applications take a little longer, at around 10 working days. You can also always ask from assistance from your local Flight Centre Travel Expert.

Please note: Visas are the individual responsibility of travellers. The information above is to be used as a guide only. Conditions can change suddenly so we recommend checking the Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website for the latest updates.

If you have any questions regarding Chinese visas, call 133 133 and talk to a Flight Centre Travel Expert for advice.