ChinaVisits and short stays

China tourist visa (L visa)

L visa (tourism)

In short

The L visa is China's tourist visa. Ordinary passport holders of the 45 countries on China's visa-free list, such as France, Spain and Brazil, do not need it for tourist stays of up to 30 days until 31 December 2026; longer trips and other nationalities require an L visa before departure.

Apply on China Online Visa Application System (MFA) checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Duration of stay printed on the visa (short-stay visas allow up to 180 days per entry)
Validity
Single or multiple entry as granted; use the visa within its validity
Fee
The fee depends on your nationality, the number of entries and the Chinese mission where you apply; several missions apply a temporary reduced fee until 31 December 2026, and visa application centres add their own service charge. Check the current table of the embassy or centre responsible for you.
Processing time
Set by the mission or visa application centre where you apply
Work
No work or study
Where to apply
Online form, then documents and passport in person at the Chinese embassy, consulate or Chinese Visa Application Service Center responsible for your place of residence

Visa or visa-free stay?

Until 31 December 2026 ordinary passport holders of 45 countries, including France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. The Chinese consulate in Montreal states that Canadians are covered as well. The visa-free stay covers tourism, business, visiting family or friends, exchanges and transit.

If your trip is longer than 30 days, or your nationality is not on the list, apply for an L visa before departure at the Chinese mission responsible for your place of residence. Hong Kong and Macao have their own entry rules and are not covered by a mainland visa.

Documents

Every applicant submits a passport valid for more than six months with a blank page and a copy of the data page, the online form with a compliant photo and the documents for the purpose of the trip, including an invitation letter where the mission asks for one for an L visa. Add copies of your last three Chinese visas, if any. Minors add parental consent and proof of guardianship.

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank visa page, plus copies of visas and entry stamps from the last 12 months

Travel

  • Invitation letter, if the mission where you apply requires one for an L visa

Other

  • Online application form completed and approved in the visa system, with a photo meeting Chinese visa photo rules

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Identity

  • Copies of your last three Chinese visas, if any
  • If you apply outside your country of nationality: proof of legal residence or stay in the country where you apply (residence permit or visa)

Family

  • Applicants under 18: parental consent, proof of guardianship and parents' IDs

Fees

Visa fees depend on the applicant's nationality, the number of entries and where the application is filed. Visa application centres may charge for their own services on top. Check the current fee table on the website of the competent embassy or centre before you apply.

Registration after arrival

Hotels register foreign guests automatically. If you stay in a private home, you or your host must register your accommodation with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Visas marked for a residence permit (Q1, S1, X1, Z, D and similar) require an application for a residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the local public security bureau within 30 days of entry; the authority decides within 15 days.

Extending a short stay

For visas with a stay of up to 180 days, an extension can be requested at the local exit-entry administration at least seven days before the permitted stay ends. The total extension cannot exceed the original duration of stay shown on the visa; if refused, you must leave when your stay expires.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Collect the documents for your visa category and check the website of the Chinese mission responsible for you for any additional documents it requires.
  2. Check first whether your passport allows a visa-free tourist stay of up to 30 days; if it does, no application is needed.
  3. Fill in the online form and upload the documents on the system named by the Chinese mission responsible for you: consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA or, where the mission uses a visa application centre, visaforchina.cn.
  4. Wait for online pre-approval and correct any item the system asks for, then hand in your passport and originals in person.
  5. Give fingerprints if your visa leads to a residence permit (Q1, S1, X1, Z, D); short visas up to 180 days are exempt until 31 December 2026.
  6. Pay the fee as instructed by the mission or visa centre and collect your passport; the processing time depends on where you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can I travel to China alone as a tourist?

Yes. Citizens of countries on China's visa-free list can travel alone without a visa for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026. Other travellers apply for an L visa at the Chinese mission responsible for their place of residence.

Can I use the 240-hour visa-free transit to see Shanghai?

Yes, if your nationality is one of the 57 eligible countries and you continue to a third country with a confirmed onward ticket. The list includes most European countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

Does a visa cover Hong Kong and Macao?

No. Mainland visas do not cover Hong Kong or Macao, which have their own entry rules.

Do I need to fill in an arrival card?

Yes. Since late 2025 China accepts the arrival card filled in online before travel.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for China

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Duration of stay printed on the visa (short-stay visas allow up to 180 days per entry)

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: X2: up to 180 days; X1: entry visa followed by a residence permit valid 180 days to 5 years

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Entry visa; the work residence permit is valid from 90 days to 5 years
  • Skilled worker visa Processing time: Set by the mission or visa application centre where you apply

Family

Residence

  • Residence permit Maximum stay: Work type 90 days–5 years; non-work types 180 days–5 years
  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: Permanent; the ID card itself is renewed when it expires

China visa guide