China's tourist visa (category L) has a reputation as a maze. It only is one if you arrive unprepared: the consulate asks for specific documents and checks each of them.
Core documents
- Passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages.
- Online form, printed and signed.
- Recent photo on white background, no glasses.
- Full itinerary with inbound and outbound flights.
- Accommodation bookings for every night.
- Proof of funds (recent bank statements).
Step by step
Complete the online form, book an appointment at the application centre, submit documents in person with biometrics and collect your passport on the stated date. Standard processing runs around four working days after submission, but start six to eight weeks ahead.
Mistakes that cost weeks
Incomplete itineraries, bookings without the applicant's name, photos with shadows and passports under six months of validity. Any one of them means a new appointment.
How we help
For our China trip we prepare the detailed itinerary, the agency letter and the group's accommodation proofs, and review your file before you book the appointment.
