Tourist visa (L visa), plus 30-day visa-free entry for listed nationalities
The L visa is China's ordinary visa for tourists. Many nationalities can now visit China without a visa for up to 30 days under a unilateral visa-free policy that runs until 31 December 2026. Some can also use 240-hour visa-free transit or visa-free entry under bilateral agreements. Anyone not covered must apply for an L visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate, often through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and an online form. The consulate decides the number of entries, validity and length of stay.
1 entry rule for China based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country (or after more than 12 hours' airport transit in one) need a valid yellow fever certificate. Without one: may be held for observation for up to 6 days after leaving the infected area, or vaccinated and held until the vaccination takes effect.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China Beijing Municipal Government FAQ: Do I need immunizations to enter China? Checked October 19, 2026
Visiting China
Add your passport to your profile, or check it here, to see exactly what you need to visit.
Life in China
Money
3
Currency
Chinese Yuan
CNY
Chinese Yuan
Cost of living
48
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
3–45%
Income tax (national)
VAT 13%
45% applies to annual taxable comprehensive income above CNY 960,000 after a CNY 60,000 basic deduction.
Living
1
Happiness
#63 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals visiting mainland China as tourists or to see family and friends.
Eligibility
Tourism purpose
The L visa is issued to people going to China as tourists.
Passport
Bring your original passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and blank visa pages.
6 months
Passport validity
Official wording
Original passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and blank visa pages.
Travel plan or invitation
You must show your itinerary, such as a round-trip flight booking and hotel reservation, or an invitation letter from an organisation or person in China.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementLegal stay where you apply
- Document checklistOriginal passport with at least 6 months' validity and blank pages, plus a copy of the bio page
- FeesL visa, United Kingdom nationals (reduced fee, regular service)
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 6 more requirements
- 8 documents
- 5 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in China
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Part One: Visa for China (Mainland only)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Part Seven: FAQs
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Notice on the Extension of the Unilateral Visa-Free Policy (1 December 2025)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Notice on China's Visa Waiver Policy for the UK and Canada (15 February 2026)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Notice on Extension of Visa-Fee Reduction (25 December 2025)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Notice on the Extension of the Exemption from Fingerprint Collection (19 December 2025)
- Chinese Embassy in the UK, Notice on Online Completion of Foreigners' Arrival Card (2 December 2025)
- National Immigration Administration, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added to 240-hour transit and Hainan policies (20 August 2026)
- MFA, List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption
Other routes to China
All routes to China →Visit & tourism in other countries
- ColombiaVisitor visa (Visa V) – tourism modality
- Costa RicaVisiting Costa Rica
- CubaCuban tourist card (tourist visa) for foreign visitors
- Cape VerdeCabo Verde tourism visa and EASE pre-registration with airport security fee
- CuraçaoCuraçao tourist stay and extension
- CyprusCyprus short-stay visa (type C) and visa-free visits
