Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Six-month multiple-entry visas:
» UK£90 for UK citizens
» US$130 for US citizens
» US$60 for all other nationals
A standard 30-day single-entry visa can be issued in four to five working days.
In many countries, the visa service has been outsourced from the Chinese
embassy to a
Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
(
www.visaforchina.org
)
, which levies an extra administration fee. In the case
of the UK, a single-entry visa costs UK£30, but the standard administration
charge levied by the centre is an additional UK£36 (three-day express UK£48,
postal service UK£54). In some countries, such as the UK, France, the US and
Canada, there is more than one service centre nationwide. Visa Application
Service Centres are open Monday to Friday.
A standard 30-day visa is activated on the date you enter China, and must
be used within three months of the date of issue. Sixty-day and 90-day travel
visas are harder to get. To stay longer, you can extend your visa in China.
Visa applications require a completed application form (available from the
embassy, visa application service centre or downloaded from its website) and
at least one photo (normally 51mm x 51mm). You generally pay for your visa
when you collect it. A visa mailed to you will take up to three weeks. In the US
and Canada, mailed visa applications have to go via a visa agent, at extra
cost. In the US, many people use the
China Visa Service Center
( in the
USA 800 799 6560;
www.mychinavisa.com
)
, which offers prompt service. The
procedure takes around 10 to 14 days.
CIBT
(
www.uk.cibt.com
)
offers a global
network and a fast and efficient turnaround.
Visa-free Transits
Citizens from 45 nations (including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Brazil and
the UK) can now stay in Beijing for 72 hours without a visa as long as they are in
transit to other destinations outside China, have a third-country visa and an air ticket
out of Beijing (they are not allowed to venture beyond Beijing). Similarly, citizens
