arrival
Passport
Visitors must have a valid passport with at least 6 months' validity and two
blank pages remaining (you may get away with just one blank page).
Visas
All visitors to mainland China must have a visa in advance. Visa applications
typically take 3 to 5 working days to process, although this can be shortened
to as little as 1 day if you apply in person and pay extra fees. "L" (tourist)
visas are valid for between 1 and 3 months. Usually 1 month is granted unless
you request more, which you may or may not get according to events in China
at the time. Double-entry tourist visas are also available. It varies, but
typically your visit must begin within 90 days of the date of issue.
You should apply for a visa in person at your nearest consulate, although it's possible to obtain Chinese visas in other countries while you're on an extended trip. To apply for a visa, you must complete an application form, which can be downloaded from many consular websites or acquired by mail. In general, do not mention Tibet or Xinjiang on your visa application, or it may be turned down flat because of touchy political issues.
One passport photograph is required per adult, as well as for any child traveling on a parent's passport.
A complete list of all Chinese embassies and consulates, including addresses and contact information, can be found at the Chinese foreign ministry's website: www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng. Click on "Missions Overseas." Many consulates (including all those in the U.S. and Canada) will only accept applications in person or through an accepted agency.
United States: Single-entry visas are US$50; double-entry US$75. Visit www.china-embassy.org, which has links to all U.S. consular sites and a downloadable application form. Applications must be delivered and collected by hand, or sent via a visa agency.
Canada: Single-entry visas are C$50; double-entry C$75. Visit www.chinaembassycanada.org for an application form. Applications must be delivered and collected by hand, or sent via a visa agency.
United Kingdom: Single-entry visas are £30; double-entry £45. There's a supplementary charge of £20 for each package dealt with by mail. Visit www.chinese-embassy.org.uk for an application.
Australia: Single-entry visas are A$30; double-entry A$45. Add A$10 per package dealt with by mail or courier, and a pre-paid return envelope. Visit www.chinaembassy.org.au for an application.
New Zealand: Single-entry visas are NZ$60; double-entry NZ$90. Add NZ$15 per package dealt with by mail or courier, and a pre-paid return envelope. Visit www.chinaembassy.org.nz for an application.
Note: The visa fees quoted above for each country are the current rates for nationals of that country, and can change at any time. In addition to the visa fees quoted, there may be supplementary fees for postage.
Visa Extensions
Single-entry tourist visas may be extended once for a maximum of 30 days at
the PSB Exit/Entry Division offices in most cities. The office in Beijing
(tel. 010/8401-5292) is on the south side of the eastern North Second Ring
Road, just east of the Lama Temple metro stop.. Applications take 4 working
days to process.
Customs: What You Can Take Into China
In general terms, you can bring anything into China for personal use that you
plan to take back with you. Unusual prohibitions include "old/used
garments" and "printed matter, magnetic media, films, or photographs
which are deemed to be detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and
moral interests of China," as the regulations put it. So leave your “Down
with Commies” books at home. Customs officers are for the most
part easygoing, and foreign visitors are rarely searched. Customs declaration
forms have now vanished from all major points of entry, but if you are importing
more than US$5,000 in cash, you should declare it, or theoretically you could
face difficulties at the time of departure (this is highly unlikely).
What You Can Bring Back Home From China
An official seal must be attached to any item created between 1795 and 1949
that is taken out of China; older items cannot be exported. Contraband items
(i.e. knockoffs) are easy to get out of China, but be careful going back
home. You may not be able to convince your local customs agent that
you thought the 10 North Face jackets were authentic in addition to the DVDs
that have just come out in the movie theater.
