Visa to China: What Are the Requirements and How to Apply?

Starting from July 1, 2024, a visa to China is not required for Polish citizens if your stay does not exceed 15 days. For a longer stay, a visa is necessary.

In this article, you will learn about the types of visas to China, the cost of a visa, and how to successfully submit your visa application. You will also find other important information for travelers: whether health insurance is required, whether a Polish driving license allows driving in China, and whether a visa is required for Hong Kong.

Check which visa you are applying for, what documents you need, and how to do it. We also advise on how to apply for a visa to China.

Polish citizens are not required to have a visa for China if their stay does not exceed 15 days. The requirement for short-term visas has been waived for travel from July 1, 2024, until the end of 2025, provided that you hold an ordinary Polish passport.

For longer stays, a visa is mandatory. Depending on your travel plans, you can apply for a single-entry or double-entry visa.

The visa can be obtained on the website of the Chinese Visa Application Center (opens in a new tab), where you will also find an online application form.

The table below provides information on the validity period, duration of stay, and required documents for the most popular types of visas to China.

Visas to China are single or double-entry. Plan your trip in advance - if you intend to visit Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan and will be returning to China, you must apply for a double-entry visa.

The main cost of getting a visa to China consists of a government fee, which depends on the processing mode and the number of possible entries into Chinese territory.

Government fees depending on the mode are:

• 395 PLN for a visa to China in normal mode
• 645 PLN for a visa to China in express mode

List of required documents to issue a visa to China

• Passport valid for at least six months from the planned return date
• Completed application form (or an online application available at this link on the Chinese Visa Center website (opens in a new tab))
• Photo for a Chinese visa
• For a business visa, an invitation from a Chinese company is also required, and for a student visa from a university in China

A photo for a visa to China differs in requirements from Polish passport photos. If you plan to visit a photographer, do not forget to inform him about this fact. Below we leave a list of the most important requirements for a biometric photo for a Chinese visa based on the Chinese Visa Center website (opens in a new tab):

• The size of a Chinese visa photo should be 33x48 mm in the paper version. The electronic version should be between 354 and 420 pixels wide and between 472 to 560 pixels high.
• The background should be uniformly white and shadow-free.
• The lighting on the face must be even.
• You should look straight into the camera lens.
• You cannot smile, and the whole face and forehead must be visible.

You can also use online passport photo tools, choosing a Chinese visa photo.

We suggest two safe ways to get a visa to China in advance:

1. Apply for a visa to China online on the website of the Chinese Visa Application Center (opens in a new tab).
2. Submit a visa application in person at the Chinese Visa Center in Warsaw.

Start planning your trip earlier to ensure that your journey is comfortable and without unnecessary stress! Check dates and prices for flights to China.

Yes, a passport is required to enter China. Citizens of Poland who are traveling to China are required to bring a passport or a temporary passport.

According to information available on the government website (opens in a new tab), an ID card cannot replace a passport as an identity document. Like adults, children must also have a valid passport or temporary passport to pass through border control.

The passport, as well as the temporary passport, must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of planned return from China. So, the passport must be valid for six months longer than the visa.

No, citizens of Poland do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong for tourism purposes for up to 90 days. However, remember that if you return to mainland China from Hong Kong, you will need a double-entry visa to China!

There is more than one way to get a visa to China. You can fill out a visa application online or submit an application in person at the Chinese visa center.

Government fees for obtaining a visa to China are 395 PLN in the normal mode or 645 PLN in the express mode. However, keep in mind that there may be additional handling fees, especially if you use a intermediary.

No, foreigners without a Chinese driver's license cannot drive or rent a car.

Starting from July 1, 2024, Polish citizens do not need a visa if their stay does not exceed 15 days. For longer stays, Polish citizens must have a visa for China.

For China, a visa will be required if the stay exceeds 15 days, and a passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the visa's expiration date).

Due to the waiver of short-term visa requirements for Polish citizens, starting from July 1, 2024, it is not necessary to have a visa for layovers in China.

No, visas to China cannot be obtained at the airport upon arrival. A visa must be obtained before traveling.

No, insurance is not mandatory for travelers to China.

The currency in China is the yuan (CNY). Access to currency exchanges is limited, and the currencies that can be exchanged are mainly EURO and US dollars — keep in mind that upon arrival in China, you may not have the option to exchange PLN for Chinese yuan.

The above information is consistent with data available on the date of publication of the article: July 1, 2024.