Consular (embassy) visa
China visa requirements for U.S. citizens
U.S. citizens need a visa for mainland China. The L tourist visa is applied for in person or by courier at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center.
Last reviewed:
China L tourist visa
U.S. citizens visiting mainland China for tourism. Hong Kong and Macau have separate visa-free rules for short stays.
- Government fee
- $140
- Processing
- 4–10 days
- Max stay
- Usually 60 days per entry, set by the officer at the border.
Passport validity: At least six months beyond entry with two blank visa pages.
Passport rules for China
Passport must be valid for at least six months with blank visa pages.
Blank pages: At least one blank visa page.
Full entry requirements