China tourist visa: the complete guide
Unlike most destinations in these guides, China still requires a real tourist (L) visa filed at a visa centre — not an electronic authorization. It takes longer, so start early.
Why China is different
Most destinations moved to electronic authorizations delivered by email. China did not. The Chinese tourist visa is a physical sticker placed in your passport after documents are filed at a visa centre — which means surrendering the passport for the processing period. Plan around it: you cannot travel elsewhere while it is being processed.
What you need
What it costs
The consular fee is around ILS 220 per traveller and varies by visa type and number of entries. With Visale the all-in price is ILS 309 per traveller — file preparation, a document check before submission, and handling with the visa centre.
What holds applications up
- A vague itinerary — China wants it detailed. "Touring China" will not pass.
- Mismatched bookings — Hotel dates must cover the full stay and match the flights.
- Filing too late — Seven business days is the window — longer in peak season.
- Fewer than two blank passport pages — The visa is a sticker; it needs the space.
Frequently asked
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