Do Indians need a visa for China?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to China (30 days per entry (L tourist visa), longer validities possible).
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Visa required |
| Allowed stay | 30 days per entry (L tourist visa), longer validities possible |
| Verified | 2026-10-30 |
| Processing | 4–9 working days |
| Government fee | ₹2,900 |
Online form and appointment at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata); fingerprints at the centre.
What "Visa required" means for Indians
Visa required means Indians must hold a visa issued by China before travelling. The application is filed online, the government fee of ₹2,900 is paid and fingerprints and a photo are taken at a visa application centre, after which the passport is returned with the visa (Sticker). Published decision windows for China are 4–9 working days; the visa allows a stay of 30 days per entry (L tourist visa), longer validities possible.
Before you apply
Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Appointment slots at visa application centres fill up before holidays, so book biometrics first and gather documents around that date. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.
At the China border and during the stay
China sets a stay of 30 days per entry (L tourist visa), longer validities possible, single, double or multiple, on a visa valid for decided by the consular officer. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for China and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.
When this rule does not apply
This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the China destination page. Note for this rule: Online form and appointment at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata); fingerprints at the centre. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.
How this answer is kept current
The rule comes from China's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-30. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.
China for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing
The Chinese tourist (L) visa is a sticker visa applied for through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC), which also takes fingerprints. The fee depends on the entries you apply for; validity, entries and stay are decided by the consular officer. The CVASC service fee is charged on top.
The Chinese tourist (L) visa is a sticker visa applied for through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC), which also takes fingerprints. The fee depends on the entries you apply for; validity, entries and stay are decided by the consular officer. The CVASC service fee is charged on top.
How much does a China visa cost? Government fee by entry type: single entry ₹2,900, double entry ₹4,400, multiple entry ₹5,900, multiple entry ₹8,800 per traveller, plus ₹500 Vistolane filing fee and ₹2,107 in mandatory charges (CVASC service fee (regular)). From ₹5,507 all-in for the default option.
How long does a China visa take? 4–9 working days (about 9 days, counted from your biometrics appointment); visaforchina.cn publishes 4–7 working days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a China visa? A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The China checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a China visa? About ₹1.42 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹4.73 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: China publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the China visa online, or is it visa on arrival? Online. China issues the Chinese L (tourist) visa via CVASC before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.
How long can I stay in China on this visa? Up to 30–60 days per visit, decided by the officer; entry: single, double or multiple (your choice; decided by the consular officer); validity decided by the consular officer. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Is an interview or biometrics required for China? No interview, but China takes fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre.
Applying for the China visa
Why are China visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the China list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.
Can I apply for the China visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for China?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to China (30 days per entry (L tourist visa), longer validities possible).
How long can Indians stay in China?
30 days per entry (L tourist visa), longer validities possible under the visa required rule.
What does a China visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹2,900 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹500; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does a China visa cost?
Government fee by entry type: single entry ₹2,900, double entry ₹4,400, multiple entry ₹5,900, multiple entry ₹8,800 per traveller, plus ₹500 Vistolane filing fee and ₹2,107 in mandatory charges (CVASC service fee (regular)). From ₹5,507 all-in for the default option.
How long does a China visa take?
4–9 working days (about 9 days, counted from your biometrics appointment); visaforchina.cn publishes 4–7 working days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a China visa?
A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The China checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a China visa?
About ₹1.42 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹4.73 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: China publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the China visa online, or is it visa on arrival?
Online. China issues the Chinese L (tourist) visa via CVASC before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.