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Do China passport holders need a visa to visit DJ?

Chinese ordinary passport holders need a visa for Djibouti, and the standard route is the official eVisa applied for online at evisa.gouv.dj before travel. There is no visa-free entry or general visa-on-arrival for tourists; only Chinese public-affairs/diplomatic passport holders are exempt. The short-stay tourist eVisa (15-90 days) costs about USD 23 through the government portal, and entry is via Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti City. As of 2026, a Chinese (CN) ordinary passport holder traveling to Djibouti (DJ) for tourism must obtain a visa in advance; Djibouti is not visa-free for Chinese nationals. The recommended and most accessible channel is the official electronic visa (eVisa) introduced by the Djiboutian government on 18 February 2018 and processed online at evisa.gouv.dj. Two tourist-relevant categories exist: a Transit eVisa valid for 1-14 days (government fee about USD 12) and a Short-Stay eVisa valid for 15-90 days (government fee about USD 23). Applicants submit a passport scan (valid at least 6 months beyond intended departure), a passport photo, proof of onward/return travel, and proof of accommodation, then pay online by card, PayPal, or other accepted methods. Official government processing is generally a few business days (commonly quoted as up to 72 hours to about 4-7 working days depending on demand and processing tier). The eVisa is issued for tourism or commerce and is valid for entry at Ambouli International Airport. Travelers should apply only through the official government portal to avoid inflated third-party reseller fees, and should print or carry a copy of the approved eVisa for boarding and immigration. Only Chinese passports endorsed for public affairs (official/service) or diplomatic passports may enter without a visa; ordinary passports do not qualify for that exemption. Given that no reliable visa-free or general tourist visa-on-arrival channel exists for ordinary Chinese passports, the eVisa is the correct verdict.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Electronic visa (eVisa) - Short-Stay tourist (15-90 days) or Transit (1-14 days)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days (Short-Stay); up to 14 days (Transit)
per entry
Entries
Single entry (typical for tourist eVisa)
from issue date
Visa fee
USD 23 (Short-Stay 15-90 days) / USD 12 (Transit 1-14 days), official government rate
consular fee only
Processing time
Approximately 72 hours to 4-7 working days
standard track
Validity
eVisa generally valid for entry within about 90 days of issue; entry via Ambouli International Airport
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm your passport eligibility
Use a Chinese ordinary passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from Djibouti, with at least one blank page. Ordinary passport holders require an eVisa; only public-affairs/diplomatic passports are exempt.
· 6 months validity· Ordinary passport
/02
Open the official eVisa portal
Go to the Djiboutian government eVisa site at evisa.gouv.dj. Apply only through this official portal to pay the government fee and avoid marked-up third-party reseller charges.
· evisa.gouv.dj· Official only
/03
Select the correct visa type
Choose Short-Stay eVisa (15-90 days) for a normal tourist visit, or Transit eVisa (1-14 days) if only passing through. Tourism is an accepted purpose.
· Short-Stay 15-90 days· Transit 1-14 days
/04
Complete the form and upload documents
Enter your personal and travel details and upload a passport bio-page scan, a recent color passport photo, proof of onward/return flight, and proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter).
· Passport scan· Photo· Flight + hotel
/05
Pay the visa fee online
Pay the government fee (about USD 23 short-stay / USD 12 transit) using an internationally enabled debit/credit card or other accepted method, then submit the application.
· Card/PayPal· USD 12-23
/06
Receive and carry your approved eVisa
Wait for approval by email (typically a few business days), then print the eVisa or keep a digital copy. Present it with your passport at Ambouli International Airport on arrival.
· Print eVisa· Airport entry
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Chinese ordinary passport valid 6+ months beyond departure
required
At least one blank passport page
required
Approved Djibouti eVisa (printed or digital copy)
required
Recent color passport-size photograph (digital upload)
required
Confirmed onward or return flight ticket
required
Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter)
required
Internationally enabled payment card for the eVisa fee
required
Sufficient funds for the duration of stay
recommended
Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from an endemic area
recommended
Travel/medical insurance for the trip
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Short-Stay eVisa (15-90 days)USD 23Official government rate for tourism/business short stay
Transit eVisa (1-14 days)USD 12Official government rate for short transit/short visit
Expedited processing (optional)VariesExtra fee if a faster processing tier is selected
Third-party service fee (optional)USD 50-80+Charged by reseller sites on top of the government fee; avoidable via the official portal
Total estimateUSD 12USD 23incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Expedited / rush processing
Faster than standard
Optional quicker tier where offered, for an additional fee.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
No visa-free access for ordinary passports
Chinese ordinary passport holders have no visa waiver with Djibouti and must obtain a visa before travel.
High
/02
Incomplete supporting documents
Missing proof of onward travel or accommodation is a common cause of eVisa delays or rejection.
Medium
/03
Insufficient passport validity
Passports with less than 6 months validity beyond departure are not accepted.
Medium
/04
Applying through unofficial resellers
Using third-party sites can lead to higher fees and confusion, though not outright refusal.
Medium
/05
Wrong entry point
The eVisa is intended for entry at Ambouli International Airport; arriving elsewhere can cause problems.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30
China to Djibouti route verified
Confirmed that Chinese ordinary passport holders require a visa and that the official eVisa (evisa.gouv.dj) is the standard tourist channel, with government fees of about USD 12 (transit, 1-14 days) and USD 23 (short-stay, 15-90 days). No visa-free or general visa-on-arrival access for ordinary passports; only public-affairs/diplomatic passports are exempt.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can Chinese citizens enter Djibouti without a visa?
No. Holders of Chinese ordinary passports need a visa, and the standard route is the online eVisa. Only Chinese public-affairs or diplomatic passport holders are exempt from the visa requirement.
Is there a visa on arrival in Djibouti for Chinese tourists?+
How much does the Djibouti eVisa cost?+
How long does it take to get the eVisa?+
What documents do I need for the eVisa?+
Where can I enter Djibouti with the eVisa?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the China passport

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