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India to China visa requirements

Visa required for ordinary visits. India is not in China's unilateral visa-free, Hainan 59-country, or 240-hour transit lists. Indian ordinary passport holders need a pre-arranged Chinese visa for ordinary tourism, business, family visit, study, work, or other stays in mainland China. China's current unilateral 30-day visa-free list covers 50 ordinary-passport nationalities as of February 2026 and does not include India; India is also absent from the 240-hour transit list and the 59-country Hainan individual visa-free list. Narrow exceptions exist outside the normal visit scenario: the NIA says 24-hour direct transit is available to nationals of all countries if they hold confirmed onward tickets and do not leave the port restricted area, and separate organized-group regional/cruise policies may apply when all stated conditions are met. Applications in India are handled through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata according to consular jurisdiction. Current New Delhi CVASC fees for Indian citizens are INR 2,900 single-entry, INR 4,400 double-entry, INR 5,900 half-year multiple-entry, and INR 8,800 one-year multiple-entry, plus a service fee such as INR 2,085 for regular service. For qualified applications, the Embassy says regular processing is usually 4 working days and express processing 3 working days; the Delhi center's regular collection is expected on the 6th working day.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19
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.
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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19
Visa type
Pre-arranged consular visa
Maximum stay
30 / 60 / 90 days per entry (visa-specific)
per entry
Entries
Single, double, or multiple
from issue date
Visa fee
INR 2,900 visa fee + INR 2,085 service fee (single-entry regular)
consular fee only
Processing time
Embassy usually 4 working days regular; CVASC collection timing varies by center
standard track
Validity
Set by consular officer
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Choose the visa category
Tourist (L), business (M), family visit (Q/S), study (X), work (Z), or transit (G). Each requires specific documents.
· L, M, Q, S, X, Z, G
/02
Complete the online visa form
Use the relevant China Visa Application Service Center site, print and sign the confirmation page and full form, and attach the required photo.
· online form
/03
Gather documents
Passport valid at least 6 months with 2 blank visa pages, photo, online form, and category documents. For L visas, provide itinerary, hotel order, airline ticket order, and bank deposit proof of at least INR 1 lakh.
· L visa documents
/04
Submit at the correct CVASC
Use New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata according to the Chinese consular jurisdiction for your residence/passport issue place. Fingerprints may be required unless an exemption applies.
· New Delhi / Mumbai / Kolkata
/05
Pay visa and service fees
Pay the Chinese visa fee and the CVASC service fee at submission. Express service costs extra where accepted.
· visa fee + service fee
/06
Collect passport
Regular collection timing depends on the center; New Delhi lists 6th working day expected for regular service and 4th working day expected for express service.
· collection timing
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items
Personalized checklist
India -> China · Pre-arranged consular visa
0 / 12 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredIndian passport
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Valid 6+ months on arrival, 2 blank pages
RequiredOnline visa form
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Confirmation page and full application form printed and signed
RequiredRecent photo
Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route
33x48mm / 48x33mm color photo, white background, taken within 6 months
RequiredTourist itinerary
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Tour itinerary, hotel order, and airline ticket order for L visa
RequiredFunds proof
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
Bank deposit proof of at least INR 1 lakh for L visa
ConditionalInvitation if applicable
Signed or stamped letter with host contact details and visit arrangements
Required for M, F, Q/S, and some other categories
ConditionalPrevious Chinese visas
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Copy of the most recently obtained Chinese visa, if any
ConditionalLegal stay proof
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Needed if applying in India as a non-Indian citizen
RequiredWork/study permits
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Z and X visas need the official work or admission/JW documents
RequiredSpecial permits
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Tibet and some controlled areas require separate permits after the visa
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesEmbassy of China in India - visa requirementsCVASC New Delhi - latest visa requirementsCVASC New Delhi - visa fees
Application link included: Embassy of China in India - visa requirements
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Indian citizen visa fee - single entryINR 2,900Visa fee collected for the Embassy
Indian citizen visa fee - double entryINR 4,400Two entries within validity period
Indian citizen visa fee - half-year multiple entryINR 5,900Multiple entries within 6 months
Indian citizen visa fee - one-year multiple entryINR 8,800One-year multiple entry
Express visa fee add-onINR 2,700 / 1,800Amount depends on service/category listed by CVASC
CVASC regular service feeINR 2,085New Delhi; inclusive of service tax
CVASC express service feeINR 3,073New Delhi; inclusive of service tax
Total estimateINR 4,985 — INR 14,000+incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Regular
Embassy usually 4 working days; Delhi collection expected 6th working day
Submit through the correct CVASC in New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata.
Express
Embassy usually 3 working days; Delhi collection expected 4th working day
Available only for qualifying applications and costs extra.
Additional review
Not fixed
Consular officers may request more documents or an interview and decide visa validity, stay, and entries case by case.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
India is not visa-exempt
India is absent from China's current unilateral visa-free list, 240-hour transit list, and Hainan 59-country list.
High
/02
Incomplete documentation
Missing L visa itinerary, hotel and airline orders, bank deposit proof, or required invitation letters can delay or derail the application.
Medium
/03
Wrong visa category
Working on a tourist visa or studying on a business visa leads to denial of entry and re-entry bans.
Low
/04
Biometrics or center mismatch
Applicants must use the correct consular jurisdiction and meet any fingerprint collection requirement unless exempt.
Low
/05
Prior overstays or violations
Any previous Chinese immigration violation heavily affects future applications.
Low
/06
Restricted areas
Travel to Tibet requires an additional Tibet Travel Permit; other controlled areas may have separate local requirements.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Use the foreign visitor lanes, keep hotel or invitation details handy, and make sure your entry purpose matches the visa-free category.
/02
Registration
Hotels normally register foreign guests automatically. If staying in a private residence, complete temporary residence registration with local police within 24 hours.
/03
Connectivity
Install maps, translation, and payment apps before travel. Some foreign services may not work reliably without roaming or a compliant VPN.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
2026-06-19
Rechecked official China sources
Updated checked date, fee amounts, CVASC centers, processing wording, and visa-free exception notes from Embassy/CVASC/NIA sources.
2026-05-27
India to China route verified
Confirmed that ordinary Indian passport holders need a pre-arranged visa for normal mainland China visits.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can Indians enter China visa-free?—
For ordinary individual tourism or business, no. India is not on China's 50-country unilateral visa-free list, the 240-hour transit list, or the Hainan 59-country individual visa-free list.
Is any China transit visa-free for Indian passport holders?+
How long does the visa take?+
What documents do I need?+
Can I get a multi-entry visa?+
Do I need to visit the embassy in person?+
Can I travel to Tibet?+
/11 — Passport tools

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