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Iran to China visa requirements

Iranian ordinary passport holders need a Chinese visa before travel. The China-Iran visa exemption covers diplomatic and service passports, not ordinary tourist passports. Iranian ordinary passport holders are visa-required for mainland China. The previous claim that ordinary Iranian passports receive 21-day visa-free entry is not supported by current official Chinese sources. China NIA's mutual visa-exemption table lists Iran only for diplomatic and service passports, effective 1989-07-12, with a one-month stay; it does not list ordinary Iranian passports. The Chinese Embassy in Iran's 2025 visa-exemption page directs travellers to the official mutual-exemption list, and its ordinary-visa page gives application procedures for Iranian applicants. For tourism, Iranian applicants normally apply for an L visa: complete the COVA form online, submit the application to the Chinese Embassy in Iran, and provide passport, photo, itinerary, round-trip air ticket, hotel booking or invitation, and financial proof. The embassy's 2025 fee page lists Iranian applicant fees of USD 75 single entry, USD 110 double entry, USD 150 six-month multiple entry, and USD 225 over-six-month multiple entry, with regular processing at 4 working days; express and rush service may be available for extra fees. Fingerprint collection is exempted for short-term visa applicants at the Chinese Embassy in Iran until 31 December 2026, but this exemption does not remove the visa requirement. China is outside Schengen, so Schengen 90/180 and ETIAS rules do not apply.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-21
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 2026-06-21
Visa type
Chinese visa required for ordinary passports
Maximum stay
As granted on the visa, commonly 30-60 days per entry for short visits
per entry
Entries
Single, double, or multiple entry depending on visa issued
from issue date
Visa fee
USD 75 single / USD 110 double / USD 150 six-month multiple / USD 225 longer multiple
consular fee only
Processing time
4 working days regular; 3 working days express; 2 working days rush if accepted
standard track
Validity
As printed on the issued visa
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Do not rely on ordinary-passport visa-free entry
The official NIA mutual-exemption list covers Iranian diplomatic and service passports, not ordinary passports.
· ordinary passport needs visa
/02
Choose the correct visa type
Use L for tourism, M for business/trade, F for exchanges, Q/S for family/private visits, X for study, Z for work, and J for journalism.
· visa category
/03
Complete the COVA form
Fill the China visa application form online at cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn, print the confirmation page, and sign it.
· COVA
/04
Prepare the core documents
Passport with over 6 months' validity and blank visa pages, visa form/photo, and any previous China visa or Chinese passport documents if applicable.
· passport· photo
/05
Prepare tourism evidence
For L visa, provide travel schedule, round-trip air ticket booking, hotel reservation or invitation, and financial proof. The embassy instructions mention USD 100 per day according to the itinerary.
· L visa
/06
Submit to the Chinese Embassy in Iran
Submit the application to the embassy. Short-term applicants are fingerprint-exempt until 31 December 2026, but the embassy may still request extra documents or an interview.
· embassy submission
/07
Pay and collect
Pay the applicable fee in the accepted method and collect after regular or accepted expedited processing. Check the visa validity, entries, and duration of stay before travel.
· fees· pickup
/08
Register accommodation in China
Hotels normally register foreign guests automatically. Private stays must complete temporary accommodation registration with local public security within 24 hours.
· 24-hour registration
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
Iran -> China · Chinese visa required for ordinary passports
0 / 10 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredIranian ordinary passport
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Over 6 months' validity and blank visa pages
RequiredPrinted COVA confirmation
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Completed online and signed
RequiredVisa photo
Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route
Same photo as uploaded in the application form
RequiredTravel schedule
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Detailed itinerary in China
RequiredRound-trip air ticket booking
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
For L tourist visa applications
ConditionalHotel booking or invitation
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Use invitation letter if staying with a host or travelling through an authorized tourism organizer
RequiredFinancial proof
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Embassy L instructions reference USD 100 per day according to itinerary or a financial certificate
RequiredCorrect fee amount
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
USD 75 single, USD 110 double, USD 150 six-month multiple, or USD 225 longer multiple for Iranian applicants
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 sourcesChinese Embassy in Iran - Visa Exemption (2025-12-21)China NIA - Details of Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements (2025-04-14)Chinese Embassy in Iran - Apply for Ordinary Visas (2025-12-21)
Application link included: Chinese Embassy in Iran - Visa Exemption (2025-12-21)
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Single-entry visaUSD 75Fee for Iranian applicants, regular processing
Double-entry visaUSD 110Fee for Iranian applicants, regular processing
Six-month multiple-entry visaUSD 150Fee for Iranian applicants, regular processing
Over-six-month multiple-entry visaUSD 225Fee for Iranian applicants, regular processing
Express service+USD 303 working days if accepted by the embassy
Rush service+USD 402 working days if accepted by the embassy
Overstay penaltyCNY 500/dayCan also involve detention or future entry consequences
Total estimateUSD 75 — USD 225+incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Regular visa service
4 working days
Normal processing time stated by the Chinese Embassy in Iran.
Express visa service
3 working days
Available if accepted; additional USD 30 per visa.
Rush visa service
2 working days
Available if accepted; additional USD 40 per visa.
Complex applications
Longer
The embassy notes some individual applications may need longer processing and further notification.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Mistaking diplomatic/service exemption for ordinary passports
Official Chinese lists show Iran's mutual exemption for diplomatic and service passports only.
High
/02
Incomplete COVA form or wrong photo
The embassy warns that inaccurate or concealed information, or a wrong photo, can lead to rejection or return of the application.
Medium
/03
Weak itinerary or financial proof
Tourist L visa instructions require itinerary, tickets, hotel or invitation, and financial proof tied to USD 100 per day.
Medium
/04
Wrong visa type
Tourism, business, exchange, family, study, work, and journalism all have different visa categories and supporting documents.
Medium
/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
2026-06-21
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
2026-06-21 · major
Codex fact-check
Corrected the route from visa-free to visa-required for Iranian ordinary passport holders after checking the China NIA exemption list and Chinese Embassy in Iran ordinary visa, fee, and L-visa instructions.
2026-05-27
Iran to China route previously verified
Earlier data incorrectly treated ordinary Iranian passports as visa-free; superseded by the 2026-06-21 correction.
1989-07-12 · major
China-Iran official-passport exemption
Mutual exemption for diplomatic and service passports entered into force; this does not cover ordinary passports.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Iranian ordinary passport holders need a visa for China?—
Yes. Official Chinese sources list Iran's mutual exemption for diplomatic and service passports only, so ordinary passport holders must apply for a visa before travel.
What happened to the 21-day visa-free claim?+
Which visa should tourists apply for?+
How much is a Chinese visa for Iranian applicants?+
How long does processing take?+
Are fingerprints required?+
Do diplomatic or service passports have different rules?+
/11 — Passport tools

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