Quick answer
Indian passport holders need a visa for mainland China; there is no visa-free entry, visa on arrival or e-visa for Indian tourists. Apply for a tourist (L) visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre: fill the form and upload documents online, then visit once for biometrics. Expect about 4–10 working days and roughly ₹4,500–8,000 all-in, depending on entries.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Tourist (L) visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
- Stay allowed
- Usually 30 days per entry, as printed on the visa
- Fee
- Roughly ₹4,500–8,000 all-in, depending on entries, including the service-centre charge; a temporary fee reduction is reported to run until 31 December 2026
- Processing
- About 4–10 working days after biometrics; express options cost more
- Validity
- Usually three months from issue for single entry; longer for multiple entry
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Passport valid for at least six months, with two blank visa pages, plus a copy of the data page
- Online application form and confirmation page, printed and signed
- Recent colour photo on a white background, to the visa centre's size rules
- Round-trip air tickets
- Hotel bookings for every night of the stay
- Day-by-day itinerary
- Bank statements for the last three to six months
- Copies of previous Chinese visas, if any
- Invitation letter if you are visiting friends or family in China
- For children: birth certificate and copies of both parents' passports
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Indians are not on China's visa-free entry or 240-hour visa-free transit lists; only direct airside transit within 24 hours works without a visa.
- You cannot book the in-person appointment until the online review shows as completed and you receive the confirmation email.
- Gaps between hotel bookings, or an itinerary that does not match your flights, are common reasons for extra questions.
- Google, WhatsApp and Gmail are blocked in China; set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with an Indian card before you fly.
Do Indians need a visa for China?
Yes. India is not on China's visa-free list, and Indian passport holders cannot use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme either. There is no visa on arrival or tourist e-visa. Tourists apply for an L visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC).
What changed recently?
On 22 December 2025, the Chinese Embassy in India moved visa applications online. You now fill in the form and upload documents on the visa centre portal, wait for the online review, and then visit the centre once for fingerprints and submission. Fees can be paid in rupees. China's temporary visa-fee reduction, in place since late 2023, is reported to continue until 31 December 2026.
How to apply, step by step
- Check which centre handles your state. Applications go to New Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata according to consular jurisdiction, based on where you live.
- Fill in the online form and upload your passport, photo, flight and hotel bookings, itinerary and bank statements.
- Wait for the status "online review completed" and the confirmation email.
- Book an appointment and visit the centre for biometrics. Bring the original passport and printed confirmation.
- Pay the fee and collect the passport after about 4–10 working days.
What officers check
At the visa stage, officials look for consistency: flights, hotels and itinerary should match, with a booking for every night. Bank statements should show steady funds. Previous Chinese visas help. At Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou airports, officers take fingerprints and may ask for your hotel address, so keep it written in Chinese characters.
Practical tips before you fly
China runs on its own apps. Google services and WhatsApp are blocked, so install Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an Indian Visa or Mastercard before you leave. Vegetarian food is manageable in large cities but hard in smaller towns; learn to say you eat no meat or fish. Pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra travel through a separate group-visa process run with the Ministry of External Affairs or licensed operators.
Families and seniors
Each traveller, including children, needs their own visa. Children's applications need a birth certificate and parents' passport copies. High-speed trains make long distances comfortable for older travellers, but sightseeing at the Great Wall and the Forbidden City involves a lot of walking and steps.
If your China trip starts or ends in Hong Kong, check the Hong Kong visa guide and the Macau visa guide: both are separate from the mainland visa.
Carry renminbi from our foreign exchange desk, buy cover through our travel insurance page, and let our visa assistance team prepare the file.
Frequently asked questions
Is there visa-free entry to China for Indians?
How do Indians apply for a China tourist visa now?
How much does a China visa cost for Indians?
Which apps do I need for China?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
