By continuing to read this article, you agree to double check with the authorities or other concerned entities for the latest updates.

Welcome to our CHINESE VISA GUIDE for FILIPINO TOURISTS! In this post, we’ll enumerate the REQUIREMENTS and the step-by-step APPLICATION PROCESS. We also answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. Note that this post is for Philippine passport holders applying for a TOURIST VISA only, NOT for work visa, study visa or anything else.

Anxious is a word I often describe myself when I’m planning a trip to China, and I say that in every sense of the word. Anxious, as in nervous, because I’m aware of the long standing tension between China and the Philippines. I’m always jittery when I apply for a visa or face their Immigration officers. But I try to brush it off because I’m also very anxious to visit China — anxious, as in eager. Out of all the countries I have set foot in, when it comes to landscapes, China is one of the most breathtaking. I have visited only three provinces so far — Henan, Hunan, and Guangxi — but all of them absolutely blew me away. The nerves also dissipate as soon as I make it through the Immigration gates. Locals have shown me nothing but a warm brand of hospitality.

Recently, I assisted a teammate who is applying for a visa for the first time. Along the way, I noticed that there have been a few changes to the application process since the last time I applied, so I decided to write an updated version of our CHINA VISA GUIDE. So here it goes. Enjoy!

LIST OF CHINESE VISA REQUIREMENTS

1. Original Passports

  1. Original copy of your CURRENT passport. Must have at least 6 months validity and at least one blank page.
  2. Photocopy of the passport’s bio page and emergency page. These are the page with information and the one with emergency contact details.
  3. If you have old passports, you must submit them too.
  4. If you don’t have old passports or you have lost your old passports, make sure you state it on Item 3.7 of the application form.

2. Accomplished application form

  1. Must be computerized or filled out digitally. Handwritten forms are not accepted.
  2. Type in uppercase letters.
  3. Don’t leave any field blank. If an item doesn’t apply to you, type N/A.
  4. If minor, the form must have signatures of parents or legal guardian.
  5. Download the form here.

3. Two (2) recent photographs

  • Photo size: 48mm x 33mm.
  • Must be color photos with white background. Front view. Without head cover.
  • Must be taken within the past 6 months.
  • One of the photos must be pasted on the application form. Stapled, taped or clipped photos are not accepted.

4. Travel itinerary

Make sure your itinerary is consistent with the dates you indicated on the application form.

This is the format I followed. You can also download an editable version here.


5. Flight reservations or tickets

Including outward and return flights. Make sure your document has a Passenger Registration Number (or reservation number).

If you have already booked your flights, you can submit the confirmed flight itinerary from the airline.

If you don’t have tickets yet, you might want to consider submitting a flight reservation instead. Flight reservation is something that you can cancel so you won’t end up wasting a lot of money if you are denied a visa.

Find a travel agency that can reserve flights for you. In our case, we get our flight reservations from Gazelle Travel and Tours. You can reserve flights here: HOW TO GET FLIGHT RESERVATIONS


6. Hotel reservations

Submit hotel reservations under your name. You can reserve a hotel online without any charge. Just choose properties that allow FREE CANCELLATION so you can easily cancel your booking for free in case your application is rejected.

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7. Invitation Letter

ONLY IF YOU ARE INVITED BY SOMEONE IN CHINA. OTHERWISE IGNORE THIS PART.

The invitation letter must indicate the following information.

  1. APPLICANT’S INFORMATION. Applicant’s full name, gender and date of birth, and the inviter’s relationship with the applicant.
  2. TRAVEL INFORMATION. Purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, places to visit, and source of funds that you will use to support your trip
  3. INVITER’S INFORMATION. Inviter’s full name (if individual) or company name (if organization), address, contact numbers, official stamp, and signature.

The invitation letter can be a computer printout or a photocopy. However, the visa officer has the right to require the original copy, so it’s best to have it handy.

In addition to the Letter of Invitation, the following must also be submitted:

  1. Photocopy of the inviter’s Chinese ID or passport with Chinese residence permit
  2. Proof of relationship. This maybe birth certificates, marriage certificate, or certificate of kinship issued by the Chinese Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship.

8. If applying for the first time

If this is your first time applying for a Chinese Visa, you need to prove your financial and employment status. Here are the documents you must submit.

  1. Bank certificate with bank statement for the past 6 months and official receipt. Some travel agencies and online sources say that a minimum of P100,000 is required. But the friend that I assisted recently has only P70,000 and her application was approved. It was also her first time applying for a Chinese visa.
  2. Income tax return (ITR). BIR-stamped.
  3. If employed: Certificate of Employment. Must indicate how much salary you receive and how long you have been with the company. Although not listed, a copy of your company ID is also something you can submit.
  4. If self-employed: Business Registration Certificate. It would also help your cause to submit other business registration docs — BIR, SEC, permits.
  5. If professional: PRC ID.
  6. If student: current school ID.

You can also submit other relevant documents that can provide more information about your purpose of travel, finances, source of income, occupation.


9. If you have past Chinese visa

If you have been granted a Chinese visa before, you don’t need to submit the financial and employment documents listed in the previous section.

Instead, submit the following:

  1. Photocopy of your past Chinese visas
  2. Old passports that contain the old Chinese visas

10. Visa Fee

Here’s the cost of a Chinese Visa (Tourism/Visit) at the time of writing:

  • Single entry: P1400
  • Double entry: P2100
  • Multiple entry (6 months): P2800
  • Multiple entry (over 6 months): P4200

HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHINESE VISA

1. Complete the requirements.

The first step is to gather all the documents listed above. Prioritize those that might take time to secure such as employment certificates or bank certificate/statements.

You might also want to arrange them in the same order as the above list.

If you have other documents that you think can help your case but not listed on the list, bring them regardless and have them ready JUST IN CASE they ask for more supporting papers.

Please DON’T submit fake documents. Forged items will result in immediate refusal.


2. Submit your application.

Once you have all the necessary documents, it’s time to lodge your application. No prior appointment necessary. You can simply walk in.

You’ll be shocked to learn that the Chinese Embassy has several addresses in Metro Manila. Where you need to go is their CONSULAR SECTION. And this is their address in Metro Manila:

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2nd Floor, the World Center,
330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue,
Makati City, Metro Manila

Visa Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 9am-11am only

When you get there, look for the staff by the door. They will inspect all your documents and tell you if you miss anything. If everything’s fine, they will give you a number. You will then have to wait for your number to be called.

After submitting all the docs, you will be given a RELEASE SLIP, which indicates the date you should claim your passport.

PROCESSING TIME AND FEES:

The standard processing time is 4 WORKING DAYS. But if you’ve been granted a Chinese visa before and you want to get your passport/visa sooner, you can request for faster processing for a fee. Here are the additional charges per visa:

  • Express service (third working day release): P1100
  • Rush service (second working day release): P1700

To reiterate, these options are only available to NON-FIRST-TIMERS.


3. Claim your passport.

Return to the consular center on the date indicated on the release slip handed to you. Claiming your passport is much easier and quicker than submitting your application. Get another number from the door staff. You will get the passport after making the payment. There are windows specifically for passport releasing.

Once you have your passport — hopefully with a visa — double check the information and make sure there are no misspellings.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How long is the processing of a Chinese visa?

4 BUSINESS DAYS, usually.

If you have been granted a Chinese visa before, you have the option to shorten the process by paying additional fee. Here are the rates per visa:

  • Express service (third working day release): P1100
  • Rush service (second working day release): P1700

Note that these are on top of the visa fee. You will have to add the rush/express service fee to the P1400 visa fee. For example, if you choose to get your passport/visa after 2 business days, prepare to shell out P3100.

However, despite all these, the consular officer may still ask you to submit more supporting documents or even require an interview.


2. How long is the validity of a Chinese tourist visa?

Usually, 6 MONTHS. However, the duration of stay per visit is usually 14 DAYS only.

To illustrate, for example, my friend was granted a single entry visa that is valid from May 1 to November 1, 2019. She can enter China anytime before November 1, 2019, but she can only stay for 14 days.


3. How early can I apply for a China visa?

I don’t know for sure. But the tourist visa’s usual validity is 6 months so I’m guessing 6 months before your travel date is the earliest (but that would be pushing it). Again, I don’t know.

I usually apply 1 month before my travel date.


4. Should I apply for a single-, double-, or multiple-entry visa?

It depends on your itinerary and flight reservations. If your itinerary/flight reservations suggest you’re entering China just once, then apply for a single entry visa. If you plan to go in and out and back in again, then go for a double entry visa.

I once applied for a double-entry visa but my itinerary suggests I needed a single-entry visa. They granted me a single-entry visa despite my request for double.


5. How much money should I have in the bank to get approved?

This is a bit tricky.

Some online sources and travel agencies claim that your bank account must have a minimum of P100,000. But I handled my friend’s recent application and she has around P70,000 in her bank account, but she was granted a visa. It was also her first time applying.

I don’t know if we just got lucky or something. But I’m just sharing our experience.

My personal rule is this: I add the cost of all the flights and hotel reservations I submit and then add P10,000 per day of stay.


6. What are the reasons why my visa application would be denied?

This applies not just to the Chinese Embassy but also other countries:

  • You can’t prove that you intend to return to the Philippines. You probably don’t have a stable job at this point, newly employed, or newly resigned, and it’s giving the impression that you plan on staying longer than your declared duration.
  • You can’t prove that you can financially afford this trip. You or your sponsor may not be in a good financial standing.
  • Your documents are inconsistent. Your application form may be stating one thing, but your supporting documents may be suggesting another.
  • Your purpose in China is unclear or dubious. This is why it is best to be specific when you’re detailing the reasons for your visit.

We have more detailed explanations in this post: COMMON REASONS WHY VISA APPLICATIONS ARE DENIED!


7. Do I really need flight tickets before applying?

No, you don’t need to plane tickets. If anything, you are DISCOURAGED from purchasing plane tickets so you won’t waste money in the event that your application is rejected.

Actual tickets are NOT a requirement. What you can submit is a so-called FLIGHT RESERVATION, which is different from actual tickets. “Reservations” are just proof that you have blocked these plane seats. Some airlines can hold the booking for you.

Travel agencies can also issue flight reservations. If you don’t have time to go to a travel agency, you can have it reserved online.

Our go-to travel agency for flight reservations (and travel insurance) for visa application is Gazelle Travel and Tours, a DTI-registered and DOT-accredited agency. We created a form here so you can contact them completely ONLINE:

MORE INFO: Flight and Hotel Reservations

8. Can I just mail my application?

NO. Mail applications are not accepted.


9. What does an Chinese Visa look like?

Like this:


10. I am submitting this and that. What are the chances of my application being approved?

I have no idea. No one and nothing can guarantee visa approval beforehand. The only person who can answer this question is the visa officer evaluating your application.

You can be adequately prepared for it, but sometimes, we just don’t know what is going to happen. Sometimes, no matter how qualified or prepared you are, you can still end up denied a visa.


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Mary

This info is very helpful. I always wanted to travel to China and be on the Great Wall. I have just arrived from Indonesia last June 30 as an OFW. I have finished my contract and am planning to visit China. I am not sure if I will even be granted a tourist visa since I don’t have any ITR. I just have my bank account statement/certificate and my certificate of employment stating that I have worked for a company up until June 2019. Before I book my flights and hotel reservation, do you think I have a chance?
THANK YOU in advance.

Sentel

Thank you for provided us of these useful info about how to obtain Chinese visa, I was looking on iternet how to get it, but I didn’t find something explaining and clarifying the method. Actually I’m working with compagny ACgroupvoyages since a three weeks now, i don’t know if they will accept my demand or not. What do you think?

catherine cacho

Hello po just want to ask,they handed me the pink slip( claim slip), is there a chance that my visa will be approve? It says there to be inquired

juvily bernarte

Did you claim your passport with visa ?, are you granted, please tell me thank you

Micko

Hi, I would like to ask about applying for a chinese visa for my sister. You see, she’s still a minor and both of our parents are working abroad. We didn’t take any legal action of obtaining any document that will prove that my aunt (the one taking care of us) is our legal guardian. We already have a roundtrip flight ticket going to Beijing (which is on December 10 to 16) and itineraries. Won’t there be any problem if we apply for a chinese visa for my minor sister? Or do we need at least our mother to apply for her since she’s a minor? My mother will be back by December and she’ll be applying for her visa abroad.

juvily bernarte

Hi can you assist me to get tourist visa

KYO

Hi Yoshke! Hi I would like to ask if its possible to enter Shenzhen coming from hong kong and getting the visa on arrival. I need your advice thank you.

KYO

Hello Yoshke Dimen! I would like to know if do I need a visa if coming from Hong kong going to Shenzhen just for 1 day tour. Can I get it from the border or do I really need to apply first here in the Philippines?

Bella Ladio

Nope. Shenzhen doesn’t offer visa on arrival. They require chinese visa. Try asking travel agencies in Hongkong if they can give you 7 day visa. I knew some people who did that but they are working in Hongkong.

Thomas

Nice Blog and it is really very knowledgeable…keep posting blog like that. keep sharing thank you very much………..

Fae

Hi. When I was accomplishing the application form digitally, there are items in the form where the space for filling out is very limited and if printed the text will be cut (e.g office address, home address, and names of family members). Is this okay or am I constrained to limit my answer with the first 3 to 4 words?

Thank you so much.

dee

Hi, I have a trip on the 17th but have another trip on the 10th. Wont be able to process my visa til the 14th. Do you think it’s possible?

Jill

hi. i am a housewife. my husband supports our trip to shanghai.
i just want to know if do i need a letter of explanation or marriage contract will be enough to prove my source of income?

what i want to ask is what are the requirements i need for my application?

kara

I will try to apply..due to Cebu pac PIso fare to Shenzhen :) I will try to walk in for Chinese Visa.

Grace

hello your blog is really helpful. can you help me clarify this because i am planning to apply for chinese visa i am currently a student legal age. My boyfriend is inviting me for a tour and for his cousins wedding. i have bank account since i worked before and just got back to school again. i dont have any itr or coe to give i only have my student id my bank account and my invitation letter . he can also state there that he is sponsoring my trip. is my documents enough to show to the embassy? your response will be a great help thank you

Alyanna

Hi, what if my past Chinese visa is a group visa? Does that count or do I need to submit the financial requirements?

Caryl

hello!
Actually I am going to SFO from manila but my flight itinerary says I have 2 layovers in China which is Guangzhou and Wuhan. Would you know if I will be needing a Chinese visa for that?

Thank you!

AJS

No you dont need a visa if you intend to stay in the airport and as long as you do not stay for more than 24 hrs

cha

Hi, just a question though, do you still need to go to BIR office to have your ITR stamped?

Louela Manuguid Puerta

Hi,my bf and I are planning to go to shenzhen.his my sponsor going to china.but before China, we’re going to Hong Kong.i don’t have enough money in my bank account but my bf is Japanese and have his own business and good provider.im going to apply for Chinese visa this month and supposed to be going in Hong Kong on March or April,i.its my first time going to china.is their a possibility that I can go or can’t enter to China?! we’ve been to Hong Kong 3 times.so this time after Hong Kong,1 or 2 day’s stay in China.please help me to relieve coz I’m a little bit confused and worried coz my bf really wanted me to bring in China…..

rona

Hello, when your workmate submitted her application, is she alone? Or was it applied together with some of your colleagues? Does applying alone or in group affect the visa application?

Kilo

Hi po, regarding the bank cert and bank statement requirement of 100k, ur friend was approved with just 70k po? Uhm may I ask po if she’s been to korea, japan or any visa-required country prior to the China Visa application? Or what countries she’s been to prior to this visa application? Is she also a business owner? That might have been a factor. Im quite doubtful for me. Coz I’ve only been to non-visa countries+japan only and I also only have about 70k, so Im looking for any commonality between ur friend and my situation ehe… Pls kindly advise, tnx

Gelli Bean

Hello good evening, if I already had 2 Chinese visas in the past (December 2017 & July 2019 single entries) , I kinda forgot what do i need to submit….do I need to provide bank certificate on my renewal?

or just items 1-6 & 9-10 (since this is my 3rd renewal or application of Chinese visa)?

Looking forward for your response. Thank you.

Evyhen Maie S. Marabe

can i stay in china for 6 months straight . Using an invitation letter .

lady

how about if I am applying as a freelancer? I had obtained visa for Korea and Japan as a freelancer po, can i apply as well for China as a freelancer? what do I need to submit po

Aby

Hi,

What if my aunt does not have an ITR (since she is a home-maker)?
Will my uncle’s ITR and documents suffice?

Thank you!

Karl

Hi Yoshke,

Thank you for your really helpful guide. I’ll be visiting my girlfriend who’s currently working in China and I’ll be staying at her place. I basically have 2 questions:

1) Shall I put her as my inviting person or not?
2) Do I need to put my ‘meet-up’ with her in the itinerary and show ‘evidences’ of my relationship to her?

I’ve been granted a Japanese Visa before, but back then, I was with my family. I’m a bit anxious since it’s my first time applying for a Visa on my own.

Thank you, Yoshke!

john

HI, do we need to pass original documents of our permits? like bir, mayors, dti, etc.. thanks

Abigail Anore

Hello po…pwede na ulit kaya mgtravel by next year?

Eric

Hi Yoshke, does a group visa count as an exception to submit financial documents?

Angelo Fran

Hi, planning to visit Shanghai again this year. My previous visa is Business Visa (M), if I want to apply for tourist visa do I need to submit financial and employment document again even though I have a previous visa already? Thanks

bishal tiwari

Hi Yoshke,

Thank you for your really helpful guide. I’ll be visiting my girlfriend who’s currently working in China and I’ll be staying at her place. I basically have 2 questions:

1) Shall I put her as my inviting person or not?
2) Do I need to put my ‘meet-up’ with her in the itinerary and show ‘evidences’ of my relationship to her?

I’ve been granted a Japanese Visa before, but back then, I was with my family. I’m a bit anxious since it’s my first time applying for a Visa on my own.

Thank you, Yoshke!

Reply

Jen Reyes

Hello, I will be in HK on April, it is impossible if I will apply and go in Beijing ,and also apply visa in HK? thank you

Kristine

Hi. Kumusta yung naging travel mo? Balak ko din sana gawin yung plan mo.

Chinx

My friend applied for Chinese Visa but she got denied twice. She submitted all the requirements plus the invitation of the Company inviting her. She was going to China that time for business trip. After third attempt, she was granted the Visa and she went there for 3 to 4x already (business trip)

OCMom

Hello. I know this is a bit of a very petty question but I just wanted to make sure that I follow everything. Two photos are required. It says, one photo should be pasted on the application form. Stapled, taped or clipped photo will not be accepted. What about the other photo, do we clip it on the form to make sure that it doesn’t get lost?

Rina

Hi. I am planning to go to Shanghai as a tourist. I have previous chinese visa with M category. Do I still need to submit financial docs? TIA.

Ace

200 dollars per day? Wow! That’s a lot! I went to Xi’an and Beijing last November for 9 days and I only spent about 600 dollars for everything including airfare from Manila. I know someone who only have about 1000 dollars in his bank account and got approved. Confirmed round-trip tickets will actually help you boost your application approval because it gives them guarantee that the visitor will return.

Nadine

really useful guide on applying for a visa – ill follow it step by step

Yen

Have you any idea if an visit invitation from a frienf is acceptable?

Cheril Yambao Torreda

S2 visa I need help assistant