China is truly an enigma that beckons travel enthusiasts from around the world. And, when you have a layover in this fascinating country, which is a melange of timeless culture and ultra-modern appeal, you can make the most of your time there provided you have a China transit visa.
[su_button url=”https://blinkvisa.com” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#F49122″ color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#ffffff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #fffffff”]Apply China Transit Visa[/su_button]
Typically, a transit visa enables you to exit the airport and officially enter the country when you have a layover in the said country. In fact, it is quite common when you do not have direct flights to the destination country.
While the application process for a Chinese transit visa is similar to that of a tourist visa. Also, the latter is easy to get, hence we recommend a Chinese tourist visa when you are transiting to a third country via China, and when the layover period is more than 24 hours.
China G Visa or Transit Visa
China visas are marked with Chinese phonetic letters where a transit visa is referred to as the G visa. Nevertheless, the application process and requirements are similar to that of the L visa category or Chins tourist visa. In fact, for the complete information on all the Chinese visa categories, read China Visa.
While the application process is the same, additional documents apply in the case of transit visa as follows;
- Confirmed round-trip flight tickets
- Travel documents or visa of the third country you are transiting through China
Transit Without Visa or TWOV
Select countries may transit via China without a visa for a period of 24, 72, and 144 hours. However, these nationals may be denied entry and will be required to leave China upon arrival if;
- The travel documents or visa furnished are valid for less than 3 months from the time of arrival
- Travellers have visa refusal stamps on their passports
- They have violated Chinese immigration laws in the last five-years like illegal employment, illegal residence, illegal entry/exit, etc.
- Failed to register with the local Security Bureaus within the 24 hours of entry in the past two-years
- They are inadmissible to China as per the Chinese laws and regulations
TWOV for 24 hours
It is the most common and most preferred type as all nationals may use this facility provided the layover is less than 24 hours. Nevertheless, for Indians, with a layover exceeding 24 hours, we recommend the different types of Chinese Visa for Indian Nationals.
The 24-hour TWOV is not applicable at the following airports;
- Fuzhou Changle International Airport
- Huangshan Tunxi International Airport
- Mudanjiang Hailang Airport
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
- Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport
Important
At the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, passengers in transit must leave Mainland China within two hours from the time of arrival.
Also, the following nationals require a visa to transit via Urumqi Diwopu International Airport;
The following nationals are not eligible for TWOV at Xiamen International Airport;
Note: Syria nationals are not eligible for TWOV at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
TWOV for 72-hours and 144-hours
Travellers transiting via China within 72-hours and 144-hours respectively may avail this facility provided they hold the passport of the following 53 nations:
24 Schengen countries:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
15 European countries:
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, UK, and Ukraine
Other eligible countries:
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, US, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, and UAE
Why the Chinese tourist visa is a convenient alternative to G visa?
While all nations may avail a 24 hours TWOV and select nationals may avail 72 or 144 hours TWOV, the port of entries is limited with applicable restrictions. Thus, most travellers apply for a tourist visa in advance and especially if they are from the non-visa-exempt countries.
Suitable alternatives to G visa
The most preferred visa in lieu of transit visa is the tourist or L visa, which is of two types as follows;
[su_button url=”https://blinkvisa.com/visa/China-Tourist-Visa” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#F49122″ color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#ffffff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #fffffff”]Apply for China Tourist Visa[/su_button]
[su_button url=”https://blinkvisa.com/visa/china-tourist-visa-express” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#F49122″ color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#ffffff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #fffffff”]Apply for China Express Tourist Visa[/su_button]
What are the Chinese L visa requirements?
The mandatory documents are as follows;
- Passport
- Two (2) passport-sized photographs
For information on the requirements for various Chinese visa types, read China Visa Requirements
Basically, the passport must have a validity of at least six months from the time of arrival. Also, it must have at least three blank pages. It is important as the Chinese visa is a sticker visa pasted on one of the pages in your passport. Also, the passport-sized photograph must be taken against a white or light blue background.
At Blinkvisa, we believe that a well-planned trip is vital to make the most of your trip. Thus, we provide a custom-made travel itinerary to meet your expectations and needs
[su_button url=”https://blinkvisa.com/blog/custom-travel-itinerary/” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#F49122″ color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#ffffff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #fffffff”]Get a Free China Travel Plan[/su_button]
How to Apply for a Chinese L visa?
Although not an e-visa, the Chinese visa on advance may also be referred to as the China Visa Online. It is because, the initial application may be filed online, while the required documents may be couriered or submitted in person at the Visa Application Centre/Chinese Embassy.
To simplify the China Visa Application for Indian passport holders, Blinkvisa has a simple application process;
- Visit www.blinkvisa.com
- Select the country and visa type, enter your email id, city, etc and click on the ‘Get Visa’ button
- You will be directed to the specific visa page of the country chosen
- Fill in the basic details like the number of applicants, tentative travel date, return date
- Make the payment of INR 500 and receive the complete visa fee as cashback
- Share your documents
- Receive your visa in seven to ten working days (the processing time may vary as per the courier service)
Blinkvisa Bangalore Address
L-176, Ground Floor,
5th Main, Sector 6,
HSR Layout, Bengaluru,
Karnataka 560102
The application process for Bangaloreans;
- Visit www.blinkvisa.com
- Select the country and visa type, enter your email id, city, etc and click on the ‘Get Visa’ button
- You will be directed to the specific visa page of the country chosen
- Fill in the basic details like the number of applicants, tentative travel date, return date
- Make the payment of INR 500 and receive the complete visa fee as cashback
- Make an appointment for document pickup
- The visa is delivered to your doorstep within seven to ten working days
Also, read Apply for China Visa
China Visa FAQs
1. Can I use my L visa for business visits?
To visit China for business purposes, you must apply for a China M visa or business visa.
[su_button url=”https://blinkvisa.com/visa/china-business-visa” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#F49122″ color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#ffffff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #fffffff”]Apply for China Business Visa[/su_button]
[su_button url=”https://blinkvisa.com/visa/china-business-visa-express” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#F49122″ color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#ffffff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #fffffff”]Apply for China Business Express Visa[/su_button]
2. What is the cost of a Chinese visa?
The China visa fee of the most preferred visa types is as follows;
| Type of China Visa | Visa Fee | Blinkvisa Charges | SGST + CGST | Total | Avail Cashback |
| Tourist Visa | INR 8999 | INR 500 | 18% | INR 9589 | INR 9589 |
| Express Tourist Visa | INR 14499 | INR 500 | 18% | INR 15089 | INR 15089 |
| Business Visa | INR 10499 | INR 500 | 18% | INR 11089 | INR 11089 |
| Express Business Visa | INR 14499 | INR 500 | 18% | INR 15089 | INR 15089 |
To know how the cashback works, read China Visa Fee
3. What are the other types of Chinese visas?
Apart from the diplomatic visa, China has 16 categories of visas, which are as follows;
- L Visa or Tourist Visa/Visit Visa
- F Visa or Non-commercial Visit Visa
- M Visa or Business Visa
- Z Visa or Work Visa
- X Visa or Student Visa
- X1 – Student visa for study stay periods more than six months
- X2 – Student visa for study stay periods under six months
- C Visa or Crew member Visa
- J Visa or Journalist Visa
- J1 – Issued to journalists posted in China for at least one year
- J2 – Issued to journalists on assignments to China for short periods of up to 30 days
- G Visa or Transit Visa
- D Visa or Residence Visa
- Q Visa or Family Visa or Personal Visit Visa
- Q1 (Long-term) – for stay periods exceeding 180 days
- Q2 (Short-term) – for stay periods up to 120 days
- S Visa or Relatives of Foreigners Visa
- S1 (Long-term) – for stay periods of 180 days and above
- S2 (Short-term) – for stay periods in between 30 to 90 days
- R Visa or Visa for Highly Qualified Persons
