China visa requirements for Eritreans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Eritreans visiting China

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Chinese Visa.

  • Valid Eritrean international passports and other travel documents must be presented. The passport should be valid on entry into China and throughout your stay in the country.
  • A visa application filled in BLOCK LETTERS must be presented at the Embassy during visa application.
  • Your passport photographs are as important as any other document required and it must be taken a plain white background.
  • Bank statements and salary payslips from the previous three months prior to the visa application should be provided. This is required as sufficient proof that you can cater for yourself.
  • Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in the country.
  • If you will be staying in a hotel while you are in China, you should ensure you provide proof of the booked hotel room.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.

China Visa for Eritreans

Facts about China

China, officially the People's Republic of China is a country in East Asia and the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.404 billion in 2017. Covering approximately 9,600,000 square kilometres, it is the third or fourth-largest country by total area.  China’s political system was based on hereditary Monarchies or dynasties beginning with the semi-mythical Xia dynasty in 21st Century BCE.


China as a whole was ravaged by feudal warlordism with Japan during World War II. The Chinese civil war resulted in a division of territory in 1949 when the communist party of China led by Mao Zedong established the people’s republic of China on mainland China. Also the Kuomintang led nationalist government retreated to the Island of Taiwan where it governed until 1996 when Taiwan changed to democracy.


China’s economy has been one of the world’s fastest-growing with its annual growth rates consistently above 6 per cent. According to the World bank China’s GDP grew from $150 billion in 1978 to $12.24 trillion in 2017. In 2018, its GDP increased to $13.5 trillion (90 trillion yuan). Since 2010, China has been the country with the world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity in 2014.


China is also the world’s largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods and also the home to some of the world’s largest tech giants such as Huawei, Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba as it is the world’s most technologically advanced nation. Since 2019, China has the highest number of rich people in the world.

Types of China Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa within 5 business days 180 days
Business visa within 5 business days 180
Visitor Visa within 5 business days Less than 180 days
Student visa within 5 business days Less than 180 days
Crew visa within 5 business days 180 days
Transit visa within 5 business days 24 hours

General Requirements for China Visa

  • Valid Eritrean international passports and other travel documents must be presented. The passport should be valid on entry into China and throughout your stay in the country.
  • A visa application filled in BLOCK LETTERS must be presented at the Embassy during visa application.
  • Your passport photographs are as important as any other document required and it must be taken a plain white background.
  • Bank statements and salary payslips from the previous three months prior to the visa application should be provided. This is required as sufficient proof that you can cater for yourself.
  • Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in the country.
  • If you will be staying in a hotel while you are in China, you should ensure you provide proof of the booked hotel room.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
China Tourist visa China Business visa China Visitor Visa China Student visa China Crew visa China Transit visa

China Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Chinese tourist visa also known as L-visa is a visa issued to foreign nationals including the citizens of Eritrea.
  • This visa type is issued to foreigners who have the intention of traveling to China for leisure and tourism. If you have been cleared to receive this visa type, the State Council will then issue you the visa.
  • In some cases, you may be required to be interviewed by a consular officer to confirm your eligibility for this visa type.
  • Travel agencies can take charge of the visa application of foreigners who will be traveling to China in groups. This travel agency can apply for a group tourist visa at the port visa authority. Visas issued by the port visa authority are valid for a single entry and have a validity of 30 days.
  • Foreigners who have been deported before or those who have contagious diseases that may pose a serious threat to public health or those who seem likely to endanger the country’s national security will be refused entry into China.
  • Providing false information and failing to make all the required documents for the visa application available can also result in you being refused entry into the country.
  • Before leaving China, you are required to submit your passport and other entry and exit documents to the border entry and exit authorities.
  • You will not be allowed to leave China if you have been sentenced and have not completed the sentence. Persons of interest in an ongoing criminal investigation are also refused exit from the country.
  • All foreigners in China on this visa should ensure they do not engage in activities that are not consistent with the visa type they have.
  • If you will be staying somewhere which is not a hotel, you are required to register your place of residence at the public security organ within 24 hours after checking-in.
  • On special occasions when you may need to extend the duration of your visa, you must apply at the exit and entry management agency before the visa expires.
  • The visa fee for a single entry is $35USD(but could vary), $45USD for double entry and $60USD for multiple entries for up to six months.
  • The Chinese visa is always processed within 5 working days.
  • Your visa processing time and fee may vary regarding the country you are applying from.
  • You are not to exceed your visa stay and ensure to abide by the days specified on your visa form.

China Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa, also known as M-visa is issued to foreign nationals who have been invited to China for commercial and trade activities. If you qualify for this visa type, the State Council will grant you the visa.
  • You are required to provide an invitation letter issued by the company in China you will be visiting. The company that issued the invitation letter will be responsible for the authenticity of the invitation.
  • Anyone caught aiding and abetting an illegal immigrant will be fined a minimum of 2,000 yuan and a maximum of 10,000 yuan.
  • An official invitation letter from the inviting company in China is required. The letter must state the name of the and the duration of the applicant’s stay in the country.
  • Gaining access to restricted areas without the appropriate authorization from the authorities is illegal and you will be ordered to leave the area at once. If the circumstances are very serious, you will be detained for a minimum of 5 days and a maximum period of 10 days.
  • Foreigners whose test results show the presence of a contagious disease which is likely to pose a significant threat to the public health will not be issued this visa.
  • If you are considered a security threat, the likelihood of you being issued this visa is very low.
  • Ensure you do not have the intention of engaging in activities that are not permitted on your visa. Suspicion of this can lead to your visa application being denied.
  • Foreigners with unresolved civil cases in China and those who have not completely executed their criminal sentence will not be allowed to leave China even if their visa has expired.
  • Application for an extension to the validity of your visa must be made to the exit and entry management agency of the public security organ. Extension will only be granted if the reasons for wanting to extend this visa are reasonable.
  • Your visa application may be delayed or rejected if the visa application form is not properly filled.
  • Eritrean citizen who is with this visa is expected to submit his visa application one month prior to his trip.
  • Visa Officers are empowered to make a final decision on the validity, duration of stay and times of entry of a visa and may require the applicants to provide relevant documents.
  • Any person suffering from a mental disorder, leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious tuberculosis or other such infectious diseases shall not be permitted to enter China.
  • Single, Double and Multiple entry for up to six months is charged $30.00, $45.00, $60 respectively.
  • Multiple entry for 6, 12, 14 months are charged $60.00, $90.00, $90.00 respectively.
  • The Chinese visa is always processed within 5 working days.
  • Your visa processing time and fee may vary regarding the country you are applying from.
  • You are not to exceed your visa stay, and ensure to abide by the days specified on your visa form.

China Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is also known as Q2 visa is granted to visitors who have the intention of visiting their relatives who hold permanent residence in China.
  • The duration of your stay in China cannot exceed more than 180 days when you are traveling on this visa. 
  • If you are intending to stay in China for more than 180 days as a visitor in the country, you should apply for the Q1 visa.
  • An invitation letter from the inviting party in China should be provided. The letter should contain information about the host. The host is held responsible if the invitation letter is not authentic.
  • A copy of the host’s residence permit in China should be provided.
  • Foreigners who need to reside in China longer than the duration issued on their visa application may apply to the entry and exit management for an extension to their visa. The extension will only be granted if the reason for requiring more time in the country is reasonable.
  • If you need to replace your visa due to it being damaged, lost, stolen or in case of a renewal, it will be done in accordance with the regulations of the country. The entry and exit administration of public security is in charge of this.
  • Foreigners who will be taking up residence in a hotel shall have their accommodation registered by the hotel in China while foreigners who won’t be staying in a hotel should ensure they register their accommodation with the public security organ within 24 hours of their arrival in China.
  • Should a foreigner die in China, his/her death must be reported to the exit and entry management agency of the public security organ. A death certificate will be issued and the person’s residence permit will be withdrawn.
  • If you do not have a work permit and you are working in China, it is regarded as illegal employment.
  • The visa fee for a single entry is $35USD(but could vary), $45USD for double entry and $60USD for multiple entries for up to six months.
  • The Chinese visa is always processed within 5 working days.
  • Your visa processing time and fee may vary regarding the country you are applying from.
  • You are not to exceed your visa stay and ensure you abide by the days specified on your visa form.

China S2 Eligibility & Requirements

  • This S2 visa is issued to foreigners who have the intention of visiting their family members who are working or studying in the country for a short period.
  • The duration of stay for this visa is more than 6 months of stay in the country, but you can visit multiple times, to expend your stay duration in the country.
  • Family members refer to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters, and parents-in-law.
  • An invitation letter from the inviting party in China should be provided. The letter should contain the contact information of the host and the duration of the applicant’s visit. The host will be held responsible if it discovered that the invitation is falsified.
  • A copy of the host’s residence permit should be provided.
  • Foreigners are not allowed to work in China unless they obtain a valid work permit.
  • If you are older than the age of 16 years, you must always be in possession of your passport or other travel documents.
  • You should not engage in activities that are not permitted on your visa type and you must leave China before the date stated on your visa.
  • If you want to stay in China for more than the time stated on your visa, you must submit your application to the exit and entry management agency of the public security organ on or before this visa expires.
  • All applicants are required to undergo a medical test. The results of the test must indicate that they are free from any contagious disease which may be considered harmful to public health.
  • The visa fee for a single entry is $35USD(but could vary), $45USD for double entry and $60USD for multiple entries for up to six months.
  • The Chinese visa is always processed within 5 working days.
  • Your visa processing time and fee may vary regarding the country you are applying from.
  • You are not to exceed your visa stay and ensure to abide by the days specified on your visa form.

China Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to foreigners who have the intention of visiting their family members who are working or studying in China.
  • Eligible applicants of this visa are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law of permanent residence holders in China.
  • The duration of your stay in China cannot exceed 180 days.
  • An official invitation letter from your host in China should be provided. The letter must contain the valid contact information of your host. The duration and purpose of your visit should be stated in the letter.
  • A copy of the inviting member’s residence permit in China should be submitted during the visa application.
  • Proof of the relationship between the applicant and the host is required.
  • Non-Eritreans are expected to provide a copy of their Eritrean stay permit.
  • You are expected to leave the country on or before this visa expires.
  • The visa fee for a single entry is $35USD(but could vary), $45USD for double entry and $60USD for multiple entries for up to six months.
  • The Chinese visa is always processed within 5 working days.
  • Your visa processing time and fee may vary regarding the country you are applying from.
  • You are not to exceed your visa stay and ensure to abide by the days specified on your visa form.

China Crew Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to foreign nationals who are crew members of aircraft, trains and ships, and motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities.
  • Family members of the above-mentioned crew members can accompany them on this visa.
  • A letter of invitation from a foreign transport company is required.
  • A letter of guarantee should also be provided.
  • If you are a member of an aircraft, ship or train and you will not exceed 24 hours in China during your transit to a third country, you may be exempt from a visa.
  • Crew members and their family members accompany them can request temporary entry in the city where their port is located. Temporary entry is required for some emergency reasons. Temporary entry is valid for 15 days or less.
  • Guarantee measures are usually required from foreigners themselves or persons in charge of the means of transport carrying the foreigners.
  • As soon as the validity period of this visa expires, you are required to leave the country.
  • Foreigners who are actively involved in a criminal investigation or an ongoing civil case may not be allowed to leave the country.

China Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to foreigners who have the intention of transiting through China to their destination country.
  • Visa and entry permits of your destination country should be provided.
  • Applicants are required to provide flight ticket of their destination country.
  • Foreigners who are employed are expected to provide a letter from their employer. The letter should state the applicant’s job status and salary level.
  • Your stay to transit through china is only 24 hours. You are to apply for another visa should you fail to use your visa before its stay expiration.
  • If you seem like a threat to the security of the country or you are a major health risk, you will be refused entry into the country.
  • You are advised to not be involved in activities that are not stated on this visa.
  • The Transit Visa can be extended in cases where the applicant has a valid reason for requesting an extension to the visa.
  • You are expected to leave the country on or before this visa expires.

China Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

L

35.00 (USD)

Business visa

M

35.00 (USD)

Visitor Visa

S2

35.00 (USD)

Student visa

X2

35.00 (USD)

Crew visa

C

35.00 (USD)

Transit visa

G

35.00 (USD)

China Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Eritrea

Location

Address

Asmara

China Embassy in Eritrea, Ambassador: Mr. Qiu Xuejun Address: No. 16, Abo Street, Zone 3, Administration 02, Asmara, State of Eritrea

Email: chinaemb_er@mfa.gov.cn

+291-1-185271 (Administrative Office) +291-1-185273 (On-duty Office) +291-1-185272 (Press Office)

Asmara

Economic & Commercial Counselor's Office of Chinese Embassy in Eritrea Address: No. 9, San Francisco Square, Asmara

Email: er@mofcom.gov.cn

Counselor: Mr. Liang Hao Tel: 00291-1-123708 (Mr. Liang) Secretary: Mr. Duan Peng (00291-1-123707) Mr. Zhong Ku (00291-1-123713)

Asmara

Chinese Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea No. 16, Ogaden Street Zone 3, Administration 02 P.O.BOX 204 Asmara Eritrea

CHEMB@EOL.COM.ER

(+291) 1-185271 (+291) 1-185273

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain Chinese visa?

You are to make reliable enquiries on our website: timbu.com or at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese embassy in your country.

Is China the most populous nation in the world?

China is the most populous country in the world with the estimation close to 2Billion people.

Can I extend my Chinese visa stay?

Indeed. The duration of your stay can be extended at a local public security authority before it expires

Can someone else my Chinese visa application form on my behalf?

It is highly advisable for you to submit it by yourself, as additional information will be needed from you, which may not be answered by the person submitting on your behalf.