China visa requirements for Thais

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Thais visiting China

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

  • A Thailand passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • Passport-size photographs (48mm x 33mm), against a white or blue background.
  • Travel document.
  • Proof of financial support to cover entire duration of stay in China.
  • Proof of accommodation in form of a hotel reservation.
  • Copy of return flight ticket to show incentive of leaving China once visa expires.
  • Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country. 
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

China Visa for Thais

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 4 working days 30 days
Business visa 4 working days 30 days
Student visa 4 working days more than 90 days
Work visa 4 working days more than 90 days

General Requirements for China Visa

  • A Thailand passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • Passport-size photographs (48mm x 33mm), against a white or blue background.
  • Travel document.
  • Proof of financial support to cover entire duration of stay in China.
  • Proof of accommodation in form of a hotel reservation.
  • Copy of return flight ticket to show incentive of leaving China once visa expires.
  • Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country. 
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.
China Tourist visa China Business visa China Student visa China Work visa

China Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Chinese tourist visa is issued to Thais traveling to China for tourism and visitation purposes.
  • The Chinese tourist visa is also known as L visa.
  • This visa is valid for 30 days but can be extended from 60-90 days.
  • Apply for a visa extension from your local Entry/Exit Bureau before attempting to leave the country. Do not expect your request to be expedited, so apply ahead of time.
  • Applicants who have being invited to China will need to provide an invitation letter issued by the inviter, whether it's an entity or individual, with following information:
    • Information on the applicant, including full name, gender, and date of birth.
    • Information on the planned visit, including arrival and departure dates, place(s) of visit.
    • Information on the inviter, including name, contact number, address, official stamp, and signature of the legal representative of the entity or the inviting individual.
  • Applicants who intend to travel to Tibet must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit, which can be obtained from Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region by travel agencies.
  • Currency restriction for entry into and exit out of China is Max RMB 20,000.
  • Applicants are required to provide original copy of recent 6-month bank statement.
  • Visitors are required to register their stay in China, failure to register with the police within 24 hours of arrival in the country could result in fines and deportation. You can register with hotel staff or the local police station. 
  • Local regulations require foreigners to carry valid passports at all times.
  • Entry and exit requirements are strictly enforced, as are restrictions on activities allowed by any particular visa class. 

China Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Chinese business is issued to Thais traveling to China for business purposes.
  • You are required to submit an invitation letter from the partner Chinese company serving as your host in the country.
  • The invitation letter should contain the following:
    • Your full name, gender, date of birth and other biographical information.
    • The purpose of your visit to China and how long you intend to stay in China.
    • Proof of accommodation such as a hotel address and contact details of the hotel.
    • Your arrival and departure dates.
    • Financial source to cover your entire stay in China.
    • Proof of previous relations between you and the partner company.
    • Your host’s name, contact details and the official stamp and signature of the legal representative of your Chinese host.
  • The business license of your company or certificated business license by the Foreign Ministry must be submitted too.
  • You are required to submit your bank statements for the last 3 months as proof of financial means.

China Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Thais looking to take up job offers in China should apply for the Chinese work visa.
  • The Chinese work visa is also known as the Z visa.
  • Applicants need to submit one of the following work permits obtained through their employers in China:
  • Foreigners Work Permit - issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC.
  • Registration Certificate of Resident Representative Offices of enterprises of foreign countries (regions) - issued by Chinese authorities of industrial and commercial administration.
  • An approval document for commercial performances - issued by the Chinese government authorities for cultural affairs.
  • Invitation Letter to Foreigners for Offshore Petroleum Operations - issued by National Offshore Oil Corporation.
  • Applicants are required to submit a police report that shows a clean criminal record.
  • As soon as the arrive in China, you are required to apply for a Temporary residence permit.
  • To apply for the temporary residence permit, applicants will have to go through full medical examination.
  • Accompanying family members should apply for an S visa by submitting invitation letter from the relative with work Z visa in China and a 'proof of relationship', i.e. their marriage certificate for a spouse, or birth certificate for a child.
  • 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.

China Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Chinese student visa is issued to Thais traveling to China for study purposes.
  • There are two types of Chinese student visa:
    • X1 student visa: this is a long-term study visa and it is valid for more than 180 days.
    • X2 student visa: this visa is a short-term study visa and it is valid for 180 days or less.
  • To apply for the Chinese student visa you must have been offered admission to study a course at a Chinese university. You have to provide the original and photocopy of your letter of admission issued by the Chinese school.
  • X1 visa holders shall apply for a temporary residence permit from the local exit and entry administration within 30 days upon entry into China. The temporary residence permit can be issued with a validity of up to 5 years.
  • Within the validity of the temporary residence permit, students can travel in and out of mainland China freely.
  • X2 holders can stay in China within the duration period as indicated on the visa, and it is not necessary for them to apply for the temporary residence permit.
  • When the study in China ends, X1 visa holders should go to the local exit and entry administration to cancel the temporary residence permit and apply for a 30-day tourist visa with zero entry to avoid problems.
  • You are not permitted to work on the X type visa. But part-time work and off-campus internships may be authorized. You should contact your university or employer after you have settled in China to see what can be arranged.
  • For foreign students who work in violation of Chinese regulations or beyond the prescribed scope of jobs or time limit, they shall be deemed unlawful employment and will probably have to stop or be expelled.
  • You must provide proof that you can cater to your financial needs including paying the tuition fees for the entire period of your studying.
  • To study in China for more than 6 months, you are to provide proof that you have taken the physical examination record for foreigners.

China Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

30.00 (USD)

Business visa

30.00 (USD)

Student visa

30.00 (USD)

Work visa

30.00 (USD)

China Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Thailand

Location

Address

Bangkok

Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand --- 57 Rachadapisake Road Huay Kwang Bangkok 10310 Thailand

www.chinaembassy.or.th th.china-embassy.org

chinaemb_th@mfa.gov.cn

(+66) 2245 7044

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my visa is approved?

You will know that your visa is approved once you get your passport. Open the pages and you will see the visa printed/pasted on one of the pages.

How much does it cost to get a Chinese visa?

For an American citizen the visa costs $140, and for citizens of other countries, the fee ranges from $30 to $90.

Can students work in China?

According to the government regulations, international students cannot work during their studies.

Can I get a job in China?

The best way to find a job in China is by using personal contacts who work for a company in China that might need someone with your skills.