China visa requirements for Vietnameses

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Vietnameses visiting China

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

  • Original passport with at least two blank visa pages and valid for at least 6 months.
  • A duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • Minors need their legal parents to sign their application form. 
  • Three original  passport-size photographs (48 x 33cm) taken in white background.
  • The travel document must be fully completed. 
  • Proof of financial sufficiency. 
  • A proof of accommodation/hotel reservations. 
  • A copy of the return flight ticket.
  • Proof of legal status of residence 
  • A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
  • Medical insurance that covers the entire duration of stay.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • A copy of the travel itinerary with update flight exit and entry dates. 
  • An invitation letter containing the applicant's contact details. 

China Visa for Vietnameses

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 to 180 days
Business visa 4 days 30 to 60 days
Work visa 4 days 30 days
Student visa 4 days more than 180 days

General Requirements for China Visa

  • Original passport with at least two blank visa pages and valid for at least 6 months.
  • A duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • Minors need their legal parents to sign their application form. 
  • Three original  passport-size photographs (48 x 33cm) taken in white background.
  • The travel document must be fully completed. 
  • Proof of financial sufficiency. 
  • A proof of accommodation/hotel reservations. 
  • A copy of the return flight ticket.
  • Proof of legal status of residence 
  • A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
  • Medical insurance that covers the entire duration of stay.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • A copy of the travel itinerary with update flight exit and entry dates. 
  • An invitation letter containing the applicant's contact details. 
China Tourist visa China Business visa China Work visa China Student visa

China Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Chinese tourist visa (also called L visa)  is for leisure, pleasure and tourism purposes.  
  • The tourist visa allows for a short stay in China. 
  • China tourist visa is subdivided into three types: single entry, double entry, and multiple entry.
  •  Single Entry allows for a single entry into china and is valid for 30 days to 60 days. 
  •  Double-entry allows for two entries and is valid for 30 days to 60 days.
  •  Multiple entry allows for multiple entries and is valid for six months and a year.  
  • Even with a multiple-entry visa, the embassy has to decide how long you can stay back in China.
  • Only UK, US, Canadian and Argentine citizens are eligible for a 10-year China tourist visa with multiple entries. 
  • When applying for a Chinese tourist visa, you are to provide a copy of your return ticket and a hotel reservation for the duration of your stay. 
  • The invitation letter containing the full details of your host is required. 
  • The visa is valid between the issue and the entry date. Hence,  holders of a Chinese tourist visa are to gain entry 24 hours before the entry date.  
  • Overstaying on a tourist visa is not allowed. 
  • Applicants applying for a Chinese Visa are required to go to the embassy. Applications through mails are not allowed and will be refused at the Chinese Consulate.  
  • An employment letter from an employed Vietnamese citizen is to be presented at the embassy. 
  • A group visa is available for individuals traveling in groups. 
  • It takes about 4 working days to process a Chinese tourist visa. 
  • A photocopy of Chinese ID or foreign passport and permanent residence permit of the inviting individual is to be provided at the consulate. 
  • The tourist visa is extendable and can be applied  at the local Exit and Entry Administration of China
  • You are expected to apply for an extension seven days before the L visa expires.  

China Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Business travelers can visit China for business and commercial activities with a business visa. 
  • The business visa has three subcategories; single, double and multiple-entry basis. 
  • Holders can also attend trade fairs, visit and negotiate clients or sign contracts. 
  • The Chinese business visa is subdivided into two types;  the M visa which is for business and trade-related activities and the F visa is for non-commercial activities.  
  • The F visa allowed its holders to attend to business-related activities before the M-visa was introduced. 
  • Foreigners who have been issued this type of visa can be allowed to attend lectures, investigations, cultural or scientific programs. 
  • The  Chinese M visa is valid between 30  to 60 days.
  • The visa is extendable but depends on the applicant’s valid personal reasons and the discretion of the  Embassy.  
  • The applicants who wish to extend their visas are to apply seven days before the M-visa expires.
  • A letter of invitation or confirmation letter duly signed by an authorized Chinese institute is required. 
  • Also, a letter of invitation issued by a Chinese business or trade partner is to be provided by the applicant. 
  • A power of attorney is not needed when a third party or an agency is entrusted to submit your application documents with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. 
  • An original and photocopy of the applicant’s business registration certificate and tax clearance are required for the application process. 
  •  Working with an M-visa in china is not allowed. Foreigners who want to work in China are to apply for a work visa. 
  •  The M visa was created to specifically accommodate business professionals. 

China Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements


  • The Chinese Work Visa (Z) is for applicants who want or have gained employment in a Chinese company.  
  • Holders of this visa can also take up paid commercial entertainment performances in China.  
  • It's illegal to work in China without a work visa.
  • Only 18-60-year-olds are eligible to apply for a work visa. However, those not within this age range can be granted work visas if they can find an employer who wants to employ them.  
  • The visa is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in China. 
  • Your employer have to seek for a temporary residence permit for the duration of your employment contract. 
  • The Chinese work visa can only be applied on a single entry basis. 
  • Before an employee is granted a work visa, he/she has to obtain a work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC through their employers.
  • Unlike the work visa, the residence permits multiple entries up to a year.  
  • You are expected to have a letter confirming their employment status with a Chinese company. 
  • A copy of a valid re-entry pass or residence permit is required.  
  • You are liable to a jail term sentence or to be fined if you are found working without a work visa. 
  • An official letter of invitation written with the company letterhead indicating the terms of employment and the address of the company is to be provided. 
  •  Applicants need to submit one of the following work permits obtained through their employers in China:
  • a. Foreigners Work Permit - issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC.
  • b. Registration Certificate of Resident Representative Offices of enterprises of foreign countries (regions) - issued by Chinese authorities of industrial and commercial administration.
  • c. An approval document for commercial performances - issued by the Chinese government authorities for cultural affairs.
  • d. Invitation Letter to Foreigners for Offshore Petroleum Operations - issued by National Offshore Oil Corporation.

China Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Chinese student visa (X) is granted to foreign students  coming to China for study, advanced studies and fieldwork. 
  • The Chinese student visa has two types; the X1 and X2 visa. 
  • The X1 visa is a long term visa which permits holders to stay and study in China for more than 6 months while the X2 visa is issued to students to study in China for only six months.  
  • Holders of this visa can study and work part-time during the duration of their stay. 
  • Students can also apply for internships during the duration of their stay. 
  • It is compulsory to apply for a temporary residence permit from the Public Security Bureau within 30 days upon entry into China while you are with an X1 visa.  
  • The JW201 and JW202 forms are submitted during the X1 application process. 
  • The JW201 and JW202 issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the notice of admission from your school are to be provided. 
  • The JW201 / JW202 form is to be submitted at the consulate or embassy during your application for the Chinese student visa(X visa).
  • The JW201 form is meant for those studying in China on a full scholarship while JW202  is for studying in China on a partial scholarship. 
  • Minors will need to provide an original copy of their birth certificate.  A notarized letter of consent signed by both your parents should be part of the documents to be submitted too.  
  • Mailed applications are rejected by most Chinese embassies or consulates, but acceptable in many CVASCs.
  • The JW201 or JW202 form should be obtained through the school you are to enroll at. JW201 form is issued to international students dispatched by the government or funded by Chinese government scholarships while JW202 is for self-sponsored foreign students. 
  • X1 visa holders are expected to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit from the local Exit and Entry Administration within 30 days of arrival into China.
  • The temporary residence permit issued is valid for up to 5 years.
  • Within the validity of the Temporary Residence Permit, students can travel in and out of mainland China freely.

China Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

140.00 (USD)

Business visa

140.00 (USD)

Work visa

140.00 (USD)

Student visa

140.00 (USD)

China Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Vietnam

Location

Address

Hanoi

46 Hoang Dieu Road P.O.Box 13 Hanoi Vietnam

vn.china-embassy.org

chinaemb_vn@mfa.gov.cn

(+84) 24 38 453 736

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official language spoken in China?

The official language spoken in China is Mandarin.  More than 70% of the Chinese population speaks Mandarin, but there are also several other major dialects in use in China: Yue (Cantonese), Xiang (Hunanese), Min dialect, Gan dialect, Wu dialect, and Kejia or Hakka dialect.

What is Chinese National Dish?

China’s globally recognized national dish is the Peking duck. The dish traces its origin from the Yuan dynasty in Beijing, and is characterized by its thin, crispy skin.

What is the best time to travel to China?

The best time to visit China is between March to May or September to early November.

What is the cheapest month to fly to China?

The best time to get the cheapest flight to China is during September.