Details of China visa requirements are available online. They include instructions on what is required to successfully apply for and acquire a Chinese visa.

Passports: You must have a valid passport to visit China. Your passport must have blank visa pages inside, as well as a Chinese visa. Your passport must be at least six months old before it expires. Business and student passports must be at least 12 months old before they expire.

Type of Visas: The most common Chinese visa is an L visa. Tourists receive L visas when they visit China for tourism trips. Business visas require letters of invitation from a Chinese or state company or government agency. Tourists wishing to travel to parts of China that are not open to foreigners must apply for a travel visa once they arrive in China.

Forms: Declaration forms and L visa forms are available online. These forms can be printed and completed prior to scheduling your appointment at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. China now requires a declaration form. This form is also available online and must accompany your visa application.

Photos: China will accept two-inch by two-inch black and white, as well as color, photos with your application. These photos must be recent and included with your visa application.

Fees: China has a fixed fee for visa applications. You must bring a money order, cash or money order in the amount of $130 with you to your appointment.

Expediting: The expediting service for a Chinese visa is handled by a travel agent expediter. These people charge a fee for their services. These fees start at $40 and go up from there.

Additional Requirements: In order to process your visa application, you must verify your round trip tickets, your motel reservations, and verify your application and declaration form. You must provide your own prepaid mailing envelope. The Chinese government claims that Express Mail, UPS and FedEx are the companies they prefer to use when returning your documents. Most importantly, you will need to include a cover letter stating that you are applying for a visa, which is included in the prepaid return mailing envelope, and including your name, address, and phone numbers.

If you find that you have problems with China’s visa requirements, you can call the embassy or consulate. They will be happy to help.