A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors

Going to China for the Olympics or for a visit or business?

You’ll have to get a visa first. A visa is a stamp in a passport obtained prior to entry.

To obtain a visa, you have to have a valid passport with at least six months validity and at least one blank visa page. If you don’t have six months validity, you will have to renew your passport prior to applying. If you do not have blank pages, you will have to add pages to your passport prior to applying.

To apply for a China visa, a personal appearance by the applicant or a representative at the China Embassy or consulate office is required. If you cannot appear in person, contact A Briggs and we can assist in acquiring your visa for you. China no longer allows visa applications to be mailed or shipped to its embassy or its consulates.

China offers single, double and multiple entry visas processed in one, two or four days at rates ranging from $130 to $160. Typically, single entry visas are enough for most people, however if you depart mainland china and return (for example, a day trip to Hong Kong), you will need to obtain a double-entry visa. A Briggs representatives can assist in determining the right visa for each traveler.

When applying for a China visa, it is very important that the applicant apply for the correct visa. We hear of many business travelers being advised by their agents to secure tourist visas because it’s “easier”.

If you are in China doing business and have an incident with the police or authorities and they learn that you there on business with a tourist visa, the applicant will be detained and fined. Chinese authorities are very thorough in their enforcement of immigration policies; therefore, it is imperative that all visitors comply with China’s travel document requirements.

For details on China visas, click here to view a detailed description of the process and requirements. Due to high call volume a dedicated toll-free number for China visas has been established.

Please call 1-800-417-4023 for a China Visa Specialist.

Note: Special permits are required to visit Tibet. China visa applications to visit Tibet require a Travel Permit issued by the Tourism Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Note: Applicants who were born in China must submit either their China passport or a prior U.S. passport with a China visa in the passport. Applicants born in China must put their names on the application in Chinese irrespective if they hold U.S. passports.

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Planning a trip? Is your passport up to date? Click here to order a Passport.