US passport to China
US citizens need a visa to visit China. Apply online, then hand in your passport at the Chinese embassy or consulate that covers where you live.
The rules
- What you need
- Chinese visa (Tourist (L) visa)
- Costs
- $140
- When to apply
- Apply online, then hand in your passport. It usually takes about 4 working days after that.
- Other options
- Flying on to a third country? You can use the 240-hour visa-free transit and stay up to 10 days in set areas, with a confirmed onward ticket. You can also visit Hainan island visa-free for up to 30 days if you arrive there and stay within Hainan.
- How long you can stay
- Set by your visa. Check how long each stay can be on the visa itself.
- Your passport
- To get a visa, your passport needs more than 6 months left on it and at least 2 blank visa pages.
- Arrival card
- Foreigner arrival card. Fill in an arrival card. You can do it online before you travel, which is free, or on paper or a machine at the border. Official site
Quick answers
Do US citizens need a visa for China?
Yes. US citizens need a visa to visit China. Apply online, then hand in your passport at the Chinese embassy or consulate that covers where you live.
How much does the Chinese visa cost?
$140 on the official site. Apply apply online, then hand in your passport. It usually takes about 4 working days after that. Other websites charge more for the same form.
How long can US citizens stay in China?
Set by your visa. Check how long each stay can be on the visa itself.
How long does my passport need to be valid for China?
To get a visa, your passport needs more than 6 months left on it and at least 2 blank visa pages.
Do I need an arrival card for China?
Yes. Fill in an arrival card. You can do it online before you travel, which is free, or on paper or a machine at the border.
Good to know
Fingerprints at the border. Border officers may scan your fingerprints and take your photo when you arrive. Canada says this applies to visitors aged 14 to 70.
Register where you stay. Hotels register you with the police automatically. If you stay in a private home, you or your host must register within 24 hours of arriving. You can do this online through the NIA 12367 app.
Fake arrival card sites. The online arrival card is free on the official site, s.nia.gov.cn, and in the NIA 12367 app. Fake sites charge a fee.
Checked 26 October 2026 against Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States, National Immigration Administration of China, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK and US Department of State.
See the 11 official sources
- Frequently Asked Questions on Visa-free Entry into China (Updated February 2026) (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States)
- List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies (National Immigration Administration of China)
- Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September 2025) (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States)
- Notice on Extension of Visa-Fee Reduction (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States)
- Notice on the Launch of the China Online Visa Application System (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States)
- Visa-Free Transit Policies (National Immigration Administration of China)
- Announcement on Adding Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy and the 30-Day Visa-Free Entry Policy for Hainan (No. 4 of 2026) (National Immigration Administration of China)
- Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals (National Immigration Administration of China)
- Notice on Online Completion of Foreigners' Arrival Card (Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK)
- Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling (National Immigration Administration of China)
- China International Travel Information (US Department of State)