Passport/Visa | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? |
| British | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other EU | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Passport Note(a) China does not
recognize dual nationality (eg US-Chinese, Canadian-Chinese). (b) Travelers are required to complete a health declaration certificate on arrival in China. HIV-positive travelers are not permitted to enter the country.
(a) The majority of visits to China tend to be organized through the official state travel agency
CITS (China International Travel Service). This liaison with
CITS is generally handled by the tour operator organizing the inclusive holiday chosen by the visitor, though it is possible for individuals to organize their own itinerary. Once the tour itinerary details have been confirmed to the visitor or visiting group, finances to cover accommodation and the cost of the tour must be deposited with
CITS through a home bank. Once again, for package trips, all the necessary formalities for a visit to China can be handled by the tour operator concerned. (b) Those wishing to visit Tibet are strongly advised to join a travel group. Individual travelers need a special permit and should obtain permission to visit Tibet or Xinjiang from the Tibet Tourism Office (see
General Info) before applying. Applicants will need to supply their Chinese Visa validity dates. (There is talk of discontinuing the permit requirement in the near future. Travelers should check with the Tibet Tourism Office before planning a trip to Tibet.)
PassportsRequired by all nationals referred to in the chart above. Passport must be valid for at least six months for a single or double entry within three months of the date of visa issue; at least nine months for multiple entries within six months.
VisasRequired by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) transit passengers (except nationals of the USA, who
always require a visa) continuing their journey by the same or first connecting plane to another country within 24 hours who hold valid onward documentation and do not leave the airport.
(b) some passengers (not including nationals of USA or UK) who transit through Pudong or Hongqiao airports only, with all necessary documentation, within 48 hours.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see
General Info).
Types of Visa and CostTourist/Business/Transit (UK nationals): £30 (single-entry); £45 (double-entry); £60 (multiple-entry for business visas only; six months); £90 (multiple entry for business visas only; 12 months
and two to five years).
Group (at least five people): £24 per person. Visa charges for other nationals vary; check with embassy for further information.
ValidityTourist,
Business and
Group visas are normally valid for three months from the date of issue (single and double-entry). Multiple-entry visas are normally valid for six months, 12 months or two to five years. The validity of
Business visas varies.
Transit visas are generally valid for up to seven days.
Applications to:Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see
General Info. Visas should be applied for in person at least one month before departure. Group visas will usually be obtained by the tour operator or travel agent.
Working Days RequiredFour. Two weeks for Group visas. Applications should be made at least one month in advance. A same-day service may be available at an extra cost of £20 per person, or a 48-hour service at £15 per person. Visas, however, cannot be issued on the same day unless the same-day airline ticket or itinerary is presented.
WarningMost visits to China are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
There have been outbreaks of
avian influenza (bird flu) in poultry in China. Since November 2005, this has led to a small number of human fatalities in rural areas of Liaoning, Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Hunan and Guangdong provinces, believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry. The risk to humans from avian influenza is believed to be low. However, as a precaution, travelers should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds could occur; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the avian ifluenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form which is easily transmissible between people.
Since June 2006, a number of people in Beijing have been hospitalised and diagnosed as suffering from meningitis caused by a parasite after eating raw or undercooked Amazonian snails at Beijing restaurants. The Chinese authorities are advising people not to eat raw seafood or snails. No deaths have been reported.
Since 18 August 2006, there have been reports of a number of deaths related to Japanese Encephalitis in the Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces in northern China.
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tel: (0845) 850 2829.
Website:
www.fco.gov.uk US Department of State Website:
http://travel.state.gov/travel Health | Special Precautions | Certificate Required? |
| Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 |
| Cholera | Yes | 2 |
| Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A |
| Malaria | 4 | N/A |
Health CareMedical costs are low. Many medicines common to Western countries are unavailable in China. Medical facilities in international hospitals are excellent. There are many traditional forms of medicine used in China, the most notable being acupuncture. Medical insurance is strongly advised.
Note1A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers arriving within six days of leaving an infected area.
2Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to China. However, cholera is a slight risk in this country and precautions could be considered. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. A strain of
Bengal cholera has been reported in western areas.
3Poliovirus transmission has been shown by reliable data to have been completely interrupted since 1999 through eradication programs.
4Malaria risk exists throughout the country below 1500m except in Beijing, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Tibet (Xizang, except in the Zangbo River Valley in the extreme southeast) and Xinjiang (except in the Yili River Valley). North of 33°N, the risk lasts from July to November, between 33°N and 25°N from May to December, and south of 25°N throughout the year. The disease occurs primarily in the benign
vivax form but the malignant
falciparum form is also present and has been reported to be multidrug-resistant. The recommended prophylaxis in risk areas is atovaquone, doxycycline, or mefloquine in Hainan and Yunnan.
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