China

Indian ordinary-passport holders need this visa for a normal mainland tourist trip. They are not visa-free. There is no mainland China e-Visa for this file.

Fill the form on https://www.visaforchina.cn, print it, and submit at the CVASC that covers the traveller’s state. The Embassy and Consulates decide the type, entries, validity and stay from the papers — they may not match what was requested.

Government visa fees above are the reduced Embassy rates until 31 December 2026. Delhi CVASC also charges a non-refundable centre fee (regular INR 2,107; express INR 3,106, tax included). Embassy express is INR 1,800; urgent INR 2,700. Pay cash or demand draft at the centre. Total = visa fee + centre fee. Delhi CVASC says the table is adjusted every quarter with the USD–INR rate.

Do not send a FIT / ordinary tourist without a visa except the 24-hour airside transit rule, or a group path that actually matches the NIA extras (cruise group or Hong Kong / Macao group).

Every applicant (Embassy, August 2024)

• Online form and confirmation page from the CVASC site
• Original passport valid at least 6 months, 2 or more blank visa pages, plus photocopy of the bio pages; old passports from the last 5 years
• Two colour photos, 48 × 33 mm, full face, front view, bare head, taken within 6 months
• Copy of the last Chinese visa, if any

Tourist extras — Embassy

• Tour itinerary, hotel booking, air-ticket booking
• Bank deposit proof of at least INR 1,00,000
• Invitation from a Chinese entity or person when they ask for it

Tourist extras — Delhi CVASC (stricter; use this if the centre is Delhi)

• Covering letter on every Delhi file (places, and name / address / phone of the contact in China)
• Invitation from a Chinese travel agency or individual (residence proof if an individual), plus round-trip ticket and hotel bookings
• Bank statement stamped and signed, balance INR 1,00,000 or more for the past 6 months. Temporary top-ups are not accepted

For commercial and trade activity. Same CVASC filing as Tourist (L). Add the Chinese partner papers below. First-time applicants are still usually given single entry unless they show a previous Chinese visa from the last five years and enough passport validity.

Same government fee table and Delhi centre fees as Tourist (L).

• All general papers listed under Tourist (L)
• Commercial papers, trade-fair invitation, or other invitation from the Chinese partner or host
• Copy of the inviting company’s business licence (scope of business must show; if missing, get it from the company or print it from the official register)
• Copy of both sides of the inviter’s ID, or the legal representative’s ID

Delhi CVASC also asks that the licence copy carry a handwritten Chinese signature and date from the responsible person, stating it is only for the named applicant’s visa. A printed signature is not accepted there.

Use a G visa when the traveller will pass through mainland China and cannot use a visa-free transit or group path.

24-hour visa-free transit (all nationalities, including India): NIA says this applies at all open ports if the traveller has a confirmed onward international ticket and stays inside the restricted port area. Leaving that area needs a temporary entry permit from border inspection.

240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit: NIA list of 57 countries (updated 20 August 2026) does not include India. Do not quote 10-day visa-free transit for Indian ordinary passports.

Cruise groups and Hong Kong / Macao groups are not a G visa — see Regional visa-free.

• All general papers listed under Tourist (L)
• Onward air, train or ship ticket with confirmed date and seat to the next country or region