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All visitors to China require a Tourist Visa. It is each passenger’s responsibility to obtain the appropriate Tourist Visa and to make sure that when you receive it, all details are correct.
The Chinese Authorities have recently increased the complexity of the visa application process. Passengers in possession of an Irish passport may apply to the Chinese Embassy in Dublin. Residents of Northern Ireland who are in possession of a British passport must apply to the UK for their visa.
When you apply for your visa, your passport must have at least 2 blank pages and must be valid for 6 months from your return date of travel. The Chinese Embassy will not process visa applications should your passport expire within this time frame.
Chinese visas are valid for three months from the date of issue.
Please also note most airlines flying to China now require details from your passport: your passport number, the expiry date of your passport, place of issue, your nationality and your date of birth. If you have not already provided us with this information, please contact our office immediately. The Travel Department may take this information from your passport when it is in our possession.
The following information is for UK and Irish passport holders only. For further information concerning other nationalities, please contact The Travel Department or the Chinese Consulate/Embassy.
There are five ways to go about obtaining a Tourist Visa for China. Click on each option for full details.
Option 1 - UK passport holders may apply by post via The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre.
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Option 2 – UK passport holders may apply in person via The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre.
Option 3 – UK passport holders may apply in person to one of two Chinese Consulate offices in the UK.
Option 4 – Irish passport holders may apply by post via The Travel Department.
Option 5 – Irish passport holders may apply in person to the Chinese Embassy in Dublin.
Neither The Travel Department nor the Chinese Consulate or Embassy will be held responsible for the loss or damage of your passport or any document sent by post. We strongly recommend you use Royal Mail Special Delivery or a similar secure service when sending valuable documents by post.
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