Thai Citizens Visit China With and Without Visa

From March 1, 2024, Thai ordinary passport holders can enter China without a visa for a single stay of no more than 30 days (the cumulative stay every 180 days is no more than 90 days). Those who enter China for work, study, news reporting, settlement and other activities that require prior approval and intend to stay in China for more than 30 days must complete the corresponding visa application before entering China.
 

Based on the 30-day visa free entry policy, what documents do I need to enter China?

• Passport(passport with at least 6 months' remaining validity)
• Round-trip tickets and hotel order

If I want to stay in China more than 30 days, what should I do?

If a Thai citizen wants to stay in China for more than 30 days, or enter China for work, study, news reporting, settlement and other activities that require prior approval should apply the visa to China.

 

Where to Apply the Chinese Visa

The Embassy of China in Thailand and the Consulate General in Chiang Mai do not directly accept visa applications from ordinary passport holders. Ordinary passport holders in Thailand can apply for the Chinese visa at following places.
 

Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Chiang Mai: Green Mall Plus 3, No.161/48 Moo.4, Nongpakrang Mueang Chiang Mai District, 50000, Thailand
 

Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Bangkok: Thanapoom Tower 1500 New Petchaburi Road Khet Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
 

Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Khon Kaen: 142/44 Moo 2, Rob-Bueng Rd., Nai-Muang, Muang, Khon Kaen, Thailand 40000
 

Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Songkhla: 9 Sadao Road , Songkhla 90000 Thailand
 

The Phuket Consular Office of The Consulate General of The People's Republic of China in Songkhla: 96/69 Royal Place, By Pass Rd., Kathu District, Phuket, Thailand

 

How to Apply the Chinese Visa

Documents Required to Apply for the Chinese Visa

• Visa Application Form (fill in online and print out) and the confirmation page (print out)
• Original and photocopy of the applicant’s passport (with enough blank visa pages and a validity period of no less than six months from the day of submitting the application)
• Original and photocopy of the applicant’s proof of legal stay or residence status in Thailand (applicable to foreign citizens who stay in Thailand other than Thai or Chinese people)
• Original of applicant’s previous Chinese passport(s) and certificate of naturalization or previous Chinese visas (applicable to foreign citizens who used to have Chinese citizenship)
• One ID photo

Submit the Chinese Visa Application at the Visa Center

After preparing the documents needed to apply the Chinese visa and completing the Visa Application Form online, you can print out your visa application form and submit it to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center after signature. Then your fingerprints will be collected at the visa center.

 

When to Apply the Chinese Visa

It is recommended to apply for the Chinese visa 30 days before your entry. If you apply for the Chinese visa too early, your visa might be expired. And if you apply for the Chinese visa too late, your Chinese visa application may not be completed.

How Long Can I Get My Chinese Visa

If you have prepared all the documents required for the Chinese visa application, it usually needs 4 working days to get your Chinese visa.

Please note that the above processing time is general, and some applications may take longer time to process, so the processing time is uncertain. In this case, the applicant needs to wait for the notification from the embassy.

How to Understand my Chinese Visa

Entries

Entries refer to the number of times the visa holder can come to China within the validity period of the visa. When the number of entry times is used up, the visa will automatically expire. If you want to come to China again, you must apply for a new visa. If the entries have not been used up, but the validity period has expired, you should apply for a visa again. Those who come to China with visas that have been used up their entries will be refused entry. Therefore, before you leave for China, please check the entries again and confirm that the visa is valid.
 

Enter before

Enter before refers to the validity period of your Chinese visa. If the entries are still left, the visa holder can come to China with this visa at any time before the expiration date (entry is allowed before 24: 00 on the expiration date). Visas that exceed the validity period, regardless of the remaining entries, are automatically invalidated and cannot be extended. If you need to come to China again, you must apply for a new visa. All visas shall take effect from the date of issuance. If the visa cannot be used due to personal or third-party reasons, the applicant should take the responsibility.Those who come to China with an expired visa will be refused entry. Therefore, before you leave for China, please check the validity of your visa again and make sure it is valid.
 

Duration of Each Stay after Entry

Duration of each stay after entry refers to the maximum time that the visa holder is allowed to stay in China at a time, that is, the maximum number of days that the holder can stay in China from the date of entry. If it is necessary to extend the stay, the visa holder must go to the local public security organ to apply for an extension before the expiration of the stay. Those who stay in China beyond the duration of each stay will be fined if they violate the laws and regulations on the entry and exit of foreigners. Therefore, please check whether the duration of each stay after entry has exceeded at any time during your stay in China.

How to Arrange my China Tour

If you plan a travel to China from Thailand, you can enjoy the 30-day visa free policy. And if you do not know much about China, Top China Travel can recommend the most popular destinations for you. If you know China, Top China Travel can also help you to arrange your travel in China according to the destinations you prefer. We are an experienced travel agency in China. You will get unforgettable travel experience in China together with us. According to your travelling time and budget, we can provide the most suitable itinerary for you.