Tourist Visa for China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan & India
CHINA
In late 2023, the Chinese government announced that it would do away with some cumbersome requirements. The announcement was followed by visa fee reduction to boost inbound tourism. Despite the changes, before China e-visa becomes a reality, you’ll find it more desirable to go through a visa service agency to obtain your visa.
Prices charged by visa service agencies vary greatly. Laurus Travel is always on the lookout for the best Chinese visa service at the lowest cost for its customers. Visa service agencies like to partner with Laurus Travel due to our volume and they are always ready to pay us commissions. Instead of asking for a cut of their fee, we tell the agencies to pass on our commission to our tour customers by way of a discount. The discount code will be given to customers with the need.
Updated China visa information will be forwarded to you upon receipt of your tour booking. For now the visa fee is around CA$160 for Canadians and US$185 for Americans.
If you are from a Western country, you do not need visa to enter Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand or Singapore when you travel with us as a tourist.
Applying for Chinese Visa
What’s required?
- Original passport valid for at least 6 months on intended date of exit – the passport must have enough blank Visa Pages for the visa itself and stamping on entry and exit
- Completed visa application form (must be completed on a computer; completed sample available for customers)
- A recently-taken colour passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a light background (size: 48mm x 33mm) – be serious or you’ll hurt yourself
- Copy of round-trip international air itinerary
- One photocopy of the passport page bearing your photo
- Hotel confirmations or letter of invitation from China – this will be furnished by Laurus Travel
What should I watch out for when filling out the visa form?
- If you never had a legal Chinese name, please answer N/A.
- If you are a married woman using your husband’s surname, you do not need to mention your maiden name under “Other or Former Name”.
- You do not need to mention all the cities. Listing two of them is adequate. In most cases, these should be the points of entry and exit.
- If your trip includes Tibet and you want to arrange your Chinese visa yourself or through another agency, you must contact us first or else you will be responsible for any difficulty you’ll run into.
When should I apply?
You may apply anytime you like although we do advise guests going on a tour with us to wait till the balance due date. As a Canadian or US citizen, you’ll be automatically granted a multiple visa (each visit is limited to 60 days) which can be valid for up to 10 years from the time of issuance assuming your passport is valid that long. A single entry visa costs the same as a multiple one and the application requirements are the same.
Where should I mail the application to?
Canadian applicants are to deal with our Vancouver office while American customers would be directed to our partner agency.
How long would I have to wait before getting my passport back?
Average waiting time for scheduling an appointment at Chinese Visa Application Service Center is 30 days at present. Once your documents are submitted, it takes 6-8 business days for the visa to be issued. For a fee, rush service is available but same-day service is not.
How much does it cost?
Canadians
CA$157.75 through Vancouver and Calgary CVASC*; $163.24 through Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal CVASC. GST included.
Cost breakdown: Visa fee $100, CVASC fee with GST ranges from $57.75 to $63.24.
*CVASC stands for Chinese Visa Application Service Centre – sole agent appointed to act on behalf of the Chinese embassy or consulate. Applicants in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa can save money by going direct to CVASC (appointment required). However, be prepared for long line-up and rejection. It is not uncommon for some applicants to make two or three trips just to get their applications accepted. First time applicant aged 18-70 will also be required to provide fingerprint in person at CVASC.
Americans
US$185
If clients wish to use our partner agency, service charge is $130-$144 depending on processing time plus courier fee for sending back passports.
Visa Form Printing
The blank application form provided by the Chinese government may be over-size for your printer’s default setting. The top and bottom of Pages 2, 3 and 4 can get cut off if you don’t resize the form for printing. Google’s Chrome is the best browser as it automatically selects “Fit to page” for printing. With Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari and Firefox, you will have to adjust the printer setting for desired result.
Immigrant
If you apply for Chinese visa in Canada or the United States where you don’t hold citizenship, you must provide a photocopy as well as the original Canadian Maple Leaf Card or US Green Card to prove your resident status.
Former PRC Nationals
If you are a former citizen of China and apply for Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport you held and a photocopy of its data page.
If you had Chinese visa and apply again for Chinese visa with a renewed passport that does not contain Chinese visa, you should present a photocopy of the previous passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate from the data page, as well as a photocopy of your previous Chinese visa.
If your name in the current passport differs from your name in the previous passport, you must provide an official document stating the name change.
Applicants Born in China and of Chinese Ancestry
Applicants born in China including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, must provide their name in Chinese characters in the appropriate box on the visa form. They must also provide a photocopy of their citizenship ID or an expired passport in addition to the current passport.
Tibet Entry Permit
This is in addition to the visa that allows you to enter China and must be obtained prior to arrival. Tibet Tourism Bureau, a government agency, is the only organization in charge of permit issuance, but it only accepts applications submitted by locally licensed travel agencies. By government regulations, foreigners visiting Tibet must work with a local travel agency and hire a guide during their entire stay in Tibet. Independent travel is banned.
If you are going to Tibet on a tour with us, all you have to do is to provide us with a clear copy of your passport and Chinese visa. The Permit fee is included in the tour price. If your trip includes Tibet and you choose to apply for the Chinese visa on your own, you must contact us for advice before submitting your visa application.
We are unable to help independent travellers or those going to Tibet with other travel companies.
Useful Links
Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Canada
Chinese Online Visa Application for USA
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Bhutan
Vietnam
E-Visa fee US$25
E-visa can be applied through Vietnamese government website (https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/)
Cambodia
E-Visa fee US$36
E-visa can be applied through Cambodian government website (https://www.evisa.gov.kh/). A letter of approval or invitation is NOT required.
Cambodia Departure Card
The card given to you together with the Arrival Card should be kept until exit. Please ensure you won’t lose it.
Laos
E-Visa fee US$50
E-visa can be applied through Laos government website (https://laoevisa.gov.la/index). No letter of approval or invitation is required.
Myanmar
E-Visa fee US$50
You can and should arrange your Myanmar visa online prior to arrival. The secure website is hosted in Singapore for credit card payment processing. The e-visa is called Entry Visa Approval Letter, based on which an Immigration Pass will be issued to you on arrival. Please bring a passport type photo just in case.
India & Bhutan
Visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html or contact us for advice.