All travellersBritish nationals need a visa to enter mainland China, including Hainan Island, but not Hong Kong or Macao.
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When transiting certain international airports, you may stay in mainland China without a PRC visa. However, this “visa-free travel” permit is only valid for the city of arrival and does not allow you to visit other cities in the PRC. The duration of allowed stay and how broadly you may travel varies by region.
Foreigners normally need to obtain a visa for a trip to China before departure, while in certain cases they are likely to get a China visa on arrival at entry ports. The validity counts from the day following your entry and only one entry is allowed. Once you exit from China, the VOA expires.
The timeline for visa processing can vary depending on various factors. On average, the visa processing time for China is around 4-5 business days. However, it can take longer if there are any issues with your application or if there is a high volume of applications being processed.
Summary: Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions. Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
The most popular type of visa for China, the L or tourist visa, is typically the easiest to apply for. You'll need to provide the three standard items (passport, application form, photo), an invitation letter from your host or travel documents (round-trip travel plus hotel booking), and proof of current residency.
24/72/144-hour China visa-free transit. China allows eligible travelers from certain countries to enter and stay in certain areas of China for 24, 72, and 144-hour periods without prior application for a visa when transiting to a third country.