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OBTAIN A CHINESE VISA

You will not need a visa to enter Hong Kong provided your stay is for less than 90 days and your passport is valid for at least 6 month after your arrival date in Hong Kong.  However you WILL need a tourist visa to enter mainland China and attend this program.

To obtain a visa you must contact the People's Republic of China Consulate office. In the United States there are offices located in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco.  Often the consulate office only accepts visa applications during specific hours, so familiarize your self with the hours before you go.

While regulations can change at any time, at present you will need following documents to obtain a mainland China tourist visa:

  • Passport must be valid for at least 6 month after arrival date.
  • Two passport photos
  • A copy of your flight itinerary/tickets
  • A hotel reservation letter - which we will provide upon receipt of your payment
  • Chinese Visa fee, depends on your nationality

Note that you have the option of applying for a single entry, double entry, or multiple entry visa. The cost of the visas are all the same, and depending on your circumstances a multiple entry visa may be preferable.  For example if you need to go back to Hong Kong or desire to visit Macau and then re-enter mainland China, you would need a multiple entry visa. If this your intention, it should be explained when you apply for the multiple entry visa or your request may be denied.

Visas are granted for a specific period, usually only 30 days. If you plan on extending your trip apply for a longer term (60 days to 180 days.) Your visa must be valid for the entire time you are in China.

Note that applying for a visa can go smoothly and be completed with a two week turnaround if you have all your paperwork in order. However, many people report that they have had to make several trips to the Consulate office and resubmit additional items. We strongly suggest you review the consulates' requirements carefully and apply as soon as possible. 

The Chinese take visas very seriously. If you overstay your visit, and attempt to return to China in the future, you may be denied a visa altogether.

REMEMBER - you will not be allowed entry into mainland China without a visa. If you have any difficulty, please contact us and we will do our best to assist.

China Visa Information for US Travelers

TRAVEL VACCINATIONS

While no vaccinations are required for a trip to China (except for Yellow Fever if you're arriving from an infected area), it is recommended that you see your physician and preferably a specialist in travel medicine at least 6 weeks before you are scheduled to depart.

There are some recommended vaccines and it's important that you take the necessary precautions and be up-to-date on your routine vaccines.

In addition, disease outbreaks such as SARS and Avian Flu have been concerns for China in the past few years. To understand more about these, and whether or not they are a threat to you during your trip to Asia, we suggest you contact the Center for Disease Control.

Health Information for Travelers to China

OBTAIN MEDICAL TRAVEL INSURANCE

We advise you to speak with your insurance carrier to determine the coverage you have in the event you become ill while traveling or abroad.

Regardless of your current coverage, we strongly recommend that you purchase medical travel insurance to cover you from the day you leave the country until you return.  The expense is relatively nominal (under $ 5.00 per day), but the cost of becoming ill abroad along with the potential to need emergency transfer back to the United States can be enormous.

In addition, medical travelers insurance companies have experience dealing with foreign medical doctors and hospitals. This can be extremely important if you become ill abroad and want to have someone communicate expeditiously with the local medical specialists, your family and your at-home doctor.

While there are many insurance companies providing the service, we have had excellent experience with Seven Corners which provides quotes on line and can also provide trip cancellation insurance.  

Medical Travel Insurance from Seven Corners

SELECTED READING

To make your experience more rewarding, we strongly recommend you review our list of  Suggested Reading