China visa requirements and application for Filipinos: Travel guide
Planning a trip to China for work or leisure? Before you get on the flight, you’ll need to know whether a visa is required, depending on your purpose of visit, so you can stay in the country legally.
Here’s what you need to know about China visa requirements for Filipinos, how to apply for one and how much it’ll cost. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.
| Table of contents |
|---|
Do Filipinos need a visa for China?
Filipinos require a visa to travel to China, be it for a vacation or to study or work. There are different visa codes, but the most applicable ones will be L for tourism, X1 for long-term study (more than 180 days), X2 for short-term study (no more than 180 days) as well as Z for work¹.
Is China visa free for Filipinos?
China is not visa-free for Filipinos, unfortunately. However, if Filipinos are transiting in China and the transit is within 24-hours, there will be no need for a transit visa as long as travellers remain within the port of entry/exit and have confirmed onward tickets.
Currently, China offers a 240 hour visa free transit for travellers from 55 different countries. Unfortunately, Filipino travellers are currently ineligible for this - check out the official visa site for the latest information.
Types of China visas available for Philippine citizens
There are a wide range of China visas available for Filipinos. The L Tourism visa will be the most common one, but there are also visas for study, work, exchange trips and even family visitation visas.
China visa requirements for Filipinos
The visa requirements for Filipinos are quite extensive, but we’ve laid out everything you need to know below.
China tourist visa requirements
For a tourism visa application², you’ll require your original passport that need to have at least six months of remaining validity and at least two blank visa pages, as well as a photocopy of the passport. If you have dual nationality, you’ll need to provide all valid original passports. Any expired passports will also need to be provided. You’ll also need to provide a completed visa application form, one recently taken (within 6 months) colour photo that’s taken against a white background with the applicant dressed in a coloured or dark top. The photo needs to be 48mm x 33mm, and stapled or clipped photos will not be accepted.
For applicants who have obtained Chinese visas before, you’ll need to provide a photocopy of those visas as well. Hotel and flight reservations will need to be provided, as well as a travel itinerary or an invitation letter issued by a relevant unit or individual in China. If you’re invited by someone in China, you’ll also need to provide photocopies of the front and back sides of either a Chinese ID for Chinese citizens, or foreign passport and residence permit for foreign citizens.
First-time applicants will needl need to provide a bank certificate of deposit balance (including statements for the past six months), a BIR-stamped income tax return form and certificate of employment that details the salary and length of employment. If you are a business owner, you’ll need to provide a business registration certificate instead. Other relevant documents that can prove your employment or financial situation will also be helpful.
China work visa requirements
The requirements for a China work visa³ are mostly similar to the tourist visa, except that you’ll also need to provide an approval document. This can be a Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China that’s issued by the State Bureau of Foreign Experts or the copy of Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit, an Alien Employment License of the People’s Republic of China that’s issued by the Chinese government for Human Resources and Social Security, a copy of the Registration certificate of the resident representative office of foreign enterprises. You’ll also need a copy of an employment contract that’s signed by both parties with a stamp.
If you’re a performer who’s entering China for a performance, you can provide both the original and copy of an approval document for commercial performance that’s issued by the Chinese government. You’ll also need to provide at least three printed photos of performances and a copy of the program list.
Additionally, holders of this visa must apply for a residence permit from the immigration department of the local public security authority in the place of residence within 30 days of entry to China.
How to apply for a China visa as a Filipino
Applying for a China visa is incredibly simple, especially with the opening of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Manila. Below is a step by step guide to applying for your own China visa.
Where to apply for a China visa in the Philippines?
First, you’ll have to create an account on the Visa Application Center website to fill in the application form online. You’ll then be required to submit all the required documents and register your fingerprints to the Visa Center, who will then handle the application.
How much is a visa to China from the Philippines?
For holders of Philippine passports, the fee for a visa⁴ varies depending on whether you’re applying for a single-entry, double-entry or multi-entry visa. The fee is broken into two parts, the visa fee which is charged by the Chinese Embassy, and the service fee which is charged by the Visa Center. A single-entry visa costs a total of 2,898 PHP, with prices rising to 4,998 PHP for the most expensive multiple-entry visa that is valid for over 6 months.
For applicants who have received Chinese visas before, they can apply for the Express or Rush service, which is priced at 4,922 PHP and 6,446 PHP respectively for the single-entry visa. You’ll want to note that the Manila Visa Center only accepts Pesos in cash.
Travelling to China? Get more out of every peso when you make payments abroad with the Wise card
With the Wise card, makaka gastos ka ng 40+ currencies sa mid-market rate, kasama ang USD, SGD, GBP at JPY. Kaya, siguradong makakakuha ka ng sulit na deal sa mahigit 150+ countries. Para makapagsimula, gumawa ka lang ng libreng Wise account, mag-order ng card, at mag-top-up ng PHP.
Maaari kang mag-order ng physical card ng Wise sa halagang 369.90 PHP. Kung mayroon kang physical na card, makakagawa ka ng chip and PIN payments, at may 2 libreng ATM withdrawals na aabot sa 12,000 PHP bawat buwan.
Kapag nasa abroad ka, puwede mong piliing gumastos ng direct as PHP at hayaan mag auto-convert, o i-convert sa gusto mong currency gamit ang iyong Wise account. Kahit ano piliin mo, makukuha mo ang rate na nakikita mo sa Google, na may kasamang low, transparent fees mula 0.57%.
Make payments cheaper and simpler in China and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
What are the China visa picture size and requirements?
The photo for China visa applications should be 48mm x 33mm for paper photos, with the applicant’s entire head and face clearly visible in the photo. Head coverings are only allowed for religious regions, and they must not cover the face. The background of the photo must be white, or close to white with no borders around the edge of the image. The applicant in the photo must also wear a coloured or dark top, and the photo must have been taken within 6 months of the date of application.
How long does a China visa application in the Philippines take?
If all the required documents are provided and in order, the processing time for a China visa application is usually four working days. For people who are eligible for the Express and Rush service, that time gets reduced to 3 working days and 2 working days respectively⁵.
What is the China visa free transit policy for Filipinos?
Filipinos do not benefit from China’s visa-free transit policy, unfortunately. But there are a few exceptions. If you’re travelling to the Hainan province for a short-term stay, you can enter and stay for a maximum of 30 days without a visa. Filipinos in groups of two or more can also enter and exit China through the airport in Guilin without a visa for a maximum 144 hours, provided that the tourist group is organised and received by a local travel agency in China and all members of the group hold ordinary passports.
Lastly, Filipinos travelling in tour groups of two or more and holding ordinary passports can enter the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province without a visa. However, travellers must stay in the administrative region of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the stay must not exceed six days in total, and travellers can only enter and exit through the Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port or Mohan Highway port.
Sources:
- China Visa categories
- China tourist visa required documents
- China work visa required documents
- China visa fees
- China visa processing time
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
