China Visa 2026: Exemptions, Tourist L Visa, Fees and Application

China has never been easier to enter than in 2026 — at least for some passports. Since the announcement of 4 November 2025, the 30-day visa exemption granted to French citizens has been extended until 31 December 2026, and the visa-free list now exceeds fifty countries with the addition of Sweden (November 2025) and Canada (February 2026). But this spectacular opening is deeply unequal: almost all African nationalities still need the classic L visa, with the COVA online form, a CVASC centre appointment and fees that vary by nationality. Good news for Ecuadorians, though: the 2016 bilateral agreement still lets them enter China visa-free. This guide covers it all: who is exempt, how the 240-hour visa-free transit works, and how to get the L visa step by step if you are not among the lucky ones.

China runs two parallel mechanisms: a unilateral 30-day exemption (extended to 31 December 2026 for 45 countries per the official notice of 4 November 2025, later joined by Sweden and Canada) and bilateral mutual exemption agreements with around thirty states. Visa-free entry covers tourism, business, family visits, exchanges and transit — not work, long-term study or journalism.

• French citizens*: visa-free entry with an ordinary passport, up to 30 days per stay. Carry a return or onward ticket, accommodation bookings and, since 20 November 2025, the arrival card completed online (see practical tips). Stays over 30 days still require a visa.

• Ecuador*: one of the few Latin American nationalities covered by a genuine bilateral agreement (in force since August 2016) — 30 days per entry, capped at 90 cumulative days per 180-day period. Important nuance: Quito suspended the exemption for Chinese nationals entering Ecuador in July 2024, but on the Chinese side Ecuadorians remain visa-exempt in 2026. Double-check before departure, as reciprocity could be applied at any time.

• Africa: the reality is stark — across the entire continent, only Mauritius and Seychelles* enjoy an exemption (bilateral agreements, 30 days). No African country appears on the 45+ unilateral list, and none is eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit. A Senegalese, Ivorian, Cameroonian or Moroccan traveller must therefore obtain an L visa before departure, even for an extended stopover.

Since December 2024, China allows a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for nationals of 55 countries, provided they continue to a third country or territory (Hong Kong and Macao count as third destinations). The scheme covers 65 entry ports across 24 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Xi'an.

Conditions: passport valid for at least 3 months, a confirmed ticket to a third destination within 240 hours, and an A → China → B itinerary (a Paris–Beijing–Paris round trip does not qualify as transit). Movement is restricted to the region of entry and adjoining authorised areas.

Who qualifies? The 55 eligible countries span Europe (including France — though the 30-day exemption is more generous, so the transit route matters mostly as a fallback), the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar and the UAE… but no African country, and not Ecuador (already exempt anyway). For African travellers transiting through China for more than 24 hours outside the international zone, the L visa remains the only option.

The L visa is the standard tourist visa. Here is the 2026 procedure, broadly identical everywhere:

1. Complete the COVA form online (China Online Visa Application, cova.mfa.gov.cn). Allow 45–60 minutes: personal details, work history, day-by-day itinerary, accommodation. Print and sign the confirmation page.
2. Book an appointment at the competent CVASC (Chinese Visa Application Service Center) via visaforchina.cn. Francophone Africa has centres in Dakar, Abidjan, Rabat, Algiers and Tunis; elsewhere, applications go directly to the Chinese embassy.
3. Submit the file in person. Good news: fingerprint collection is suspended from 17 December 2025 to 31 December 2026 for all short-stay visas (≤ 180 days), including multiple-entry L visas. Long-term visas (Z work, X1 study, Q1/S1 family, D residence, J1 press) still require biometrics.
4. Pay and collect your passport after 4–5 working days under the normal procedure (2–3 days express, for a surcharge).

Chinese consular fees vary sharply by nationality (reciprocity principle) and by application post. Concrete 2026 benchmarks:

Several Chinese embassies in Africa apply a temporary visa fee reduction until 31 December 2026 — to the point that the single-entry visa is free for some nationalities, such as Senegalese applicants in Dakar (only the centre's service fee remains). Check with your embassy: the discount varies from post to post.

Processing: 4 working days standard at most embassies (5 days in Dakar), 2–3 days express. Apply ideally 3–4 weeks before departure, never more than 3 months ahead (the L visa is typically valid 3 months for a single entry, with a default 30-day stay).

• Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the entry date, with 2 blank pages, plus a photocopy of the ID page.
• COVA form completed online, printed and signed.
• Recent photo 33 × 48 mm on a white background, bareheaded (it can be uploaded to COVA, but keep a printed copy).
• Confirmed round-trip flight tickets (a pre-booking is accepted at some posts, others require issued tickets).
• Hotel reservations covering the whole stay, or an invitation letter from a contact in China (citizen or permanent resident: copy of their ID and address) — the invitation replaces hotel bookings.
• Depending on the post (frequent in Africa): bank statements for the last 3–6 months, an employment certificate, previous passport with visas.
• For minors: birth certificate and parental authorisation.

• Online arrival card: since 20 November 2025, all foreigners (exempt or not) must fill in the digital arrival card before immigration — on the NIA website, the "NIA 12367" app or the WeChat/Alipay mini-programs. Do it on the plane or before departure; direct transits under 24 hours without leaving the restricted area are exempt.
• Payments: China is nearly cashless. Install Alipay and WeChat Pay before departure and link your Visa/Mastercard (international cards have worked since 2023). Keep 500–1,000 CNY in cash for markets and rural taxis — merchants are legally required to accept cash.
• Internet: Google, WhatsApp and Facebook are blocked. Install a reliable VPN before arriving, or use an international eSIM in roaming mode (roaming traffic bypasses the filtering).
• Bookings: favour cancellable hotels (Trip.com works flawlessly in China) — essential for building a visa file without financial risk.
• Proof of exit: even visa-exempt travellers can be asked for an exit ticket within 30 days and accommodation addresses. Keep everything as offline PDFs.

• Is the 30-day exemption for French citizens extended in 2026?

Yes. Announced on 4 November 2025 by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the extension runs until 31 December 2026 for France and all 45 countries on the unilateral list.

• Does an Ecuadorian need a visa for China?

No, thanks to the 2016 bilateral agreement: 30 days per entry, up to 90 cumulative days per 180-day period. China still honours the agreement in 2026 despite Ecuador's 2024 suspension of the waiver for Chinese nationals.

• Which African countries are exempt?

Only Mauritius and Seychelles (30 days, bilateral agreements). Every other African nationality must apply for an L visa — and none qualifies for the 240-hour visa-free transit.

• Can I extend my 30 visa-free days in China?

No. The exemption can be neither extended nor converted. To stay longer, exit the country (Hong Kong works) or apply for a visa before departure.

• Are fingerprints mandatory for the L visa?

Not at the moment: collection is suspended from 17 December 2025 to 31 December 2026 for all visas with stays of ≤ 180 days. Most centres still require in-person submission, however.

• How much does the L visa cost for a Senegalese or Ivorian applicant?

Consular fees are temporarily reduced (down to zero for Senegalese applicants in Dakar until 31/12/2026); the centre's service fee remains, around 21,500 XOF for standard processing. Allow 4–5 working days.