Travel purpose
🔑 24-hour visa-free transit through any international airports of China, allows domestic travel through different airports.[Note 1] Due to border disputes, Chinese embassy and consulate generals only issue stapled visas for Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh citizenships, and prohibit officiers of Arunachal Pradesh to apply visas, however Indian government doesn't recognize stapled visas as valid travel documents for departure, which caused conflicts regarding athletes.
Visa required
4–5 working days
₹6,200 (regular) / ₹8,400 (express)
24-hour visa-free transit through any international airports of China, allows domestic travel through different airports.[Note 1] Due to border disputes, Chinese embassy and consulate generals only issue stapled visas for Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh citizenships, and prohibit officiers of Arunachal Pradesh to apply visas, however Indian government doesn't recognize stapled visas as valid travel documents for departure, which caused conflicts regarding athletes.
- •Valid passport (at least 6 months validity; 2 blank pages)
- •2 recent passport-size photographs (48×33 mm, white background, light colour clothing)
- •Completed China visa application form (Form V.2013)
- •Confirmed return flight booking
- •Hotel / accommodation booking or invitation letter
- •Bank statements for last 3 months
- •Salary slips and employment letter
- •Travel itinerary
- •Old passports (if any)
Last verified: 28 Apr 2026 · Source
All travel purposes
Transit
Visa required
4–5 working days
Transit requirements vary; check if an airside transit visa (ATV) is needed.
- •Valid passport
- •Confirmed onward flight ticket
- •Visa for destination country (if required)
- •Transit visa (if required for the layover country)
Last verified: 22 Apr 2026 · Source
Business
Visa required
4–5 working days
₹6,200 (regular) / ₹8,400 (express)
24-hour visa-free transit through any international airports of China, allows domestic travel through different airports.[Note 1] Due to border disputes, Chinese embassy and consulate generals only issue stapled visas for Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh citizenships, and prohibit officiers of Arunachal Pradesh to apply visas, however Indian government doesn't recognize stapled visas as valid travel documents for departure, which caused conflicts regarding athletes.
- •Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
- •2 recent passport-size photographs
- •Completed China visa application form (Form V.2013)
- •Invitation letter from Chinese company (in Chinese and English; notarized if required)
- •Letter from Indian company authorising business travel
- •Business registration documents
- •Bank statements for last 3 months
Last verified: 28 Apr 2026 · Source
Transit
72/144-hour visa-free transit available in select cities
Indian passport holders can transit China visa-free for 72 hours (most cities) or 144 hours (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, and select others) under the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) policy, provided they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country and meet other conditions. Transit outside these windows or cities requires a Chinese visa.
- •Valid passport
- •Confirmed onward flight ticket
- •Visa for destination country (if required)
- •Transit visa (if required for the layover country)
Last verified: 28 Apr 2026 · Source