Straight answer for Indian passport holders: **yes, you need a visa for China, and you must get it before you travel.** India is not on China's 30-day visa-free list, and — unlike many Western travellers — Indians **can't use the 240-hour transit route either**, because India isn't among the eligible transit nationalities. There's no visa on arrival. The good news is that the tourist visa process is well-trodden and predictable once you know the steps. This page lays out the whole thing.
## The one transit nuance
Before the full process, one clarification, because it trips people up: the **240-hour visa-free transit** that lets Americans and Europeans stop over without a visa is **not open to Indian passport holders** — India isn't on the eligible list. The only no-visa situation for an Indian traveller is a **24-hour direct airside transit**, where you connect flights without clearing immigration or leaving the airport. For anything else — even a one-night stop where you exit the terminal — you need the visa.
> "Travellers who do not meet the visa-free conditions must apply for the appropriate visa before entering China."
> — [Chinese consular guidance](https://en.nia.gov.cn/)
## Step 1 — the online form (COVA)
Everything starts with the **COVA online application**. It's detailed, so set aside an hour:
- Have your **passport, travel history, and trip dates** ready.
- Answer consistently — the details here must match your supporting documents exactly.
- Print the completed form and confirmation at the end; you'll carry them to your appointment.
The [Chinese Visa Application Service Center](https://www.visaforchina.cn/) is the official body that processes Chinese visas in India: you complete the form online, then submit your documents and give fingerprints in person. There's no fully-online or visa-on-arrival shortcut.
## Step 2 — book and attend your CVASC appointment
China processes Indian visas through **CVASC centers in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata**, with jurisdiction by region — Delhi covers most of the north, Mumbai handles Maharashtra and Karnataka, and Kolkata covers the eastern states. You attend **in person** because ten-finger prints are collected on site for most applicants.
What to bring:
- **Passport** valid 6+ months with at least two blank pages, plus a photocopy of the bio page.
- A **recent passport photo** to Chinese spec (the centers are strict on size and background).
- **Confirmed return flight tickets** and **hotel bookings** for your whole stay.
- A **day-by-day itinerary**.
- **Bank statements for the last six months** showing you can fund the trip.
Thin or inconsistent documents are the most common reason for delays, so make the itinerary, hotels and flights line up.
## Step 3 — fees and processing time
Budget for two charges: the **visa fee** and the **CVASC service fee** on top.
| Visa type | Approx. visa fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Single entry | ₹2,900 |
| Double entry | ₹4,400 |
| Multiple entry (6 months) | ₹5,900 |
| Multiple entry (1 year+) | ₹8,800 |
The CVASC service fee is roughly **₹1,973** for regular service, more for express. **Standard processing runs about 4–6 working days**; express (2–3 days) costs extra and isn't always available. Treat these as indicative — the centers publish current figures, and fees shift.
## Step 4 — before you fly
Once the visa is in your passport, two things make the trip far smoother and catch most first-timers:
- **Connectivity:** Indian SIMs don't roam usefully in China, and Google, WhatsApp and many apps are blocked without a workaround — sort a [China travel eSIM](/en/esim/) before departure.
- **Payments:** cash and foreign cards are awkward; [link an Indian card to Alipay](/en/pay/alipay-for-foreigners/) and you'll be able to pay everywhere locals do.
Then plan the trip itself — [the best time to visit China](/en/best-time-to-visit-china/), and city guides to [Beijing](/en/beijing/), [Shanghai](/en/shanghai/) and [Chengdu](/en/chengdu/).
## Common reasons applications get held up
- **Documents don't match** — flight dates, hotel dates and itinerary disagree.
- **Weak financials** — bank statements that don't clearly cover the trip.
- **Applying too late** — leaving under three weeks before departure, with no buffer for a query.
- **Wrong jurisdiction** — applying at the center that doesn't cover your state.
## Other nationalities
- [United States](/en/visa-free/us/) — not visa-free; needs a visa or transit
- [United Kingdom](/en/visa-free/uk/) — visa-free since February 2026
- [Canada](/en/visa-free/canada/) — visa-free since February 2026
- [Australia](/en/visa-free/australia/) — visa-free, 30 days
- [The two visa-free schemes, fully explained](/en/visa-free/)
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**Last verified: 14 June 2026.** Visa requirements, fees and processing times change and can vary by center. This is a general guide, not legal advice — always confirm the current requirements with [CVASC](https://www.visaforchina.cn/) or the Chinese Embassy in India before booking travel.