France → China: do you need a visa?

Tourist Visa (L Visa)

Documents

• Passport bio-page and blank visa pages (more than 6 months validity, at least 2 blank pages)
• Photocopy of latest Chinese visa or Chinese residence permit, if previously issued
• Proof of residence in the applying country (for example driver license, utility bill, or bank bill)
• For foreigners applying in the US: green card, visa, I-20, or I-94 proving legal residence
• Ex-Chinese nationals on first visa after naturalization: bio-page of Chinese passport and naturalization certificate
• Name-change document if applying under a changed name for the first time
• On-site originals: passport used for the application, COVA info-page with barcode showing Passport to be submitted, old passport holding any still-valid Chinese visa or residence permit
• Travel plans or itinerary and group-tour travel-agency invitation where the post requests them for group travel

FAQ

Do I still need flight and hotel bookings for an L visa in the US?
No longer routinely. From January 1, 2024 US posts simplified L-visa documents and no longer require round-trip tickets, hotel reservations, itineraries, or invitation letters, but applications are processed case by case, so the post may still ask for specifics.

Can I work or study on an L visa?
No. It is for travel only. Work requires a Z visa and work-type residence permit; long-term study requires an X1 visa and study residence permit.

What if I qualify for visa-free transit or another exemption?
Check the official visa-exemption and 24-hour/240-hour transit pages first. If you qualify and your itinerary fits, you may not need an L visa; otherwise apply for the L visa through COVA.