What the L Tourist Visa Is and Why You Need It

The type L visa (from leisure) is a short-term visa for tourism, visiting friends, and private trips. It is the visa most Ukrainians obtain when they fly to China to see Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, go shopping in Guangzhou or Yiwu, or visit relatives and acquaintances. A key detail people often miss: the L tourist visa comes in two formats only - single-entry (L1) and double-entry (L2). There is no multi-entry L visa. If you need regular multiple trips over the course of a year, the tourist visa will not work: for that you apply for a type M business visa with multiple entry. This is the first fork where applicants go wrong. The tourist visa also does not grant the right to work or study on long programmes in China - other categories exist for that (Z for work, X for study, Q and S for family).

L1 or L2: What Is the Difference

The choice between single- and double-entry is driven by your route, not the length of your holiday. Both allow you to stay in China up to 30 days per entry; the difference is only the number of entries and the usage window, the period within which the visa must be activated.

• L1 (single-entry). One entry, stay up to 30 days. Usage window is 3 months from the document submission date. Ideal for a classic one-off trip with no exits beyond mainland China.
• L2 (double-entry). Two separate entries, each up to 30 days. Usage window is 6 months from submission. Needed if you plan to leave the mainland and return: for example, fly to Hong Kong or Macao and continue your journey through China.

Who the Tourist Visa Suits

The L tourist visa is the right choice if you are:

• an individual traveller who wants to explore China's sights and cities independently;
• a family or couple on holiday with a pre-planned route;
• travelling to friends or relatives living in China;
• heading for shopping in Guangzhou, Yiwu or the large wholesale markets;
• planning a short trip of up to 30 days.
• The only hard limitation: the L tourist visa does not allow multiple entry over a year. If you need regular trips or multiple entry, that is already the M business visa category.

Where Ukrainian Citizens Submit Documents

This is the key question of 2026. Chinese consular offices on Ukrainian territory currently do not accept visa applications, so documents can only be submitted abroad, at a Chinese consulate in another country. For Ukrainian citizens, three scenarios are realistically available:

• Countries with a land border with Ukraine (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova) - the simplest option in terms of legal stay, because you can travel there and apply directly.
• Other EU countries (Germany, Czechia, Spain and others) - you can apply too, but almost everywhere you need documents proving legal long-term residence: a residence permit or temporary protection status. Without them, the application will be refused.
• Moldova (Chisinau) - the only jurisdiction in the region that accepts documents without the applicant's personal presence. Almost everywhere in the EU the personal-presence rule applies: you must physically arrive, wait in line and wait for the review on site.

Which Documents Are Required

The list of documents from the applicant is minimal; the complexity is in the supporting package. Only three items come from you, and an agency prepares the rest.

• International passport - original, valid for at least 6 months after the trip ends, with 2 blank pages.
• Digital photo 3.5x4.5 cm on a white background. You can produce a correct photo per COVA requirements for free online.
• Application data - the official COVA form (China Online Visa Application) is prepared on its basis.
• Supporting package: round-trip flight bookings, hotel booking confirmations, trip itinerary.
• Invitation from a Chinese tour operator with a valid business licence - in a number of jurisdictions the consulate requires it for a tourist visa. This is the main barrier to self-submission: obtaining an official invitation from a licensed tour operator without buying a full package tour is nearly impossible.

Is Biometrics Required for a Tourist Visa

No. Biometrics (fingerprints) are not required for the L tourist visa. Biometrics apply only to long-term visas that are converted into a residence permit inside China: Q1, S1, X1 and long-term work Z. The biometrics exemption for short-term visas is in effect until the end of 2026. For a regular tourist trip this step is absent, which further simplifies remote processing.

How Much a China Tourist Visa Costs in 2026

Official fees are set by the PRC Embassy and form the mandatory part of the cost. China2day is a private, independent visa information and advisory service, not affiliated with any embassy or consulate; the cost of organisational support depends on the visa type and number of entries and is arranged individually on request.

• Consular fee for single-entry L1 - USD 30. A reduced tariff is currently in effect, valid until 31.12.2026.
• Consular fee for double-entry L2 - USD 45.
• The fee is non-refundable in case of refusal.
• The exact amount depends on the country of submission: consulates set fees on a reciprocity basis, so figures may differ slightly across jurisdictions.
• Visa centre service fee (CVASC) - roughly USD 25-65 equivalent depending on the country. When you apply directly at the consulate, there is no such fee.
• An urgency surcharge speeds up only the visa stamping stage, not the online review by the consulate.
• For comparison: a self-managed trip to Warsaw with tickets, hotel and fees usually comes to USD 450 or more and takes 6-7 days.

How Long a Tourist Visa Takes

Timelines depend on the submission method.

• Remote submission via Chisinau, standard mode - 10-14 days from the moment your passport is received.
• Remote submission, express mode - 7-10 days.
• Personal submission, stage 1 - electronic submission and online review by the consulate: up to 4 business days. This stage cannot be accelerated.
• Personal submission, stage 2 - physical stamping of the visa into the passport after confirmation: 4 business days in standard mode, 1 day in express.
• Practical takeaway: submit your documents at least 2-3 weeks before departure. This is the main safeguard against a ruined trip.

How Processing Works: Step by Step

The application journey has five stages.

• Consultation and data collection. Review of travel history, collection of passport, photo and application data.
• Preparation of the supporting package: flight and hotel bookings, itinerary, invitation from a Chinese tour operator and its business licence.
• Electronic submission. The COVA form is completed and documents are uploaded to the PRC consulate site in Chisinau, followed by online review.
• Physical passport submission. Once the application status changes, you send the original passport via Nova Poshta; it is handed to the consulate for stamping.
• Passport return. The finished passport with the visa is delivered to you via Nova Poshta or courier.

Hong Kong and Macao: The Rule That Voids the Visa

The most expensive tourist mistake. Hong Kong and Macao are legally not mainland China, so leaving the mainland for them counts as crossing a state border. If you hold a single-entry L1, after leaving for Hong Kong your visa is used up, and you can no longer return to the mainland on it.

• If Hong Kong or Macao is a separate part of the route with a return to mainland China, take a double-entry L2.
• Or plan the route so that Hong Kong or Macao is the first or last point of the trip and you do not need to return to the mainland.

Common Refusal Reasons and How to Avoid Them

The consulate does not refuse for no reason; almost always there are specific formal grounds. The most common are:

• An invitation from unverified intermediaries (Telegram channels, grey sources): the consulate does not accept these.
• Data mismatches between the COVA form and supporting documents: dates, route, spelling of the surname.
• Hong Kong or Macao inside the route on a single-entry visa.
• A photo not meeting requirements: background, clothing, lighting, file format.
• Submission right before departure with no time buffer for processing and logistics.
• The recipe is simple: verified partners for the invitation, multi-level document checking before submission, and a 2-3 week buffer. If you have had previous refusals or deportations, consult before submitting: a repeat application means a new package and repeat payment of all fees, which are non-refundable.

Tourist L or Business M

In short: take L for holidays, tourism, personal shopping, and visiting friends and relatives. The only hard boundary is that multiple entry exists only in category M, not L, so for regular trips over a year you need a business visa. In every case the final decision on issuing the visa and its number of entries rests with the consulate.