When planning to visit Shanxi，you first need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa. So, what preparations do you need to make for the Chinese tourist visa? Here are the things you have to know!

I. Basic materials

1.Passport Original passport, with a validity of at least 6 months and two blank visa pages at least.

2.China Visa Application Form Your personal information and travel related details should be complete and correct. Visa officers will carefully verify to determine whether to approve your entry plan.

3.Two recent (taken within the last 6 months) passport-sized, colored photographs are required.The photos should be two-inch in size and taken against a plain white or light-colored background, showing the full face frontally without hats.

4.Certificate of legal residence (for applicants who are not in their country of nationality)

Provide the original and a copy of valid certificates or visas demonstrating your legal residence, employment, and study in your country of residence.

II. Supporting documentations

Submit relevant travel documents such as booked round-trip air tickets, hotel reservations, prepared travel plans, and other required materials.

Additionally, provide an invitation letter from relevant Chinese organizations or individuals.

III.Application process

Step 1: Prepare other traveling materials, such as air tickets, hotel booking records, a rough travel itinerary, etc. If you have a valid invitation letter, please provide it.

Step 2: Fill in the visa application form, print it out, paste a photo on the paper application form, sign, and date the form.

Step 3: If you need to submit your application to the China Visa Application Service Centre, please make an appointment online.

Step 4: Bring all the prepared documents to the consulate, wait in the queue, and submit. Pay the visa fee and get the receipt slip.

Step 5: Retrieve your passport on the specified date.

IV. Time for obtaining a visa

The Chinese Embassy and Consulate will start processing your application until all required documents are submitted. The regular application takes about 4 working days and you can get it on the 4th or 5th working day.

Source: Official website of the Service for Foreigners Coming to China