How Much Bank Balance for a China Tourist Visa? Indian Applicants

The number is modest; the conditions around it are what trip people up. This guide explains them, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For every Chinese visa type and the online application system, see our China visa guide for Indians.

How much bank balance does a China tourist visa need?

Two official documents set the rule for Indian tourists:

So the amount is INR 1 lakh. What the New Delhi notice adds is how long the money must have been there and what kind of account it sits in.

What does a "consistent monthly balance" mean?

The notice asks for a minimum balance that is consistent across the most recent 3 months, not a single high figure on the day you print the statement. Reading it plainly:

• Three months of statements, the most recent ones, not older months.
• A savings account in your own name. The notice says personal savings-account statements.
• No dip below INR 1 lakh across those months, as far as you can manage it.

The deposit-certificate option confirms the intent. A fixed deposit only counts if it was made at least 3 months before you apply, so money moved in shortly before applying does not meet the rule, whichever form it takes.

Can a parent's or sponsor's account be used?

For minors, yes. A child may use a parent's or guardian's bank statement together with an authorisation letter signed by the account holder.

For adults, the notice refers to personal statements and does not describe a sponsor option. If someone in China is inviting you, the Embassy's guidance on invitation letters says they should state the financial source of the trip, along with your details, purpose, places, dates and the inviter's details with signature or stamp. Your own bank proof is still the safest base for the file.

Does the same rule apply in Mumbai and Kolkata?

The INR 1 lakh minimum is on the Embassy's L visa checklist, which covers applicants across India. The more detailed wording on consistent monthly balances comes from the New Delhi centre's notice. Applicants elsewhere should follow the same standard unless their own centre publishes something different.

What else goes into an L visa file, and what does it cost?

Alongside the bank proof, the L checklist asks for a tour itinerary, a hotel order, an airline ticket order and an invitation letter when necessary. The common documents are the application form with the online confirmation page, a passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 or more blank visa pages, and two colour photos of 48mm x 33mm taken within 6 months.

The reduced fees run until 31 December 2026. For qualified applications the Embassy usually takes 4 working days (regular) or 3 working days (express); in New Delhi and Kolkata, collection is expected on the 6th working day (regular) or the 4th (express). First-time applicants generally receive a single-entry visa.

Where do the bank statements go in the online application?

Since December 2025, Chinese visa applications in India start online. Your bank proof is uploaded at that stage, not handed over at the counter first:

1. Pay the Visa Center service fee online for Normal or Express service; the choice cannot be changed later.
2. Create an account on the Visa Center website for your centre, fill in the form and upload your passport, photo and supporting documents, including the bank statements or deposit certificate.
3. If the reviewer needs more documents or corrections, the status shows 'Rejected'. Fix the file and resubmit, and the status returns to 'Under Review'.
4. When the status reads 'online review completed', you receive a confirmation email. This is not a visa approval; acceptance is confirmed at the counter, where you pay the visa fee.

A weak bank statement can cost you time in the online review, so get it right before you upload.

Which bank-statement mistakes should you avoid?

• Submitting a current account or a business account statement when the notice asks for personal savings-account statements.
• Letting the balance fall below INR 1 lakh in one of the three months.
• Opening a fixed deposit a few weeks before applying; it needs to be at least 3 months old.
• Uploading blurred copies. The New Delhi centre says copies must be clear and information must be accurate, and concealment or falsification may lead to rejection.
• Using a phone number or email that is not your own on the form.

For the itinerary, hotel order and flight booking on the same checklist, Yatra For Fun's Gurugram office prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 to INR 3,000. Contact us or WhatsApp +91 95230 91018.

Frequently asked questions

Can I show a fixed deposit instead of a savings account for a China tourist visa?

Yes. The New Delhi Visa Center accepts a personal deposit certificate of a similar amount to INR 1 lakh, provided the deposit was made at least 3 months before you apply.

Do I need INR 1 lakh for a China business visa too?

The INR 1 lakh bank proof is listed for the L (tourist) visa. The M (business) checklist focuses on the Chinese partner's invitation, its valid business licence with handwritten Chinese notes, and your company's cover letter.

Is the visa fee refunded if my China tourist visa is rejected?

The Embassy charges no visa or express fee for a rejected application, and both are refunded through the Visa Center. The Visa Center's service fees are non-refundable.

Do I need an appointment to submit a China tourist visa?

No. You first apply online on the Visa Center website, and once the status shows 'online review completed' you take your passport to the centre without an appointment, within 15 days of the confirmation email.