Tourist — China Tourist Visa (L)
Tourism, sightseeing, family / friend visit (short).
- Stay
- 30 / 60 days per entry (consul discretion).
- Processing
- Regular ~4 working days (post COVA approval); Express 2 ~3 days; Express 1 ~2 days.
China Visa for Nepali Citizens
Up-to-date China visa requirements, processing time, and embassy info for Nepali passport holders. Yatra handles the full application — document review, dummy ticket, and tracking.
At a glance — China China Tourist Visa (L)
- Processing time
- Regular ~4 working days (post COVA approval); Express 2 ~3 days; Express 1 ~2 days.
- Stay duration
- 30 / 60 days per entry (consul discretion).
- Visa validity
- 3 months single / 6 months / 1 year / 2 years / 5 years multi.
- Entries
- Single, Double, 6-month Multiple, or 12-month Multiple.
- Bank balance / financial proof
- Bank statement (last 3 months) having ending balance of NPR 3 lakh (3,00,000).
- Where to apply
- (1) Complete COVA at cova.mfa.gov.cn -> (2) Submit at CVASC Rising Mall, Kamaladi (Mon–Fri 09:00–15:00) -> (3) Pay in NPR cash / QR -> (4) Collect passport Mon–Fri 13:00–16:00.
Visa categories available
Business — China Business Visa (M)
Commercial meetings, contracts, trade.
- Stay
- 30 / 60 days per entry.
- Processing
- ~4 working days.
Student — China Student Visa (X1 long-term / X2 short-term)
X1: long-term study (>180 days); X2: short-term study or training (≤180 days).
- Stay
- Per programme.
- Processing
- ~4 working days.
Work — China Work Visa (Z) — and R Talent Visa
Z: salaried employment; R: high-end / urgently needed talent (5-year multi).
- Stay
- Per work permit.
- Processing
- ~4 working days AFTER work permit notification issued.
Family Visit — China Family Visa (Q1 long-term / Q2 short-term · S1 long private / S2 short private)
Q1/Q2: family reunion (PRC citizen / PR holder relative); S1/S2: private affairs accompanying Z / X1 / J1 holder.
- Stay
- Q1/S1: residence permit; Q2/S2: ≤180 days.
- Processing
- ~4 working days.
Transit — China Transit Visa (G) — 24-hour airside exemption
Transit through China to third country.
- Stay
- Up to 7 days (G visa); 24 hours airside without visa (Nepalis NOT eligible for 240-hour transit).
groupTour — China Group Tourist Visa (Group L) — Tibet via Kerung
Group travel from Nepal to Tibet via Gyirong/Kerung border crossing — required for foreign tourists entering Tibet from Nepal.
- Stay
- Per tour itinerary.
- Processing
- ~4 working days.
Required documents — China tourist visa
- Required
Passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank visa pages) + photocopy of bio + Nepali visa/permit page
- Required
COVA-printed application form (signed)
Mandatory pre-step at cova.mfa.gov.cn since 25 June 2025.
- Required
Photo (48 × 33 mm, white background, no glasses, no smile, < 6 months old)
- Required
Round-trip ticket OR Nepali invitation host details
- Required
Hotel booking
- Required
Travel itinerary
- Required
Bank statement (last 3 months) having ending balance of NPR 3 lakh (3,00,000)
- Required
Nepali citizenship certificate copy
- Conditional
For Tibet (Kerung border crossing): Group Visa from Embassy Kathmandu + Tibet Travel Permit from TAR agency
Mandatory if crossing into Tibet from Nepal.
China embassy in Nepal
- Mission
- Embassy of the People's Republic of China — Kathmandu
- Address
- Hattisar, Baluwatar, Kathmandu (P.O. Box 4234)
- Phone
- +977 1 4411740, +977 1 4440286
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Diplomatic / official / courtesy visas only. Ordinary tourist / business / study / work etc. all routed through CVASC Kathmandu.
- Application centre
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) — Kathmandu — 1st Floor, Rising Mall, Kamaladi, Kathmandu, Nepal · +977-1-4169043 · [email protected] · Submission Mon–Fri 09:00–15:00 · Macau visa Tue/Wed/Thu only 09:00–15:00 · Passport collection Mon–Fri 13:00–16:00.
Important notes
- Every Nepali-language document MUST be accompanied by a notary-certified English translation — embassies will reject untranslated originals. Use a Nepal Bar Council–registered translator and have each translation notarised by a Notary Public.
- KEY: Visa fee charged on behalf of the Chinese Embassy is FREE for Nepali citizens on Regular service — single, double, 6-month multi, 12-month multi all gratis under the Nepal–China bilateral arrangement. Only the CVASC service fee NPR 3,900 + any express upgrade applies.
- CVASC is at 1st Floor, Rising Mall, Kamaladi, Kathmandu (NOT Mid-Baneshwor — common misconception).
- MANDATORY PRE-STEP (since 25 June 2025): All applicants must complete the COVA online application + upload supporting docs at cova.mfa.gov.cn and pass online review BEFORE visiting CVASC.
- Optional VIP-5 in-center fill assistance: NPR 3,900 (paid additionally if you want CVASC staff to complete COVA for you).
- CVASC service fee: Regular NPR 3,900 · Express 2 NPR 5,850 · Express 1 NPR 7,800 (incl. VAT, non-refundable).
- For express service add embassy upgrade fees: Express 2 NPR 2,700 · Express 1 NPR 4,000 (Group L visa: half rates).
- Processing times: Regular ≈ 4 working days · Express 2 ≈ 3 days · Express 1 ≈ 2 days. COVA online review adds 1–3 days separately.
- Photo: 48 × 33 mm, white background, full face, no glasses, no smile, taken within 6 months.
- Tibet (TAR): Travel from Nepal via Gyirong/Kerung border requires a GROUP VISA issued by the Embassy of China Kathmandu (NOT individual L visa) + Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) from a TAR-licensed agency. Independent travel in TAR is forbidden. Individual L visas issued elsewhere are typically cancelled when crossing into Tibet from Nepal.
- 240-hour visa-free transit (upgraded from 144-hour on 17 Dec 2024, expanded to 65 ports on 4 Nov 2025): Nepal is NOT on the 54-country eligibility list. Only the 24-hour airside direct-transit exemption applies to Nepalis (must remain airside, onward ticket required).
- For long-stay (X1 / Z / J1 / Q1 / S1): residence permit must be applied within 30 days of arrival in China at the local PSB.
- Closed: 1–5 May 2026 (Labour Day) + weekends + Chinese / Nepali public holidays.
Machine-readable version: /visa/china/markdown
Frequently asked questions
Common questions Nepali citizens ask before applying for a China visa — sourced from China's embassy and Yatra's submission desk.
How long does a China tourist visa take to process for Nepali citizens?
Regular ~4 working days (post COVA approval); Express 2 ~3 days; Express 1 ~2 days.
What bank balance is required for a China visa?
Bank statement (last 3 months) having ending balance of NPR 3 lakh (3,00,000).
How many days can Nepali citizens stay in China on a tourist visa?
30 / 60 days per entry (consul discretion). (China Tourist Visa (L)).
Where do Nepali citizens apply for a China tourist visa?
(1) Complete COVA at cova.mfa.gov.cn -> (2) Submit at CVASC Rising Mall, Kamaladi (Mon–Fri 09:00–15:00) -> (3) Pay in NPR cash / QR -> (4) Collect passport Mon–Fri 13:00–16:00.
What documents are required for a China tourist visa from Nepal?
Required documents include: Passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank visa pages) + photocopy of bio + Nepali visa/permit page; COVA-printed application form (signed); Photo (48 × 33 mm, white background, no glasses, no smile, < 6 months old); Round-trip ticket OR Nepali invitation host details; Hotel booking; Travel itinerary; Bank statement (last 3 months) having ending balance of NPR 3 lakh (3,00,000); Nepali citizenship certificate copy.
Where is the China embassy in Nepal?
Embassy of the People's Republic of China — Kathmandu — Hattisar, Baluwatar, Kathmandu (P.O. Box 4234). Phone: +977 1 4411740.
Can Nepali citizens apply for a China business visa?
Yes — China Business Visa (M). Commercial meetings, contracts, trade. Processing: ~4 working days..
Is there an online portal to apply for a China visa?
Yes — apply online at https://www.visaforchina.cn/KTM3_EN/qianzhengyewu (CVASC Kathmandu) · https://cova.mfa.gov.cn (COVA online application — mandatory pre-step since 25 June 2025) · https://np.china-embassy.gov.cn (Embassy Kathmandu — diplomatic only).
How is the China visa fee paid?
Cash NPR or QR code only at CVASC counter (no USD / no cards).
Can Yatra help with a China visa application?
Yes — Yatra provides end-to-end visa assistance for China including document preparation, appointment booking, application review, and a PNR-backed dummy ticket (NPR 999) when the embassy requires proof of onward travel.
Sources & last updated
Last reviewed:
- https://www.visaforchina.cn/KTM3_EN/qianzhengyewu — CVASC Kathmandu visa services
- https://www.visaforchina.cn/KTM3_EN/qianzhengyewu/jichuzhishi/feiyongbiaozhunjishixian — Fee schedule + processing time
- https://www.visaforchina.cn/KTM3_EN/upload/20240430/0c0efdff744546eba3c03984bcfb5db2.pdf — Official CVASC fee PDF (Nepali rates)
- https://www.visaforchina.cn/KTM3_EN/guanyuwomen/bangongshijianjidizhi — CVASC office hours / address
- https://cova.mfa.gov.cn — COVA mandatory online application portal
- https://np.china-embassy.gov.cn — Embassy of China Kathmandu (diplomatic only)
- https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c156086/content.html — China NIA visa-free transit policy (240-hour, Nepal not eligible)
- CVASC Kathmandu — Rising Mall, Kamaladi ([email protected], +977-1-4169043)
Apply with Yatra
Document review, embassy submission tracking, and a real PNR-backed dummy ticket (NPR 999) when proof of onward travel is required — all in one place.