Compare consultants · Direct contact · Zero fees
VisaWala.pk

China · L visa

China Tourist Visa from Pakistan

The L visa is China's tourist visa. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan's current instructions describe it for tour groups of at least five people, travelling on an invitation that a Chinese travel agency obtains from the local tourism authority. You apply online first, then submit your passport and originals at the Chinese visa application service centre for your area, where most adults also give fingerprints.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026

At a glance

Official name
L visa (tourism)
Route described for Pakistan
Group L visa, for groups of at least five with a tourist group invitation
Online form
Completed and approved online before you visit the centre
Where to submit
Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore, by where you live
Police certificate
Required for applicants aged ten and above
Passport
Valid for more than six months, with a blank visa page

Who this is for

  • Holidaymakers joining an organised group tour to China
  • Families or friends travelling together as a tour group
  • Pakistani travel agencies organising tours with a partner agency in China

When another route fits better

  • Visiting family members who are Chinese citizens or permanent residents: apply for a Q2 visa.
  • Visiting a family member who works or studies in China: apply for an S2 visa.
  • Business meetings or trade fairs: apply for an M visa.

Documents to prepare

Everyone

  • Passport valid for more than six months with a blank visa page, plus a copy of the bio page
  • Printed online application form with the confirmation page, signed by hand
  • Digital photo that meets the specifications, uploaded with the form
  • Copy of both sides of your CNIC
  • Police character certificate covering your whole life, apostilled by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs unless it has a verifiable QR code
  • The Visa Application Certificate from your online approval email
  • Old passports, if the centre asks for them

For a group L visa

  • Invitation Letter for Tourist Group issued by the tourism authority in China
  • The group itinerary and flight bookings provided by your tour organiser
  • Bank statements, if your organiser or the centre asks for them

Step by step

  1. 1

    Join a group tour

    Book with a tour organiser in Pakistan that works with a travel agency in China.

  2. 2

    Group invitation is issued

    The Chinese travel agency requests the tourist group invitation from the local culture and tourism authority.

  3. 3

    Get your police certificate

    Obtain your police character certificate and have it apostilled if it has no verifiable QR code. This can take time, so start early.

  4. 4

    Apply online

    Fill in the online application on the visa centre's system, upload your photo and documents, and make sure every detail matches your passport.

  5. 5

    Wait for online approval

    Do not visit the centre until you receive the 'Online Visa Approved' email.

  6. 6

    Submit at the centre

    Bring your passport, Visa Application Certificate and original documents to the centre for your area. Your fingerprints are taken unless you are exempt.

  7. 7

    Collect your passport

    Check the visa's validity, entries and permitted stay before your group travels.

Costs to plan for

  • The embassy's visa fee. Check current fees on the embassy website.
  • The visa application service centre's own service fee, charged separately.
  • Police certificate and apostille costs.
  • The group tour package, including the Chinese agency's charges.
  • Travel insurance.

Why applications get refused

  • Form details that do not exactly match the passport, which leads to the application being returned.
  • A missing police certificate, or one that is not apostilled when it needs to be.
  • Applying at a centre that does not cover where you live.
  • A missing or incorrect tourist group invitation.
  • A previous immigration violation in China.
  • A photo that does not meet the requirements.

Tips before you apply

  • Start early. The police certificate, apostille and online approval each take time before you can submit.
  • If you want to travel alone, ask the visa centre or embassy whether an individual tourist application is accepted. The published instructions only describe group tourism.
  • Check the centre's notices for closures on public holidays before you book your submission day.
  • Keep copies of everything you upload, as the front counter compares them with your originals.

Questions people ask

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan's published instructions describe the tourist visa as a group visa. Ask the visa centre or embassy before applying alone.

Family members of foreigners working or studying in China usually apply for an S2 visa, with an invitation and proof of the relationship.

For a family visit, the Q2 visa covers relatives of Chinese citizens and permanent residents. You need an invitation letter, a copy of the inviter's ID and proof of the relationship.

Most applicants give fingerprints at the visa centre. Children under fourteen and people over seventy are exempt.

Official sources

Fees, fund requirements and processing times change. Check the current figures on the official site before you apply.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. VisaWala is not affiliated with any embassy or government, and only the issuing authority decides a visa application.