Updated 15 October 2026. Czech citizens need a visa to visit mainland China in 2026. The Czech Republic is not on China’s list of visa-free countries, so only the 240-hour visa-free transit to a third country works without one. Applications are filed at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Prague, run by CITS, and standard processing takes 4 working days from submission. Official fees for a Czech citizen are CZK 1,100 consular fee plus CZK 1,100 visa centre fee.
This page is for English speakers: Czech and Slovak citizens and foreign nationals living in the Czech Republic. Česká verze: Aktuální podmínky pro vízum do Číny.
Who needs a visa for China
Czech citizens need a visa for every trip to mainland China, including tourism. Slovak citizens can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit under China’s visa-free policy, which currently runs until 31 December 2026; for study, work or longer stays they need a visa as well.
- Czech citizens: visa required, usually a tourist visa L or a business visa M.
- Slovak citizens: visa-free for up to 30 days, visa needed for longer stays.
- Foreign nationals living in the Czech Republic: it depends on your nationality, as China has visa-free arrangements with many countries. If you do need a visa, you can apply in Prague with proof of residence (see below).
- Travelling through China to a third country: Czech and Slovak passport holders can stay up to 10 days on the 240-hour visa-free transit.
Where to apply in Prague
Chinese visa applications from the Czech Republic go through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Prague (Futurama Business Park, Prague 8, Karlín), operated by CITS on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. The embassy itself does not accept visa applications.
- Fill in the online application form at consular.mfa.gov.cn, then print and sign it.
- Submit the form with your passport, photo and supporting documents at the visa centre on a working day.
- Pay the consular fee and the visa centre fee and collect your passport with the visa.
Short-term visas need no fingerprints until 31 December 2026, so a visa agency can submit the application for you and you do not have to visit the visa centre in person. The visa centre and the embassy are closed on Chinese public holidays.
Documents you need
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after your return, with at least 2 blank pages, plus a copy of the photo page.
- One colour photo, 48 x 33 mm, white background, face straight on, no glasses.
- Online application form, printed and signed.
- Tourist visa L: a purchased return ticket (a reservation alone is no longer enough), hotel bookings in the applicant’s full name and a short itinerary.
- Business visa M: an invitation letter from the Chinese company stating the purpose and length of the stay and an extract from the Czech commercial register of your company; for multiple-entry visas also a letter from the sending company.
- Foreign residents: proof of legal residence in the Czech Republic (see below).
Long-term visas (study X1, work Z, family Q1 and S1) need further documents, often with an apostille and an official translation.
Processing time, fees and validity
Standard processing takes 4 working days from submission at the visa centre, express processing 3 working days for an extra fee. The clock starts at submission, so allow about a month before departure, more around Chinese public holidays.
| Visa | Consular fee: Czech and other Schengen citizens | Consular fee: third-country nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | CZK 1,100 | CZK 600 |
| Double entry | CZK 1,100 | CZK 900 |
| Multiple entry, 6 months | CZK 1,100 | CZK 1,200 |
| Multiple entry, 1 year or more | CZK 1,100 | CZK 1,700 |
Every application also pays the CITS visa centre fee of CZK 1,100. These are the reduced fees that the embassy has extended until 31 December 2026; some nationalities pay different rates under bilateral agreements. A single-entry visa is usually valid for 3 months from issue (check the Enter Before date on the visa), so you must enter China within that period. An agency fee comes on top of the official fees.
Foreign nationals living in the Czech Republic
You can apply in Prague if you legally reside in the Czech Republic, whatever your nationality. Chinese visas are handled by consular jurisdiction: you apply where you live, not where you come from. Add proof of residence that is valid during the whole processing period, ideally also for your trip.
| Your status in the Czech Republic | Proof of residence |
|---|---|
| EU citizen with temporary residence | confirmation of temporary residence, usually with proof of work or study |
| Third-country national, long-term residence | biometric residence permit card |
| Third-country national, permanent residence | permanent residence card |
| Long-term visa over 90 days | visa sticker in your passport |
| Temporary protection | temporary protection document, assessed individually |
A tourist stay or a visa-free stay of up to 90 days does not count as residence; in that case apply in the country where you live. Applications from foreign residents more often get follow-up questions, so apply about a month ahead and keep both sides of your residence card ready.
Fingerprints in 2026
Short-term visas with stays of up to 180 days need no fingerprints until 31 December 2026. Only applicants for long-term visas D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z still give fingerprints in person. Details by visa type: China visa fingerprints 2026.
How VízadoČíny.cz can help
VízadoČíny.cz is a Prague visa agency (JOUGROUP s.r.o.) that has been handling Chinese visas since 2008. We check your documents before submission, fill in the online form, submit the application at the CITS visa centre and send your passport back by EMS courier, or you can collect it at our office on Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí). Our online order form is in Czech; you can also simply email us in English at recepce@vizadociny.cz or call +420 296 348 606. Prices are on our price list (in Czech).
Frequently asked questions
Do Czech citizens need a visa for China in 2026?
Do Slovak citizens need a visa for China?
How long does a Chinese visa take in Prague?
How much does a Chinese visa cost in the Czech Republic?
Can I apply for a Chinese visa in Prague if I am not a Czech citizen?
Do I have to give fingerprints for a Chinese visa?
Need a Chinese visa from Prague?
We check your documents, submit the application and return your passport with the visa.