UK Visitor Visa for Chinese Citizens: 2 Years for £135
Chinese nationals can be granted a 2-year visitor visa at the standard price. This guide covers the specific requirements, the financial evidence and translations GOV.UK asks for, and processing times for applications made in China.
- Section
- Visitor Visa
- Reading time
- 9 min
- Last checked
- 21 October 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- 2-year multiple-entry visa at the standard £135 price.
- No TB test for standard visitor visa.
- Bank statements should show where the money came from; GOV.UK sets no number of months.
- Documents not in English or Welsh need a full translation with the translator's details.
Chinese nationals applying in mainland China can be granted a 2-year visitor visa at the standard 6-month price. This guide covers the specific requirements, the financial evidence the rules ask for, and how applications are made at visa application centres in China.
The 2-Year Visa Arrangement
The Home Office fees table says that Chinese nationals applying in mainland China under the Chinese visa scheme pay £135 for a 2-year visit visa, the same fee as a standard 6-month visa. GOV.UK does not say this 2-year visa is given automatically. A long-term visit visa lets you visit the UK many times while it is valid without reapplying. Each visit is still limited to 6 months maximum.
Why Visitor Applications Are Refused
GOV.UK does not publish a refusal rate for visitor applications made in China, so this guide does not give one. The published rules set out what an application has to show. These include:
- Documents not in English or Welsh with a full translation
- Financial evidence that shows enough money for the visit
- A clear purpose that is a permitted visitor activity
See our refusal reasons guide for more.
Financial Evidence
GOV.UK's guide to supporting documents lists:
- Bank statements that show where the money came from. GOV.UK does not set a number of months.
- A letter from your employer on company headed paper, giving your role, salary and how long you have worked there
- Business registration documents or recent invoices (if self-employed)
Money held in Chinese yuan is converted into pounds at the exchange rate on the date of the application. See our financial evidence guide and our UK visa fees guide for cost comparisons.
Processing Times
- Standard: 3 weeks
- Priority: 5 working days, for an extra £500
- Super priority: Next working day, for an extra £1,000 (where the visa application centre offers it)
GOV.UK's guide to the visa does not list the visa application centres in China; the online application shows where they are. Apply on GOV.UK. See our processing time guide.
Document Translation
GOV.UK says any document that is not in English or Welsh must come with a full translation that the Home Office can check. Each translation must include:
- the translator's confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document
- the date of the translation
- the translator's full name and signature
- the translator's contact details
Next Steps
Related guides:
Questions and answers
How many visitor visa applications from China are refused?
The Home Office does not publish a refusal rate for Chinese visitor visa applications on GOV.UK, so this guide does not give a figure. The Home Office publishes immigration statistics on GOV.UK every quarter. The reasons a visitor application can be refused are set out in the visitor rules: for example, financial evidence that does not meet the requirements, and documents that do not match what the application says.
Can Chinese visitors get a 2-year visa for the standard price?
Yes. The Home Office fees table says the 2-year visit visa costs £135, the same as a standard 6-month visa, for a Chinese national applying in mainland China under the Chinese visa scheme. It lists this as a footnote to the 2-year visit visa. GOV.UK does not say the 2-year visa is given automatically.
Do Chinese visitors need a TB test?
A TB test is not required for a standard Visitor Visa. China is on the TB-testing list, but GOV.UK says the test is only needed if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more.
How long does a UK Visitor Visa take from China?
Standard processing takes about 3 weeks. Priority (5 working days) and super priority (next working day) services are available where the visa application centre offers them.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.