China Visa RequirementsFor Colombia passport holders
Colombian citizens need a visa to visit China, applied for at the Chinese Embassy in Bogota. The Chinese tourist visa (L visa) costs approximately $140 USD and allows stays of up to 30 days. China has announced a series of visa-free or visa-facilitated access expansions for many countries, but Colombia does not currently benefit from these arrangements. China is Asia's most vast destination, offering Bejing's imperial history, Shanghai's modernity, the Great Wall, and extraordinary natural landscapes from Guilin's karst mountains to Tibet.
Colombia passport holders require a visa to enter China.
Apply for a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) at the Chinese Embassy in Bogota (Carrera 16 No. 98-30, Bogota, Zona Rosa). Required: valid Colombian passport (minimum 6 months validity), completed online visa application form (from visaforchina.org/COBOG_ES), passport photos, return flight booking, hotel reservation (prepaid), bank statements (last 3 months), and visa fee ($140 USD or COP equivalent). Processing takes 4-5 business days. The Chinese Embassy may also require an itinerary. A single-entry 30-day visa is the standard tourist visa; double-entry and multi-entry visas are available for higher fees.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Required Documents
Valid Colombian passport (minimum 6 months validity)
Completed Chinese visa application form (visaforchina.org)
Passport photos (background: white, recent)
Return flight booking (prepaid or confirmed)
Prepaid hotel reservation for all nights in China
Bank statements (last 3 months)
Visa fee: $140 USD (single entry)
Current Travel Situation
Colombia to China: What You Need to Know
China requires visas for Colombian citizens, processed through the Chinese Embassy in Bogota (Carrera 16 No. 98-30, Bogota). China has expanded visa-free access to many countries since 2023, particularly for European and some Asian nations, but Colombia is not among the current visa-free countries. Note that China also launched a 144-hour transit visa exemption for many nationalities, allowing short layovers without a visa, so check if this applies for your routing. For Colombian travelers to China, visa processing is efficient at the Bogota embassy.
How to Get There
No direct Colombia-China flights exist. Connect from Bogota (BOG) via Los Angeles (LAX) then to Beijing (PEK/PKX) or Shanghai (PVG), or via Madrid to Beijing. American Airlines and United serve BOG-LAX with onward Air China or United to Beijing. Total journey from Bogota to Beijing is approximately 22-30 hours.
Money & Banking
China uses the Chinese yuan (RMB/CNY). China is moderately affordable for South American visitors: budget CNY 300-600 ($40-85 USD) per day for mid-range travel. Mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) dominates China, so set up international card linkage before travel or use CNY cash. ATMs accept international cards in major cities. International cards are not accepted at most restaurants, markets, and smaller hotels, so bring sufficient CNY cash or use WeChat Pay.
Practical Tips
Beijing: the Forbidden City (the world's largest palace complex, 70+ minutes to walk through), the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu (less crowded than Badaling, 90 minutes from Beijing). Shanghai: the Bund waterfront facing the Pudong skyline (one of the world's most dramatic urban views), Yu Garden, the French Concession, and the buzzing Tianzifang arts district. Xi'an: the Terracotta Warriors (UNESCO, thousands of life-size clay soldiers buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang), the ancient city wall, and Muslim Quarter food street. Guilin and Yangshuo: extraordinary karst limestone mountains rising from the Li River, China's most iconic natural landscape (the scenery on the back of the 20 yuan note). Zhangjiajie: towering sandstone pillars that inspired the Avatar Hallelujah Mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Colombian citizens need a visa for China?
Yes. Colombians need a Chinese tourist visa (L visa), applied at the Chinese Embassy in Bogota. The fee is approximately $140 USD and processing takes 4-5 business days. Prepaid hotel reservations are required for the application.
Is the 144-hour visa-free transit available for Colombians in China?
The 144-hour (6-day) visa-free transit policy allows travelers transiting through specific Chinese airports to stay in the surrounding area without a visa. Check whether this policy applies to Colombian passport holders and your specific airports of transit at the Chinese Embassy or the official China visa website.
Do I need to book hotels in advance for a China visa application?
Yes. The Chinese Embassy in Bogota typically requires prepaid, confirmed hotel reservations for all nights of your planned stay. Book refundable reservations at booking.com or directly with hotels, then include the confirmation as part of your visa application.