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Visa for China from UK

I have the following itinerary in August and would like to know what visa I need.

Manchester to Beijing 12th

Beijing Osaka 15th

Tokyo to Manchester via Beijing 23rd / 24th

So basically in China twice, but the latter time only to catch a connecting flight.

What is the appropriate Visa to get? Will a single entry be enough?

Based on your itinerary, you will be entering China twice: first for a short stay in Beijing before flying to Osaka, and then returning to Beijing just to catch your connecting flight back to Manchester. This means a single-entry visa will not be sufficient, because a single-entry visa only allows you to enter China once and exit.

Here is what you need to consider:

  • Multiple-entry visa: You will need a multiple-entry Chinese visa that covers both visits. This is sometimes issued as a 6-month or 12-month multiple-entry visa, which allows you to enter and exit China multiple times within the validity period.
  • Transit considerations: If your second entry to Beijing is strictly airport transit without leaving the international transit area, you might not need a second entry visa, but since your itinerary involves returning to Beijing to stay or catch a connecting flight, a multiple-entry visa is safer.
  • Visa type: You should apply for a standard tourist (L) visa with multiple entries, specifying your planned dates and that you intend to re-enter China after leaving for Japan.

Additional tips:

  • Check the latest requirements with the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in the UK, as policies may change and may have additional documentation requirements for multiple-entry visas.
  • Provide a clear travel itinerary when applying, including flight tickets showing both your entries into China, to avoid any confusion.
  • If your second visit is very brief and you remain airside in Beijing without passing through immigration, confirm with your airline whether a visa is actually required for that segment, though this is less common.

In summary, for your described travel plan, a multiple-entry tourist visa (L) is the appropriate option, as a single-entry visa will not allow you to legally re-enter China after your first departure to Japan.

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