Looking to take my Chinese gf abroad on holiday (preferably somewhere in Europe), but finding info on countries which grant Chinese tourists visas with minimum fuss/expense (ie without putting down a massive deposit, queueing up all day for an 'interview', etc) is proving tricky.

Does anyone know any countries which fit the bill, or has anyone had similar experiences? Info on non-European countries would be appreciated too.

Thanks!

NOT New Zealand, that's for sure!

NOT Europe, that's for sure. same goes for America...

Indonesia is Visa on arrival, even Chinese

Makes you wonder why is it so difficult for Chinese to get Visas when China is doing so well and Chinese wouldn't want to live anywhere else. (many Chinese jump ship)

As of April 2011 Chinese immigration authorities do not allow mainland Chinese citizens to board outbound flights without a valid visa for the destination country even if the destination country grants visa on arrival to Chinese passport holders. Exceptions are possible if the traveler has a third countries visa and a connection flight from the destination country to the third country.

Seems the China government wants to make it as difficult as I can for Chinese to travel

tihZ_hO wrote:Makes you wonder why is it so difficult for Chinese to get Visas when China is doing so well and Chinese wouldn't want to live anywhere else

North Korea
Iran
Zimbabwe

Off the top of my head.

Good link loopkicker...

It says..

Africa
Countries and Territories Conditions of access
Benin 3 months [4]
Burundi Visa issued on arrival [5]
Cape Verde Visa on arrival for a fee of EUR 25 [6]
Comoros Visa issued on arrival [7]
Djibouti 1-month visa issued upon arrival for DJF5,000[8]
Ethiopia Visa available on arrival[9]
Kenya 3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$50[10]
Madagascar 90-day visa issued on arrival for MGA140,000 [11]
Mauritius Visa for 60 days on arrival[12]
Mozambique 30-day visa issued on arrival for US$82 [13]
Seychelles 1 month [14]
Tanzania Visa issued on arrival [15]
Togo 7-days visa issued on arrival for XOF35,000 [16]
Uganda 1-year visa issued on arrival for US$200 [17]
[edit]Americas
Countries and Territories Conditions of access
Dominica 21 days [18]
Haiti 3 months [19]
[edit]Asia
Countries and Territories Conditions of access
Bahrain 14-day visa issued on arrival for BHD5.- [20]
Cambodia 30-day visa issued on arrival for US$20 [21]
Indonesia 30-day visa issued on arrival for US$25 [22]
Iran 15 days visa on arrival [23]
Jordan Visa can be obtained on arrival for 20 JD [24]
Kuwait Visa on arrival [25]
Laos 30-day visa issued on arrival for US$20 [26]
Lebanon 3 months, single entry: LBP 50,000; 3 months, multiple entry: LBP 100,000; 1 month, single entry: free of charge [27][28]
Maldives Visa can be issued on arrival for a max. stay of 30 days [29]
Nepal Visa-on-arrival - tourist visa and business visa [30]
Sri Lanka 30 days [31]
Tajikistan 45-day visa issued on arrival [32]
Thailand 15-day visa issued on arrival for 1000 THB [33]
Timor-Leste 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 [34]
Vietnam 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$45 [35]
[edit]Oceania
Countries and Territories Conditions of access
Cook Islands 31 days [36]
Fiji 4 months [37]
Federated States of Micronesia 30 days [38]
Niue 30 days [39]
Northern Mariana Islands 45 days (under the CNMI-Only Parole Provision) [40]
Palau 30 days [41]
Samoa 60 days [42]
Tuvalu 1 month [43]
Vanuatu 30 days [44]
[edit]Europe
Countries and Territories Conditions of access
Georgia Visa issued on arrival. Fee: varies between USD 60 and USD 250 [45]
Kosovo Up to 90 days [46]


My choices would be Thailand, Maldives or Fiji if you had to choose from the above list for a holiday

Thailand - best for the price

The schengen visa isn't too difficult to get, a lot of paper work but not lots of hassle a la the US way.

You'll also find some of these 'visa on arrival' places are great til you get to Pudong and the Chinese official wont let you leave the country as you don't have a visa, visa on arrival or not. This is a common story unfortunately.

If you're just going on holiday, it's really easy to get a Philippines visa, i think it's 2 working days, 100RMB and a couple of photos. Not even a form IIRC!

miss_t wrote:The schengen visa isn't too difficult to get, a lot of paper work but not lots of hassle a la the US way.

You'll also find some of these 'visa on arrival' places are great til you get to Pudong and the Chinese official wont let you leave the country as you don't have a visa, visa on arrival or not. This is a common story unfortunately.

If you're just going on holiday, it's really easy to get a Philippines visa, i think it's 2 working days, 100RMB and a couple of photos. Not even a form IIRC!

Schengen visa is not difficult ONLY if you are part of a tour group, for an Chinese individual its damn near impossible.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Regarding Schengen visas, does anyone know if it's possible to sign up for a tour group in order to get the visa, and then throw away the orange baseball cap on arrival and do your own thing?

I think a bit of European cafe culture, wandering around historic streets etc would blow her away - other Asian options like Philippines, Thailand etc wouldn't differ hugely from experiences she's already had in places like Hainan. So am keen to sneak her into Europe somehow, and would even consider staying in budget hotels with a herd of tourists as part of a group if it meant we could break off from the group's itinerary now and then...however, I don't know if this is a possibility, and if doing so gets you into trouble when you return.

Al Sharp wrote:Thanks for everyone's input.

Regarding Schengen visas, does anyone know if it's possible to sign up for a tour group in order to get the visa, and then throw away the orange cap on arrival and do your own thing?

I think a bit of European cafe culture, wandering around historic streets etc would blow her away - other Asian options like Philippines, Thailand etc wouldn't differ hugely from experiences she's already had in places like Hainan. So am keen to sneak her into Europe somehow, and would even consider staying in budget hotels with a herd of tourists as part of a group if it meant we could break off from the group's itinerary now and then...however, I don't know if this is a possibility, and if doing so gets you into trouble when you return.

Firstly it's important if your girlfriend is working and has stable employment and it also matters whether or not she is a Shanghainese ID holder (it's harder if you are from the provinces). If so, a schengen visa is NOT difficult it's easy. Europe is suffering badly and welcome Chinese tourists with open arms these days. Certainly many of my friends have obtained the visas for INDIVIDUAL in just a matter of days. However, there IS a security deposit issue, I don't think there's any way around that.

As for the the tourist option, I am pretty sure any decent travel agent can arrange for you to "join" a tour and then just go your own way once you arrive, but again, the agency may ask you for a deposit because if anyone overstays, they could get fined or black listed.

Oh and it's not one way traffic. There are countries where your gf won't need a visa at all but you will. I think Cuba for example.