How much does a China tourist visa cost for Italians?

The current answer is surprisingly simple: many short tourist trips do not need a visa. The cost only becomes non-zero when your stay, purpose or passport type falls outside the exemption.

For years, the cost of a Chinese tourist visa meant application forms, appointments and consular fees. In 2026, for an Italian ordinary-passport holder, the first answer is different: China has extended unilateral visa-free entry until 24:00 on 31 December 2026 for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges or transit for no more than 30 days. In that case, the visa cost is zero. That does not mean every trip to China has no document cost. You still need a valid passport, must stay within the maximum duration and must fit one of the stated purposes. If the stay exceeds 30 days or the trip falls outside the conditions, a visa is still required and the fee must be checked with the relevant visa centre. This guide therefore publishes the cost for the most common current case, without stretching it to excluded situations.