China Visa from Thailand
Visa exemption covers only ordinary passports for ≤ 30-day tourism. Every study, work, long-stay, family reunion, and multi-entry case still needs a proper visa — filed at CVASC Thanapoom Tower with fingerprints.
Quick Answer
Single-entry L/M THB 1,650, 12-month multi THB 4,950. Standard decision 4 working days. Our service from THB 4,500 (multi-entry tourist) to THB 22,000 (Z work with FEP coordination).
Visa classes we handle
| Class | Use case | Fee | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| L (multi) | Tourism > 30 days or multi-entry | THB 3,300–4,950 | 4 wd |
| M | Business, trade, commerce | THB 1,650–4,950 | 4 wd |
| F | Non-commercial exchange, cultural visit | THB 1,650 | 4 wd |
| X1 / X2 | Long-term / short-term study | THB 1,650 | 4–6 wd |
| Z | Work — needs Foreign Expert Permit | THB 1,650 | 5–7 wd |
| Q1 / Q2 | Family reunion — Chinese national spouse/kin | THB 1,650 | 5 wd |
| S1 / S2 | Family of Z-visa holder | THB 1,650 | 5 wd |
Z-visa upstream document chain
- Notarize Thai diploma + transcript at Thai notary public.
- MFA Thailand consular legalization (Chaeng Wattana).
- Chinese Embassy Bangkok authentication (final apostille-equivalent stamp).
- Ship to Chinese employer — they file Foreign Expert Permit at local Bureau (2–4 months).
- Notification Letter received → apply Z visa at CVASC Bangkok.
- Enter China within 30 days → PSB Residence Permit conversion within 30 days.
FAQ
- Do Thais still need a China visa?
- As of March 2024, mutual visa exemption for ORDINARY Thai passports allows visa-free stays up to 30 days for tourism/family/business. HOWEVER: journalism, study, work, long-stay, or trips > 30 days STILL require a proper visa. Also, exemption does not cover Hong Kong SAR (separate rules) or Macau. We handle every non-exempt case.
- Where to apply?
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) at Thanapoom Tower, 8F, 1550 New Petchburi Road — appointment via visaforchina.cn. Not the Chinese Embassy directly. Fingerprints mandatory for L/M/F/S/X/Z visas since 2019 (waived for 14–70 age band on tourist L in some cases; confirm at booking).
- Visa classes we handle?
- L (tourism > 30 days or multi-entry), M (business/trade), F (non-commercial exchange), X1/X2 (student long/short), Z (work + Foreign Expert Permit), Q1/Q2 (family reunion Chinese national), S1/S2 (family of Z holder), C (crew), J1/J2 (journalist), D (permanent residence).
- How long?
- Standard 4 working days from CVASC submission. Express 3 working days +THB 900. Rush 2 working days +THB 1,500. Z work visa: 5–7 wd after Foreign Expert Permit issued in China (2–4 mo upstream).
- Fees?
- L/M single-entry THB 1,650, double-entry THB 2,475, 6-mo multi THB 3,300, 12-mo multi THB 4,950. Z visa THB 1,650 + Foreign Expert Permit fees in China. Our service THB 4,500 (tourist multi-entry) to THB 22,000 (Z work with FEP coordination).
- Z visa — how does it work?
- Chinese employer must first obtain a Foreign Expert's Work Permit Notification Letter (2–4 months) from local Bureau of Foreign Experts. With that letter you file Z visa in Bangkok (single-entry, 30-day validity to enter). Within 30 days of arrival in China, you convert to Residence Permit at PSB. We coordinate document notarization, MFA legalization, and Chinese Embassy authentication of your Thai diploma + criminal record before the employer files upstream.
Contact: 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Knowledge bases behind every service
7 knowledge bases, 4,882 keywords and 3,057 answered questions written by our lawyers and translators. Free to read, no sign-up.
- Certified translation — every language
Certified translation across civil, academic, corporate, contractual, financial, medical, technical and IP documents — with the Notary → MFA → embassy legalization chain handled end to end.
Thai–English THB 500–1,200/page · other languages THB 800–2,500/page
1,000 keywords · 500 questions · 16 clusters
- Visa filing — 195 destinations
Tourist, business, study, work, marriage, family, retirement and transit visas across Schengen, UK, US, Australia, Canada, Asia and the Middle East.
Filing service THB 6,500–35,000 (embassy fees excluded)
500 keywords · 300 questions · 16 clusters
- Police clearance certificate
Royal Thai Police clearance certificates for applicants in Thailand and abroad, with translation, MFA legalization and destination-embassy filing.
Proxy-handling fee quoted per case · free consultation
500 keywords · 500 questions · 17 clusters
Official sources — visa & work permit
The information on this page follows the official sources below. Always check the latest version before you file.
- สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง — วีซ่า รายงานตัว 90 วัน TM.30— Immigration Bureau
- Thai e-Visa Official Portal— MFA Thailand
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)— Immigration Bureau
- กรมการจัดหางาน — ใบอนุญาตทำงานคนต่างด้าว— Department of Employment
- สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน (BOI) / LTR Visa— Thailand Board of Investment
- กรมการกงสุล — บริการรับรองเอกสาร (นิติกรณ์)— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
Related services
Most document work runs across several steps — jump straight to the next one you need.
- Thailand visa
- Work permit
- Police clearance certificate
- Certified translation
- Expat & VIP services
- Full service index
For an exact quote and turnaround, call, LINE or email our team on any business day.
Expert reviewed: This page is written and checked by practitioners with 15+ years of hands-on filing experience, sourced from the responsible authorities and signed off by a second reviewer before publication — meet the team · editorial policy
Not sure which service you need? Read the guides
Each guide answers first, then explains: decision criteria, comparison tables, the real process and the mistakes we see most often.
- Choosing a certified translation provider
How to pick a translator accepted by consular, embassy and receiving bodies
- Services for expats living in Thailand
Signature certification, residence, marriage and everyday paperwork
- Notary Public and consular legalization
The correct order of steps before sending documents abroad
- Choosing the right visa and work permit
Compare visa categories and the documents each one needs translated
- Translation by language
English, Chinese, Japanese, European, Arabic, Russian and embassy rules
- Specialized translation
Contracts, financial statements, MSDS, ISO and BOI filings
Talk to us first: 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Frequently asked questions
- What is the DTV and who realistically qualifies?
- The Destination Thailand Visa is a five-year multiple-entry visa allowing stays of up to 180 days per entry, extendable once per entry by a further 180 days at an immigration office. It targets remote workers employed or contracted outside Thailand, freelancers with foreign clients, and participants in Thai soft-power activities such as Muay Thai training, cooking courses or medical treatment, and it requires evidence of at least THB 500,000 in available funds.
- How is the LTR visa different from the DTV?
- The Long-Term Resident visa is a ten-year visa administered by the Board of Investment for wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, work-from-Thailand professionals and highly skilled professionals, and it bundles a digital work permit, a flat 17% personal income tax rate for the skilled-professional category and annual instead of 90-day reporting. The DTV is cheaper and faster but grants no work permit for Thai-sourced work and no tax privileges.
- Can I work in Thailand on a tourist or DTV visa?
- No — any work performed inside Thailand requires a work permit or an equivalent digital work authorization, regardless of where the employer or client is located. The DTV is intended for work delivered to foreign employers and clients; taking on Thai clients or a Thai employer requires switching to a Non-B or LTR pathway with proper authorization.
- What most often causes a Schengen or UK visa refusal from Thailand?
- The dominant causes are weak evidence of ties to Thailand, bank statements that show a sudden unexplained deposit shortly before filing, inconsistencies between the application form and supporting documents, insufficient or non-compliant travel insurance, and an itinerary that does not match the stated purpose. Refusals are recorded, so a re-application must directly address the refusal ground rather than simply resubmit the same file.