Going back to China from the US? Answer two questions and get a personalised, printable checklist: documents, photos, fees, processing times and official links.
Runs in your browser. No sign-up, no personal data collected.
1Who is travelling?
How to use the checklist
Pick who is travelling: a Chinese citizen with a US green card, a Chinese citizen on a US visa, a naturalized US citizen who used to be Chinese, a US citizen with no Chinese nationality history, or a US-born child of a Chinese-citizen parent.
Tick what you need. Only items that apply to that person are offered: Chinese passport renewal or replacement in the 中国领事 (China Consular) app, a 旅行证 or visa for a child, a China visa, visa-free and 240-hour transit options, a US re-entry permit, US passport renewal, and the arrival card and customs.
Answer the follow-up questions it asks, if any: the visa purpose (L tourism, Q2 short family visit, Q1 long-term family reunion, M business), how long you will be outside the US, or whether a Chinese-citizen parent already had a green card when your child was born.
Press “Show my checklist”. Each section lists the documents and steps to tick off, fees, processing time and where to apply, what to watch out for, and the official sources with the month they were last checked. Photo items link to the free photo checker with the right spec already selected.
Print it or save it as a PDF, or copy the share link for family. The link holds only your answers, never names or document numbers, and your check marks stay in this browser.
Common mistakes
Entering or leaving China on your old Chinese passport after becoming a US citizen. China does not recognize dual nationality, so travel on your US passport with a visa or a visa-free option.
Counting a plain US → China → US round trip as 240-hour visa-free transit. The onward ticket must go to a third country or region; confirm with your airline, which checks eligibility at boarding.
Getting a US-born child the wrong document. If no Chinese-citizen parent had a green card when the child was born, the child generally needs a 旅行证, not a visa; if one did, the child needs a China visa.
Mailing passport or 旅行证 documents before the 中国领事 order shows 复审中. Sending them early can delay or lose the application.
Reusing a 2 × 2 inch US photo. Chinese passports, 旅行证 and China visas use 33 × 48 mm photos, and for a 旅行证 the paper prints must match the uploaded e-photo.
Green card holders planning a trip of a year or more without a re-entry permit. File Form I-131 while you are still in the US, before you leave.
FAQ
Is the checklist free, and does it keep my information?
It is free and needs no sign-up. It runs in your browser and collects no personal data: check marks are kept only in this browser, and the share link carries only your answers.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit China?
For a regular round trip, yes: as of October 2026 the US is not on China’s 30-day visa-free list. If you pick “Visa-free / transit options”, the checklist shows the 240-hour visa-free transit and the other options that apply to US passports, with their conditions.
Does my US-born child need a 旅行证 or a China visa?
It depends on the parents when the child was born. If a parent was a Chinese citizen and no Chinese-citizen parent had a US green card, the child is generally a Chinese national and a parent applies for a 旅行证 in the 中国领事 app. If a Chinese-citizen parent had a green card, the child needs a China visa on the US passport. The checklist asks this and shows the matching list.
Rules and fees change often. This checklist is a free planning aid compiled from official websites, not legal advice. Always confirm with the Chinese embassy/consulate, the visa service center, USCIS or the State Department before you apply.
