How Much Will a China Tourist Visa Cost a US Applicant in Total?
Your total China tourist visa cost depends on the services and shipping you select, as well as the official consular charge. For a US citizen, the regular consular visa fee is USD 140, as of October 29, 2026, under the Embassy’s fee notice. That is the government fee, not the complete price of using CEV.
All prices below were checked as of October 29, 2026, are in US dollars and link to their source pages. Use this walkthrough to audit a proposed order. For the broader budgeting and scheduling reference, see tourist visa cost and processing time.
Start with four separate cost lines
Write down the official fee, selected CEV services, optional human support and shipping. Check which items a package already includes before adding anything. CEV’s service-fee guide specifically distinguishes service prices from the final amount payable.
Use one applicant as the starting point, then confirm the actual applicant count in the order. Do not multiply every displayed charge indiscriminately: the handoff and VIP prices are per applicant, form review covers one application, and optional handling priority is priced per order.
1. Identify the consular charge
The official fee schedule, checked as of October 29, 2026, lists USD 140 for regular US-citizen visa service across single, double and multiple entries. It lists an additional USD 25 per visa for express service. The reduced schedule applies through December 31, 2026; check the official notice again for an application after that date.
Keep the passport nationality in view. This article’s official-fee figure is for US citizens, rather than every person applying from a US address. CEV’s order page explains that the official charge varies with nationality and application type, is paid to the consulate on your behalf, and is reconciled against the actual consular charge.
2. Choose the CEV service line
For individual handoffs, the drop-off and pick-up page lists these per-applicant prices as of October 29, 2026:
- Standard consular processing: drop-off only USD 39.00; pick-up only USD 39.00; both USD 78.00.
- Express consular processing: drop-off only USD 49.00; pick-up only USD 49.00; both USD 98.00.
Choose the line that matches the work. Drop-off covers the prepared packet’s intake and delivery; pick-up covers collection coordination, recorded custody and return-package preparation. Buying both covers both handoffs, with carrier postage and official fees separate. Do not add the “both” price to the two individual prices.
Compare VIP inclusions before adding extras
The published VIP plan descriptions, checked as of October 29, 2026, list VIP Full Service at USD 395.00 per applicant and VIP Overnight All-In at USD 595.00 per applicant. VIP prices are the same for standard and express consular processing.
VIP Full Service includes dedicated specialist help with form preparation, materials review and consular handoffs; shipping and official fees are separate. VIP Overnight All-In includes that support plus tracked Overnight labels both to CEV and back to you. Official fees remain separate, and carrier coverage depends on the service area and accepted address.
The package name therefore does not settle every budget question. Check the included work and labels, then add only the charges that remain outside that package. Avoid counting an included review, handoff or shipping label twice.
3. Add only the human support you select
As of October 29, 2026, the order page lists human consultation at USD 10.00 for a focused 15-minute conversation and form review at USD 19.90 for one application. These are optional support choices, separate from the official visa fee.
The human review description covers omissions, formatting and inconsistent information. Compare that scope with your unfinished work and any VIP inclusions. A conversation with a specialist, a review of a completed form and preparation assistance are different selections; make the order reflect what you actually need.
4. Confirm both shipping directions
As of October 29, 2026, the order page advertises inbound labels from USD 14.95 and return labels from USD 14.95. These are starting prices, not a confirmed two-way quote for your address.
The passport courier page says the shipping estimate updates after the address, carrier, speed, ship date, envelope and declared value are selected. Inbound and return routes are configured separately. CEV supports tracked expedited passport shipping, not Ground.
If you selected individual handoffs or VIP Full Service, review the needed shipping legs separately. If you selected VIP Overnight All-In, verify its included two-way labels and coverage instead of adding separate labels again. Keep any quote expiry in view before checkout.
Read the displayed total without overlooking exclusions
As of October 29, 2026, the order builder shows USD 218.00 for its default one-applicant standard drop-off-and-pick-up selection with the suggested official fee and no shipping selected. That published example is a component subtotal for planning: shipping and optional support are still absent. It is not a universal delivered-passport price.
Also check optional CEV handling priority. As of October 29, 2026, the order page lists next-business-day priority at USD 299.00 per order and same-day priority at USD 499.00 per order. Standard coordination has no priority-coordination fee. These options are separate from consular express processing, operate on reasonable efforts and do not guarantee completion by that day.
China visa cost FAQ
Is the China visa application fee the whole bill?
No. Separate the consular charge from CEV services, optional support and any shipping outside the selected package. Confirm the complete order before payment.
Does “All-In” include the consular fee?
No. The published VIP Overnight All-In description includes two-way Overnight labels but leaves official consular fees separate.
Where should I check whether a tourist visa fits my trip?
Start with China visas for US citizens. Keep that eligibility decision separate from selecting a service budget.