A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa

Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities to those foreigners who want to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. According to the applicants’ identity, visiting purpose and passport type, the Chinese visa falls into four categories, namely, diplomatic, courtesy, service and ordinary visas.

C Visa: Issued to crewmembers to perform duties on board an international train, airliner or other vessel, and their accompanying family members.

D Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to reside permanently in China.

F Visa: Issued to an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months.

G Visa: Issued to an alien who transits through China.

J-1 Visa: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.

J-2 Visa: Issued to foreign correspondents who make short trips to China on reporting tasks.

L Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing, family visiting or other private purposes.

X Visa : Issued to an alien who comes to China for study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period of more than six months.

Z Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for a post or employment, and his or her accompanying family members.

The overseas Chinese visa authorities are Chinese embassies, consulates, and other offices authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through Chinese territory, he/she shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa.

Visas are not required of aliens, who hold final destination tickets and have booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China, and will stay in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.

Visas are not required of Citizens of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece.

No visa is required for ordinary passport holders from Singapore ,Brunei and Japan to visit China for up to 15 days for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends or transit.

What is the number of entries?
China visa has single entry, double entry and multiple entry. Single entry means you can into China once within 90 days. Double entry means you can into China twice within 180 days. Multiple entry has no limit of entry

What’s the validity of China visa?
A single entry Chinese visa is valid for 3 months from issuance, and a double entry visa is valid for 6 months from issuance.

How long I can stay in China?
The duration of stay is specified on the Chinese visa. Duration of stay for regular China tourist or business visa is 30 days from the date of your entrance. However, duration of stay for 60 or 90 days are also available upon request.

Requirements applicable to the 9 different classes of Visa

Visa D: Permanent Residence Visa
A permanent residence confirmation form is required. This can be obtained by the applicant direct or through his/her designated relatives in China from the exit and entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county in which the applicant wishes to reside.

Visa Z: Working Visa
Foreign applicants wishing to take up employment in the PRC are required to obtain an Employment Licence from either their proposed employer in China or from the provincial or municipal labor authority. A visa notification letter or a telegram issued by an authorised organization or company as appropriate should accompany this document.

Visa X: Students Visa
Certificates from the receiving unit and competent authority concerned are required. These comprise JW-201 or JW_202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China and a letter of admission from a Chinese University / College.

Visa F: Visit/Business Visa
The invitation letter from the inviting unit or a visa notification letter/telegram from the authorised unit is required.

Visa L: Tourism Visa
In principle a tourist must be able to demonstrate the ability to finance all of his/her expenses whilst in China. It is also necessary to produce evidence of exit travel arrangements in the form of air, rail or ship tickets for the onward/return journey to the appropriate destination.
Applicants who are intending to stay with relatives in China will be required to show an invitation letter from such relatives by way of confirmation.

Visa G: Transit Visa
When arrangements have been made to continue foreign travel applicants must be able to produce the necessary visas and/or travel permits that are required by the country to which they will travel upon leaving China.

Visa C: Crewmember Visa
Applicants must produce relevant documents in accordance with bilateral agreements or regulations stipulated on the Chinese side.

Visa J-1 and J-2: Journalist Visa
Applicants for these classes of visa are required to produce a certificate issued by the competent Chinese authorities.
Besides providing the above-mentioned documents, an applicant is also required to answer relevant questions and go through the following formalities (with the exception of those stipulated otherwise by agreements):
Providing valid passport or a travel document in lieu of the passport
Filling out a visa application form, and providing a recent 2-inch, bareheaded and full-faced passport photo.
General Notes:
It is vital that you have the necessary documents with you when you travel to China otherwise entry will be denied.
Fees for Visas can vary from one country to another but details can be obtained from the web site of the Chinese Embassy in your country. For details of Chinese Embassies in different countries, please click here.

Overseas Visa Authorities are: Chinese Embassies, consulates, visa offices, the consular department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR and other agencies abroad authorised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
All foreigners intending to enter into, exit from or transit through Chinese Territory must have a valid visa. For further information please consult your nearest China Visa authorities.
Visa validity: A single or double entry visa is normally valid for three months form the date of issue. Multi-entry visas can be valid for either six months, one year, or two to five years.
Duration of stay/number of entries: Duration may vary and it is possible to extend the period of your stay when appropriate. It should be noted that entry into China from Hong Kong or Macao is subject to a special permit.
Passport requirements:
A) There must be at least one totally blank page in the passport. Pages for endorsements or amendments cannot be used as a visa page.
B) Single or double entry visa requires a passport valid for at least 6 months. For multiple entry visas, a passport should be valid for at least 9 Months.
Accompanying person using the same passport
The photo of the accompanying person using the same passport should be affixed to the form. The full visa fee will apply.
How to apply for your Visa:
Applicants should come in person or through a third party (e.g. Travel Agent or Tour Operator) to apply for the Chinese visa during office hours 9 -12 am in Chinese Embassy / Chinese Consulates-General in the country you live.
Usually, the processing time is about 5- 7 working days.
Applications by Mail: It takes 2 weeks to process the application, so there is no same day or express day service. It is advised that your passport(s) should be sent by registered post for security and proof of posting needs to be kept. Please enclose a self-addressed envelope, the visa application form and payment (visa fee and service fee—see item: visa fee).
You should send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your application together with the appropriate fee.

Visa extensions are handled by the Foreign Affairs section of the Public Security Bureau (PSB), so you can apply for one inany reasonably sized town. The amount of money you’ll pay for this, and the amount of hassle you’ll have, varies greatly depending on where you are, your nationality, and what season it is. The best time of day to apply for an extension is just after lunch, when corpu utes; in cities it can take up to a week.

The worst place to apply is Tibet - you’ll be given a week at most. The next worst places to
apply are Beijing and then Shanghai - they keep your passport for up to a week.

A second or third extension is harder to get in major cities you will probably be turned away. PSB offices in small towns are a much better bat, and you’d be unlucky to come away without some kind of extension, though it may only be for ten or twenty days. You will be asked your reasons for wanting an extension - simply saying you want to spend more time in this wonderful country usually goes down well, or you could cite illness or transport delays. Don’t admit to being low on funds.

Fourth or even fifth extensions are possible, but you’ll need to foster connections with a PSB office. Ask advice from a local independent travel agent - they often have the right sort of contacts. Alternatively, try going to a lawyer, though they’ll charge a lot.

Don’t overstay your visa even for a few hours - the fine is Y500 a day, and if you’re caught at the airport with an out-of-date visa the hassle that follows may mean you miss your flight.