What are the different types of Chinese visas?

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGNERS VISITING, WORKING, AND LIVING IN CHINA

More and more foreigners are choosing to travel, live, and work in China. So how do you apply for a Chinese visa? The following details the types of visas for foreigners coming to China, processing time, procedures, and common questions.

I. Types of visas for coming to China

A visa is a permit issued by a government-authorized agency in accordance with domestic laws and regulations for foreigners applying to enter, exit, or transit through the country.

Chinese embassies, consulates, or other institutions entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are responsible for issuing entry visas to foreigners abroad.

Foreigners who meet the circumstances of Article 20 of the Exit-Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China can apply for port visas at port visa agencies entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security at ports approved by the State Council for handling port visa business.

Chinese visas are divided into diplomatic visas, courtesy visas, official visas, and ordinary visas. Among them, ordinary visas are divided into the following categories:

Visa Type	Target Group	Features
Diplomatic Visa	Foreign government officials, diplomatic representatives, consular officials and their families who hold diplomatic passports and are engaged in diplomatic activities.	Represents diplomatic relations between countries and the special status of diplomatic personnel, enjoying certain diplomatic privileges and immunities.
Courtesy Visa	Specific foreign individuals for reasons such as diplomatic etiquette or international friendship, such as those who have made important contributions to friendly exchanges between countries and members of high-level visiting delegations.	There are certain special treatments and simplified procedures in the application and approval process, but the specific courtesy level depends on different situations and relations between the two countries.
Service Visa / Official Visa	Staff of foreign government departments, international organizations, non-profit institutions, etc. who hold official passports or ordinary official passports and go to China for work, official visits, attending meetings, and performing official duties.	Applicants need to provide relevant official certification documents such as dispatch letters and invitation letters to prove their official status and purpose of visit. The validity period and stay period of official visas will depend on the specific arrangements of official activities.
Ordinary Visa	Most foreign citizens who go to China for non-diplomatic, official, and courtesy purposes. It can be further subdivided:
L Visa (Tourist Visa)	Foreign tourists who go to China for tourism, leisure, sightseeing, etc.	There are single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas. The validity period and stay period depend on the visa type and the specific situation of the applicant. For example, some Chinese tourist visas applied for by foreign tourists may allow them to enter China multiple times within a certain period, and each stay does not exceed the specified number of days.
M Visa (Business Visa)	Foreign people who go to China for business activities, trade negotiations, business inspections, cooperation projects and other business-related purposes.	Applicants need to provide invitation letters from Chinese inviting units and business cooperation agreements and other relevant documents to prove the authenticity and necessity of their business visits.
Z Visa (Work Visa)	For foreigners who work in China.	Applying for a work visa requires an invitation from a Chinese employer and approval from relevant government departments. At the same time, a series of documents such as work contracts, educational certificates, and health certificates must be submitted. The validity period of a work visa is usually related to the term of the work contract.
X Visa (Study Visa)	Issued to foreign students and scholars who go to China for studying, further education, academic exchanges, etc.	Applicants need to provide admission notices from Chinese schools or educational institutions, study plans, financial proof and other materials. The validity period of a study visa depends on the length of the study program and generally covers the entire study period.
Q Visa (Family Visit Visa)	Established for foreign citizens to visit relatives in China.	Applicants need to provide proof of kinship and invitation letters and other documents to prove their purpose of visiting relatives. The validity period and stay period of family visit visas will be approved according to the closeness of kinship and specific circumstances.
D Visa (Settlement Visa)	Mainly for foreign citizens who wish to settle in China for a long time, such as foreign spouses married to Chinese citizens and foreigners who meet China’s immigration policies.	The application process for settlement visas is more complicated and requires a large number of supporting documents, including marriage certificates, residence certificates, and certificates of no criminal record.
Transit Visa	Foreign citizens who need to transit and stay in China on their way to other countries.	The validity period and stay period are relatively short, generally determined according to the specific itinerary and time arrangement of transit.

II. How to apply for a visa for tourism/business/work in China?

01. Tourism in China – L visa

Documents required for processing:

Round-trip air tickets and hotel reservation and other itinerary materials.
Provide a tourism invitation letter issued by an individual in China and a copy of the Chinese ID card (front and back) of the inviter or a copy of the foreigner’s residence permit and the front page of the passport.

The tourism invitation letter must contain the following contents:

a) Personal information of the invitee, name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etc.
b) Travel schedule information of the invitee, arrival and departure dates, tourist locations, expense arrangements, etc.
c) Inviter’s information, name, contact number, address, etc.

Duration of stay:Generally 30 days.

Processing time:From submission to obtaining the visa, it takes about 5-6 working days.

02. Business in China – M visa

Documents required for processing:

Passport (valid for more than six months with more than two blank visa pages).
Copy of the front page of the passport.
Visa application form.
White background photo taken in the last half year.
Business activity documents, invitation letter for economic and trade fairs (issued by Chinese domestic trade partners).
If applying for a visa to China in a country other than the country of origin, additional corresponding proof of legal stay or residence is required.

Processing time:

For business visas, it takes about 2-6 working days after making an appointment.

Duration of stay:60-90 days.

03. Work in China – Z visa

Documents required for processing:

For foreigners:

Foreign passport (validity > 6 months).
Work permit application form.
Labor contract (we can cooperate in issuing it, and the unit needs to cooperate in stamping).
Certificate of no criminal record and certification (the no criminal record needs to be issued recently).
Educational certificate (certified by the Service Center for Scholarly Exchange/ Apostille).
Proof of work experience (more than 2 years).
Physical examination certificate.
Others: Color photo with a white background.

For enterprises hiring foreigners:

Business license of the enterprise.
ID card of the legal person.
ID card of the handler.

Real business premises of the enterprise.
Enterprise operation filing.

Work visa processing process:

Registration and certification filing of enterprise qualifications for hiring foreigners (about 5-6 working days).

If a Chinese company wants to hire foreign staff, it needs to complete the registration of qualifications for hiring foreigners first. Only after registration is completed can it apply for work permits for foreign employees. Only in this way is it legal employment. It will be approved after waiting for about 5 working days. After approval, the company will have the qualification to hire foreigners.

Notice of work permit for foreigners coming to China (about 12-15 working days).

Entry Z visa for working in China (about 7-8 working days).

With the work permit, foreigners can apply for the Chinese work Z visa at a foreign embassy. After getting the visa at the embassy abroad, they can enter China.

Work permit for foreigners coming to China (about 15-18 working days).

After entering China, they need to use the real materials of the company and be accompanied by the company’s handler to apply for the work permit for foreigners coming to China within 30 days.

Work residence permit (about 7-8 working days).

The last step is to exchange for the Chinese work residence permit. Generally, at least half a year or more can be obtained. Generally, one year is more common. Then formal work can begin. If the work residence permit expires later, it can still be renewed by continuing to be employed by the company and handling the extension procedures.

Classification of foreign talents:Foreign high-end talents (Class A talents).

Refers to scientists, scientific and technological leading talents, international entrepreneurs, special talents, etc. who meet the requirements of “high-precision, cutting-edge, scarce” and market demand orientation and are conducive to China’s economic and social development. Also includes those who meet the standards for high-end foreign talents based on the point-based system. Generally, those with a graduate degree or above are more likely to obtain work visas.

Foreign high-end talents are not restricted by age and work experience.

Foreign professional talents (Class B talents).

Refers to those who meet the guidance catalogue and job requirements for foreigners coming to work in China and meet the standards for foreign professional talents based on the point-based system.

Those with a bachelor’s degree or above and more than 2 years of relevant work experience should not be over 60 years old.

Foreign ordinary personnel (Class C talents).

Refers to those who meet the domestic labor market demand and engage in temporary, seasonal, non-technical, or service-oriented work in accordance with national policies.

III. FAQs about processing visas for coming to China

Q: What are the contents on a Chinese visa?

A: The registration items on a visa include: visa type, holder’s name, gender, date of birth, number of entries, validity period for entry, duration of stay, issuance date, place, passport number or other international travel document number, etc.

Q: Is a physical examination report required for applying for a visa?

A: Currently, a physical examination report is not required when applying for a visa.

Q: Can the progress of visa processing be checked?

A: Generally, embassies and consulates abroad can process visas within four to five working days and will indicate the pick-up date on the pick-up slip. However, for some special cases, embassies and consulates abroad also have the right to extend the visa approval time. After approval, embassies and consulates will notify by phone or email. Please wait patiently. In case of special circumstances, you can contact the relevant embassies and consulates by phone.

Q: After getting the visa, if I find that the number of entries or duration of stay is not enough, can it be changed?

A: When applying for a visa, the applicant should indicate the intended number of entries and the longest stay period in China on the visa application form. Once the visa is approved, it cannot be changed. If the applicant changes the planned itinerary so that the number of entries or duration of stay cannot meet the actual needs, a new visa application can be made, but application materials need to be submitted again and a fee is required.

Q: Things to know when applying for a visa to China

Clarify the purpose of coming to China.
Many applicants for visas to China don’t know what visa they should apply for. Before coming to China, you must confirm what you are coming to China for and what visa you should apply for. Otherwise, there is also a risk of visa rejection.
Don’t leave a bad record, such as overstaying or illegal work.
It is very difficult for foreigners with a bad record to apply for a Chinese visa. Therefore, everyone in China must pay attention not to leave a bad record. Exit on time or extend the visa.
The application materials must be real, and the necessary required materials must also be provided completely.
The applicant needs to be in good health, have no criminal record, and not pose a threat to China’s security and stability.
Clarify the time of coming to China: Make arrangements in advance. Generally, it is recommended that customers prepare materials one month in advance to avoid visa expiration or being too late to apply for a visa and delaying the itinerary.

Q: Can foreign citizens apply for visas at Chinese ports?

A: In principle, Chinese visa applicants should apply for visas at Chinese embassies, consulates, offices, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and Macao, or other institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs abroad. Applicants should apply for visas in advance according to their itineraries.

For foreigners who need to enter China urgently for humanitarian reasons, are invited to enter China for urgent business, emergency engineering repairs, or have other urgent entry needs and hold proof materials approved by the competent Chinese department to apply for visas at ports, they can apply for port visas at port visa agencies entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security at ports approved by the State Council for handling port visa business.

Travel agencies organizing inbound tourism in accordance with relevant national regulations can apply for group tourist visas at port visa agencies.

Being able to apply does not mean that the application will be approved automatically. All responsibilities arising therefrom shall be borne by the applicant.

Except for 24-hour transit without leaving the airport, 72-hour transit in seven cities including Beijing and Shanghai, 6-day convenient tours in Guangdong and 15-day visa-free tours in Hainan, American and French citizens coming to China must obtain visas abroad in advance and cannot apply for visas at ports.

Q: How do foreign citizens go to the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions?

(1) How do foreign citizens apply for visas to the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions?

According to the relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region have the right to implement entry and exit control affairs on their own. The entry policies of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions are formulated by themselves. For specific matters, please consult their government websites. Website of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: www.immd.gov.hk; consultation phone number: 0085228246111. Website of the Public Security Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/; consultation phone number: 0085328725488.

(2) How should foreign citizens apply for visas when going to mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Macao Special Administrative Region at the same time?

Foreign citizens going to mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Macao Special Administrative Region at the same time must apply for mainland visas and visas for going to Hong Kong and Macao respectively.

Q: How do overseas Chinese citizens go to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region?

(1) Transit through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Holding a People’s Republic of China passport, if transiting through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the way to mainland China or other countries (or regions), with a valid passport and connecting flight tickets, you can stay in Hong Kong for 7 days without applying for an entry permit. Holding a People’s Republic of China passport and going to other countries (or regions) via the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the mainland, after presenting connecting flight tickets and visas for the destination country or region, or legal residence documents (such as a “green card”), you can stay in Hong Kong for 7 days without applying for an entry permit.
If it is expected to stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for more than 7 days, an entry permit should be applied for in advance. Chinese embassies and consulates abroad can issue entry permits valid for one or two times within three months and with a stay of no more than 30 days each time according to the applicant’s situation. Those who hold foreign permanent residence permits and have lived overseas for no less than one year can apply for multiple-entry permits valid for two years.

(2) Visiting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Chinese citizens going to Hong Kong for a short period, regardless of the type of passport they hold, need to apply for an entry permit.
The following personnel, regardless of the length of stay, should directly apply for an entry permit from the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or Chinese embassies and consulates abroad:
(1) Those going to Hong Kong for employment, performances, or exhibitions.
(2) Those going to Hong Kong for study, vocational training, or industrial or commercial training.
(3) Those planning to work or settle in Hong Kong.

Please visit the website of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (website: www.immd.gov.hk) to learn about the detailed situation and requirements.

Those holding the People’s Republic of China Travel Permit need to apply for an entry permit when transiting through or entering the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Q: What does visa exemption for residence permits mean?

(1) Foreigners holding valid residence permits can stay in China and enter and exit multiple times within the validity period of the residence permit without applying for a visa separately.
(2) Those holding a valid Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Permit of the People’s Republic of China can stay in China and enter and exit multiple times without applying for a visa separately.

Q: What does visa exemption by agreement mean?

A: According to bilateral agreements or protocols signed or reached between China and relevant countries, some people from specific countries can enter China without visas under certain conditions. For specific information, see: List of mutual visa exemption agreements between China and foreign countries.

What are the different types of Chinese visas?

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGNERS VISITING, WORKING, AND LIVING IN CHINA

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