Guidance for applying for a visa of the People's Republic of China

Please apply for the type of visa according to your main reason for visiting China

Types of visa and scope of applicants

For visa application, please prepare the following materials:

I. Basic application materials

i. Passport: with more than 6 months of validity, the original of the passport with vacant pages, and one copy of the passport page with photo and information.

ii. Visa application form and photo: one Application Form for the Visa of People's Republic of China, and one recently taken passport photo of the front image, colored (light background), hatless.

iii. Legal stay or residence proof (applicable to applicants who are not applying in the country of their nationality): If you do not apply for a visa in the country of your nationality, you need to provide effective proof of your legal stay, residence, work and study in the said country, or the original and copy of the effective visa.

iv. Former Chinese passport or former Chinese visa (applicable to those who used to have Chinese nationality, then joined foreign nationality): If you are applying for the Chinese visa for the first time, please provide the original of your former Chinese passport and a copy of the passport page with photo and information. If you used to have a Chinese visa, and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, please provide a copy of the foreign passport page with photo and information, and a copy of your former Chinese visa (if the name on your new passport differs from that on your former passport, you need to provide proof and documentation on change of name issued by the related official organization).

II. Other supporting application materials

C Type Visa

Letter of guarantee issued by foreign transport companies or letter of invitation issued by the related institution in China.

D Type Visa

The original and copy of the confirmation form for foreigners' permanent residence status issued by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

Please note:

Within 30 days of entry into China, the visa holder should apply for residential documents from the county-level or above entry and exit administration of the public security department at their intended residence place.

F Type Visa

Letter of invitation issued by the related institution or person in China. The letter of invitation should contain the following information:

i. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

ii. Information on the visit of the invited: the reason for visiting China, dates of arrival and departure, places to visit, the relationship with the inviting institution or person, source of expense, etc.;

iii. Information of the inviting institution or person: name of the inviting institution or person, telephone, address, institution stamp, the signature of the legal representative or the inviter.

G Type Visa

Connecting air (train, ship) tickets to the destination country or region, with designated dates and seats.

J1 Type Visa

A visa notification letter issued by the news department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an official letter issued by the journalists' news agency.

The applicant should get in touch with the news division of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate and complete the related procedures.

Please note:

Within 30 days of entry into China, the visa holder should apply for residential documents from the county-level or above entry and exit administration of the public security department at their intended place of residence.

J2 Type Visa

A visa notification letter issued by the news department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the related institutions, and an official letter issued by the journalists' news agency.

The applicant should get in touch with the news division of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate and complete the related procedures.

L Type Visa

Material on the itinerary such as return air tickets orders, and hotel orders, or letter of invitation issued by the related institution or person in China. The letter of invitation should contain the following information:

i. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

ii. Itinerary of the invited: dates of arrival and departure, places of travel, etc.;

iii. Information of the inviting institution or person: name of the inviting institution or person, telephone, address, institution stamp, the signature of the legal representative or the inviter.

M Type Visa

Business activity documents issued by trade partners in China, letter of invitation for economic and trade fairs, etc. The letter of invitation should contain the following information:
1. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

2. Information on the visit of the invited: the reason for visiting China, dates of arrival and departure, places to visit, the relationship with the inviting institution or person, source of expense, etc.;

3. Information of the inviting institution or person: name of the inviting institution or person, telephone, address, institution stamp, the signature of the legal representative or the inviter.

Q1 Type Visa

For the reason of family reunion, please provide:

i. Letter of invitation issued by Chinese citizens living in China, or foreigners with permanent residence qualification in China. The letter of invitation should include the following information:

1. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

2. Information on the visit of the invited: reason for visiting China, dates of arrival and departure, places to visit, the relationship with the inviting institution or person, source of expense, etc.;

3. Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, telephone, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

ii. Copy of the Chinese identity card of the inviter, or copy of the foreigner's passport and permanent residence permit;

iii. Original and copy of the proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by police stations, or notarial certificate for kinship) for family member relationship (spouses, parents, children, children's spouses, siblings, grandparents, maternal grandparents, grandchildren, maternal grandchildren, and spouses' parents) between the applicant and the inviter.

For the reason of foster care, please provide:

i. Foster care commissioned notarization issued by Chinese Embassy or Consulate based in foreign countries, or foster care power of attorney notarized and certificated in the related foreign country or China;

ii. The principal's passport original, copy and the proof of kinship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by police stations, or notarial certificate for kinship) between the principal and the children in foster care;

iii. Letter of acceptance for foster issued by, and copy of identity card of the fiduciary accepting the foster child;

iv. In the case of one side or both sides of the foster child's parents being Chinese citizens, it's required to provide a copy of proof on the Chinese parents' residence abroad at the time of birth.

Please note:

Within 30 days of entry into China, the visa holder should apply for residential documents from the county-level or above entry and exit administration of the public security department at their intended place of residence.

Q2 Type Visa

i. Letter of invitation issued by Chinese citizens living in China, or foreigners with permanent residence qualifications in China. The letter of invitation should contain the following information:

1. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

2. Information on the visit of the invited: the reason for visiting China, dates of arrival and departure, places to visit, the relationship with the inviting institution or person, source of expense, etc.;

3. Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, telephone, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

ii. Copy of the Chinese identity card of the inviter, or copy of the foreigner's passport and permanent residence permit.

R Type Visa

The applicant should meet the conditions and requirements issued by the related departments for bringing in high-level foreign talents and talents who are urgently needed and in short supply and provide the required documents and materials.

S1 Type Visa

Please provide:

i. Letter of invitation issued by foreigners living in China. The letter of invitation should contain the following information:

1. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

2. Information on the visit of the invited: reason for visiting China, dates of arrival and departure, places to visit, the relationship with the inviting institution or person, source of expense, etc.;

3. Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, telephone, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

ii. Copy of the inviter's passport and residence permit;

iii. Original and copy of the proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by police stations, or notarial certificate for kinship) for family member relationship (spouses, parents, children under 18 years old, and spouses' parents) between the applicant and the inviter.

Please note:

Within 30 days of entry into China, the visa holder should apply for residential documents from the county-level or above entry and exit administration of the public security department at their intended residence place.

S2 Type Visa

For short term visitation, please provide:

i. Copy of passport and residence permit of the inviter (referring to foreigners who stay and resides in China for reasons of work, study, etc.);

ii. Letter of invitation issued by the inviter. The letter of invitation should contain the following information:

1. Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

2. Information on the visit of the invited: the reason for visiting China, dates of arrival and departure, places to visit, the relationship with the inviting institution or person, source of expense, etc.;

3. Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, telephone, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

iii. Original and copy of the proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by police stations, or notarial certificate for kinship) for a family member and relative relationship (spouses, parents, children, children's spouse, siblings, grandparents, maternal grandparents, grandchildren, maternal grandchildren, and spouses' parents) between the applicant and the inviter.

For personal affairs, please provide the related documents and materials for personal affairs as required by the consular officer.

X1 Type Visa

i. Original and copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting employer in China;

ii. Original and copy of Visa Application Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or JW202).

Please note:

Within 30 days of entry into China, the visa holder should apply for residential documents from the county-level or above entry and exit administration of the public security department at their intended place of residence.

X2 Type Visa

Original and copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting employer in China.

Z Type Visa

One of the following documents should be provided:

i. Those whose work duration is no more than 90 days as per the Foreigner Employment License issued by the department of human resources and social security, should also provide Approval of Short-term Employment for Foreigners Working in China, and the applicant should apply for a visa prior to the starting date identified on the Approval of Short-term Employment for Foreigners Working in China. And their period of work cannot exceed the period identified on the Approval of Short-term Employment for Foreigners Working in China;

ii. The Work Permit for Foreign Experts in China, or the Work Permit Notice for Foreigners issued by the Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs;

iii. The Registration Certificate of Resident Representative Office of Foreign Enterprise (Region), issued by the industrial and commercial administrative department;

iv. The approval document for commercial performance (only applicable to applicants carrying out commercial performance in China), and the Certificate for Foreigners Working Short-term in China. And the applicant needs to apply for a visa prior to the starting date identified on the Certificate for Foreigners Working Short-term in China, and the period of performance cannot extend further than the period on the Certificate for Foreigners Working Short-term in China;

iv. The Letter of Invitation for Foreigners working in the People's Republic of China on Offshore Oil Operation, issued by China National Offshore Oil Corporation;

Please note:

The holder of these documents should apply for a residence permit from the county-level or above entry and exit administration of the public security department at their intended place of residence, within 30 days of entry, except for those whose visas show "30 days stay after entry".

III. Special tips

i. The letter of invitation could be fax, copy or printed version, but the consulate officer could ask the applicant to provide the original of the invitation.

ii. When necessary, the consulate officer could ask the applicant to provide other documents or complementary materials as per the situation or ask the applicant for an interview.

iii. The consulate officer will decide whether to issue a visa, the time of validity, duration and stay, and times of entry of the visa, according to the specific situation of the applicant.

iv. If you need more information, please check the website of Chinese embassies or consulates overseas.