What You Need to Know about China Visas

Just like its economy, China’s tourism soars higher with each passing year. This also means that visa applications increase each year. For a foreigner to enter the country, a Chinese visa is required. Each type of visa has different requirements. To get a Chinese visa, visit the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country and prepare the necessary documents.

Types Available

There are at least six types of Chinese visas available. There is the tourist visa (L), business visa (F), study visa (X), work visa (Z), transit visa (G), and journalist visa (J).

A tourist visa is for individuals and families who are entering the country for sightseeing.

A business visa is issued to people who are invited into the country for investigation, a lecture, business, visit, cultural exchange, advanced study, or an internship for a maximum of six months.

A study visa is for students who intend to study in China for a period of longer than six months. It can be for advanced studies or for an internship. If you are staying for six months or less, apply for an F visa.

A work visa is for foreigners who intend to work and be employed in the country, along with other family members.

A transit visa is granted to individuals who are traveling through China, and this is valid for only seven days.

Finally, a journalist visa is for reporters and members of the media who are doing news reporting and coverage in the country.

Requirements

For the tourist and business visit visas, you will need your actual passport with at least six months of validity left and at least one blank page in it. Also, one filled-out visa application form and a passport photo in black and white have to be submitted. An additional requirement for a business visa is a letter either from the company inviting you or from your company.

In the case of an employment or work visa, you have to present, along with the application form, a visa notification from the Chinese government, a work permit by the Chinese Labor Ministry, or a Foreign Expert’s License from the Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau.

Also, you need to show a visa notification from the authorized Chinese unit, or proof of kinship for family members like a birth certificate and marriage certificate.

For a study visa, the necessary documents include a Foreign Student Visa Application Form approved by the government and an enrollment document from the academic institution where you will be studying. A certificate of physical examination for foreign citizens is needed for those who will study for more than a year.

Additional Information

People suffering from diseases like leprosy, AIDS, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, mental disorders and other infectious diseases are not allowed to enter the country.