Passport and Visa Requirements – China

All nationals require a valid passport to enter China. China does not recognize dual nationality. A China visa is permission/proof issued by Chinese visa issuing authorities permitting foreigners entry to, exit from or transit through China.

The Chinese visa issuing authorities refer to the Chinese embassies, the general consulates and other organizations authorized by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China stationed abroad. If a foreigner wants to enter or transit through China, he should go to the above-mentioned Chinese visa issuing authorities to apply for the required visa. An alternative is he can also find a China tour company for help to avoid the handing procedures.

Types of Visa
For the ordinary visa, there are 8 categories, separately represented by 8 Chinese phonetic letters (C, D, F, G, J-1, J-2, L, X, Z) as the visa code.

C Visa (Crewmember Visa): Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and their accompanying family members.

D Visa (Residence Visa): Issued to foreigners who are going to live in China permanently.

F Visa (Business/Visit Visa): Issued to foreigners who are invited to China for a visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and cultural exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of less than 6 months.

G Visa (Transit Visa): Issued to those people who transit through China.

L Visa (Tourist Visa): Issued to those who enter China temporarily for touring, family visit or other personal affairs (multiple-entry is not granted for this category).

X Visa (Study/Student Visa): Issued to foreigners who come to China for study or intern practice for a period of 6 months or above.

Z Visa (Work Visa): Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.

J Visa (Journalist Visa): J-1 Visa is issued to foreign journalists who are posted to China for at least 1 year while J-2 Visa is issued to foreign journalists who are on temporary assignment in China.

Visa Exemption
China has signed the agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption with altogether 64 foreign countries.

• The crew and the passengers on airplane who transit through China by direct flying without leaving the airport and their staying time at the transit airports in China is less than 24 hours will not require a transit visa.
• When transiting through China via Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao Airport and staying in Shanghai less than 48 hours, the transit visa also is not required so long as you are the national citizen of following countries: South Korea, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and Greece. (They, however, require a valid passport, the visa to your target country and the booked city-by-city airplane tickets, whose date and seats have already been confirmed.)
• The ordinary passport possessors who come from Singapore, Brunei and Japan are required non-visa for their business, travel, visit or transit, but they should leave China within 15 days of their arrival day to China.

Documents Required for Tourist Visa

• Valid passport with blank visa pages and at least 6-month period of validity (counting from the day you submit the application)
• Filled visa application form
• A recent 2-inch (4cmX 6cm) full-face bareheaded half-length photo

Time Required
The processing time for handling the visa generally is about 4 working days. If case of urgent service, 30 US dollars will be added as the additional fee for 1 working day processing while 20 US dollars for 2 to 3 working days processing.

Visa Fees

Only Money Order, Cashier's Check or Company Check is acceptable.
5 US dollars to be paid as the additional visa handling service fee per post.
If the applicant withdraws his visa application during the handling period, 20 US dollars should be charged.

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