RSS
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
Tourist Visa (L) Issued to aliens who are going to China for tourism, family visiting or other private affairs.
Business Visa (F) Issued to aliens who are invited to China for a business visit, an investigation, a lecture, scientific-technological & cultural exchanges, short-term furthering studies or intern practice less than six months.
Student Visa (X) Issued to aliens who are going to China for study, furthering studies or intern practice longer than six months.
Work Visa (Z) Issued to aliens who are going to China for a post or employment, and to their accompanying family members.
Transit Visa (G) Issued to aliens who are going to a third country in transit of China.
Crew Visa (C) Issued to crewmembers involving international-based transportation by trains, airway and ships and their accompanying family members.
Resident Visa (D) Issued to aliens who are going to reside permanently in China.
Journalist Visa (J-1, J-2) Issued to foreign journalists for the purpose of reporting from China.
Visa Exemption
1. Visa Exemption for Diplomatic, Service or Official Passport Holders
China has mutual visa-free agreements with some foreign countries, but they are mainly for diplomatic, service or official passport holders and only allow the duration of stay less than 30 days.
2. Visa Exemption for Direct Transit
The truly transit passengers by international flight who hold onward tickets do not require a visa provided that they stay in the airport transit area and depart within 24 hours.
Citizens of the following 30 countries are permitted to transit Shanghai for up to 48 hours without a visa (They are allowed to leave the Pudong Airport/Hongqiao Airport to enter the city): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.
3. Visa Exemption for Nationals of Singapore, Brunei and Japan
Ordinary passport holders of Singapore, Brunei and Japan are allowed to enter China without visas for up to 15 days for tourism, including visiting family or friends, or minor business purposes provided they enter through nominated international ports.
For nationals of these three countries, a visa is required under following circumstance:
(1) Ordinary passport holder visits China for tourism, business, visiting friends and relatives and stay for more than 15 days.
(2) Ordinary passport holder visits China for the purposes of study, work, official visit, settling down and interview.
(3) Diplomatic and Official passport holder.
4. Visa Exemption for Holder of Aliens' Residence Card
Foreign nationals who visit China for the purposes of study or work and resident foreign journalists shall apply for Aliens' Residence Cards at local public security authorities within 30 days of entry into China.
Within the period of the validity of the Residence Card, the holder is entitled to enter and exit China for many times without applying for another visa.
5. Visa Exemption for Holder of APEC Business Travel Card
The APEC Business Travel Card is regarded as a multiple entry visa valid for three years. With this card and relevant passport, the holder is entitled to enter China for many times within three years. The duration of each stay should be within 2 months.
6. Visa Exemption for Visiting Hainan Province
Citizens holding the ordinary passport of the following 26 countries are exempt from visa requirements when they travel to Hainan Province as a group organised by International Travel Agencies that have been set up and registered in Hainan Province. The stay is limited to 21 days and travelers are not allowed to leave Hainan: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand, USA and Ukraine. The tours organized by travel agencies of South Korea, Germany and Russia can have two members each group.
7. Visa Exemption for Visiting the Pearl River Delta Region
Citizens holding passports issued by the nations with diplomatic relations with China is exempted from applying for a visa if he or she joins tourist group at Hong Kong and Macao organized by registered travel agencies in Hong Kong and Macao to visit the Pearl River Delta region (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhaoqing, Huzhou Municipalities) for tourism and stay up to 6 days.
Visas can be issued for various durations; immediate or later start dates, and allow one, two (dual), or multiple entries. Any exit from the mainland of the PRC, including to Hong Kong and Macau will require that you have a valid entry to the mainland to permit you to re-enter. Otherwise you will need to apply for a new visa at a consulate (or equivalent in Hong Kong) before entry is permitted.
The Chinese visa is usually a paper sheet glued into your passport but it can occasionally be a rubber stamp.
Nationality and rules
Depending on the nationality of your passport, the rules vary. Here, we try to provide some guidelines but as always, if you have any doubts contact the appropriate Chinese visa issuing office.
Like most countries, China applies has stricter regulations than it actually applies most of the time. It may be that nationals of some countries have been found to overstay more frequently than others, or have a higher incidence of crime, or be nations associated with terror, or simply ones where diplomatic relations are currently strained. It seems that at present, applicants from certain Asian countries are being required to get invitations and show adequate funds.
China issues visas that allow one entry, two or multiple, the last two allowing you to exit from the Chinese mainland and re-enter on the same visa. You should remember that even a few hours in Hong Kong or Macau is an exit from China in this context. To return you must either have another valid entry or obtain a new visa. Also, remember that you cannot gain extra entries on a single or double entry visa once it has been issued, you would have to apply for a new visa.
Source: www.travelchinaguide.com
GOWEALTHY.COM © 2011
For comments: editor@gowealthy.com
