Do I need a visa to China (not including Hong Kong & Macau)?
 Foreigners who visit China are generally required to apply for a visa before departure, but some aliens are exempt from a visa to Mainland China, for example, ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Brunei and Japan enjoy visa free access to Mainland China for up to 15 days. For more detailed information, you can see the Chinese visa exemption.  
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 Where can I submit my visa application?
 For entry into China, aliens should apply for visas from Chinese Embassies or Consulates. Each Embassy or consulate has its own consular districts. Usually, applicants are required to lodge their application to the relevant Embassy or Consulate according to consular districts. For example, if you live in Idaho, you should submit application to Chinese Embassy in USA.

Applicants who reside or travel away from their country can apply for visas at a local Chinese Embassy or Consulate. 
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  Can I apply for a visa at entry ports?
 It is very difficult to get a visa on arrival at the entry ports; however, you can get such a visa in real urgent situations which are listed in details on Visa on Arrival (Visa Issued at Entry Ports)
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  Can I get a visa on arrival to Shenzhen or Zhuhai?
 Shenzhen and Zhuhai are the Special Economic Zones; they can issue a special economic zone tourist visa to aliens at the entry ports. Shenzhen issues Single-Entry Tourist Visa with 5 days of stay in Shenzhen at the entry ports. Aliens can also apply for Zhuhai Single-Entry Tourist Visa with 3 days of stay in Zhuhai at the entry ports.
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 When is the best time to submit my visa application?
 Please apply for the visa only 1 or 2 months (at least 2 weeks) before your planned date to enter China. If you apply for the visa too late, you may not have enough time for the application. If you apply for the visa too early, the visa may become invalid before your departure for China. Generally, the validity of a single-entry visa is 3 months, counted from the date of application.
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 Where can I get the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China?
 The easiest way is to download the Visa Application Form from internet, but the form is in PDF, you should have installed the software of Adobe Reader. The Visa Application Form is also offered by the embassy or consulate for free.
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 Do I need to make an appointment to submit application? 
  No, the appointment is not required.
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 If I can’t go to the embassy or consulate in person, can I entrust someone else to submit my visa application and pick up my visa on my behalf?
 Yes, the visa application can be presented by someone else, such as your friends, relatives, visa agency or travel agency, but the visa application form should be completed and signed by yourself. Someone else can pick up your visa for you as long as he can show the “Pick Up Form”.
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 Can I send my visa application by mailing? 
 More than 98% of Chinese embassies and consulates don’t accept visa application by mailing. You should visit the official website of Chinese embassy or consulate to check whether it accepts application by mailing or not. Even though the visa mail service is available, the embassy or consulate is not responsible for the loss or damage of your passport and other documents due to mishandling by mail service.
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 Hong long does it take for the visa application?
 Generally speaking, it takes 4 working days for processing the visa application. Many embassies or consulates also provide 1 working day service or 2 – 3 working days service, but you need pay extra money for the service.
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 Do I have to submit my actual passport for visa application? Can I submit the copy of my passport because I need my passport every day?
 Yes, you must offer your actual passport because the Chinese visa should be pasted on the visa page of your passport. Visa can’t be processed without your actual passport. If you need your passport every day, you can apply for 1 working day service and pick up your visa on the day of submission.
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 What are the requirements for visa application?
 Basic requirements are your original passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank visa pages, one legibly, completely and truly filled Visa Application Form, one recent passport photo affixed on the application form, you also should submit additional documents for different category of Chinese visa: Tourist Visa (L), Business Visa (F), Student Visa (X), Work Visa (Z), Transit Visa (G), Crew Visa (C) and Journalist Visa (J). For more information, please refer to China Visa Types.
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 What is the Visa Notice Sheet (or Visa Notification)? Where can I apply for it?
 Visa Notice Sheet is a certificate from an authorized governmental organization in China prescribing the visa validity, number of entries and stay period. The company/institute/company in China which invites you can apply this certificate for you in the Ministries and Commissions of the State Council, the Government of all Provinces, Autonomous Regions, and Municipalities directly under the Central Government, and Foreign Affairs Offices and Bureaus of Economy and Commerce hereunder, and departments and units recognized by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
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 How can I apply for a visa to visit Tibet?
 Before you apply for a visa, you should get a Tibet Travel Permit from China Tibet Tourism Bureau. (The telephone number is 86-891-6834313, and the fax number is 86-891-6834632). You’d better contact a Chinese Travel Agency to organize an entry permit before applying for a Chinese visa.
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 How much should I pay for my visa?
 The visa fees vary greatly according to your nationality, the number of entries, the country you are applying in and whether you need an express service or not. Generally speaking, the visa fees are more expensive if the visa has more number of entries. However, the visa fees are same for American citizens no matter what number of entries they apply for.
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 Can I renew my Chinese visa? My visa will expire on 20th next month, but I will go to China on 24th.
 The visa can’t be renewed or made any changes once it is issued. You have to apply for a new visa again. The visa is printed on your visa page of passport by computer and any change on it makes the visa invalid.
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 I am an American citizen, I will fly from Los Angeles, plan to visit Guangzhou first and then Hong Kong for a short trip, after that I intend to go to Beijing. How many entries are for my trip? 
 American citizens do not need a visa to Hong Kong for a short trip less than 90 days. American citizens should have a valid visa for the mainland China. From Los Angeles to Guangzhou is one entry, and from Hong Kong to Beijing is another entry. So you should apply for a double-entry visa.
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 What are ENTRIES of Chinese visa?
 ENTRIES of visa vary from single, double and multiple. On the visa, single entry is printed as 01(壹), while double as 02(贰), and multiple as M(多). Entries means the number of entry you can use the visa to enter China during its validity period. Visa becomes void if it goes beyond the date of ENTER BEFORE even if there are some ENTRIES left.
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 What is ENTER BEFORE?
 ENTER BEFORE means the last date for the holder to use this visa to enter Mainland China. You must use the visa to enter China before 24:00 on this date. All visas come into effect on the date of issuance. For example, your single visa was issued on 18 May 2007. This date is the starting day for the holder to use this visa to enter Mainland China.
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 What is Duration of Each Stay after Entry?
 Duration of Each Stay after Entry means the maximum number of days the applicants are permitted to stay in China. Duration of Each Stay is counted from the date of entry.
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 Can I apply for extension of duration of stay after I arrive in China?
 Aliens who are already in China holding the L or F visa can apply for an extension of duration of stay at a local county level Public Security Bureau. You can read the China Visa Application in China to get more useful information.
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 Do I need a visa to Hong Kong and Macau?
 About 170 countries or regions don’t need a visa for Hong Kong, you can read the Non-Visa to Hong Kong for Foreign Countries/Areas to check whether you need a visa or not. Passport holders from 65 countries enjoy visa free access to Macau for a certain period; other aliens can apply for visa when they arrive in Macau, please refer to Macau Visa to get the list.