Font Size: -
Large -
Small
A China visa is permission/proof issued by Chinese
visa issuing authorities permitting foreigners entry to, exit from
or transit through China. According to foreigners' status, their
purposes for coming to China and the passport type, the Chinese
visa issuing authorities may separately issue them the diplomatic
visa, courtesy visa, service visa or ordinary visa. For the ordinary
visa, there are eight categories, separately represented by eight
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 six 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 visiting 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 six 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 issued to foreign journalists who are posted to China
for at least one year.
J-2 Visa issued to foreign journalists who are on temporary
assignment in 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.
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. Remember that you do require a
valid passport, the visa to your target country, and the booked
city-by-city airplane tickets, whose date and seats have already
be 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.
China has signed the agreements on Mutual Visa
Exemption with altogether 64 foreign countries. For details, please
refer to Mutual
Visa Exemption between China and Foreign Countries.
The basic procedure and necessary materials should
be prepared and fulfilled for Chinese visa are:
1. Your valid passport (or other credentials which can be a proof
instead of your passport);
2. Fill in the visa application form and hand over a recent 2-inch
(4cmX 6cm)full-face bareheaded half-length photo;
3. Pay for the visa expense.

|