What's a China Visa?

China visa is a permit issued by visa authorities of China in accordance with the laws and regulations of China to a foreign citizen for entry into, exit from or transit through the territory of China. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the duration of their intended stay. In China, Not all the areas are open to foreign travelers. Some territory foreign travelers must apply for a special travel-permit to get into. Such as Tibet in southwest China.

The China Visa Authorities issue Diplomatic Visa, Courtesy Visa, Service Visa or Ordinary Visa to a foreign citizen according to his or her status, purpose of visit and type of passport.

Types of a China Visa

Chinese visas fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter:
(1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.

(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of less than 6 months.

(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.

(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.

(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).

(6) Crew Visa（C-visa）is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airline, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members.

(7) Journalist Visa （J-visa）is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.

(8) Permanent Residence Visa（D-visa）is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China’s public security authority to reside in China permanently.

General Requirements for Applying for a China Visa

Please provide the following documents:
(1) Original passport remaining to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of application and with sufficient blank visa pages.

(2) One completed Visa Application Form (Download the Visa Application Form (PDF) here) with a recently-taken passport photo; all the items on the application form should be completed neatly with genuine information; if the applicant has a Chinese name, the Chinese name should be filled in. False or incomplete information and illegible characters may lead to refusal of a visa.

(3) When a child who is under the age of 6 and was not born in China and of Chinese origin applies for a Chinese visa with a foreign passport for the first time, the child's birth certificate which must show the parent's name and the permanent residence permit or certificate of nationality of the resident country from one of his or her parent should be provided.

(4) An applicant holding a passport other than UK passport should provide the original and a copy of his or her permanent residence or work permit which should be valid for at least half a year (except for those who are visa or permit exempt for residing or working in the UK).

(5) Applicants planning to tour Tibet should contact the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region (Tel: 0086-891-6834313; Fax: 0086-891-6834632) and provide a visa notification form issued by it.

(6) Applicants applying for special tour to China should provide a visa notification form issued by China National Tourism Administration or the tourism administration of related province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. Special tour includes self-driving, hiking, cycling, horse-riding, hot air balloon, or other expeditions.

For group tour, the following documents are required:
1. A visa notification form issued by authorized travel agencies in China including China International Travel Service Head Office, China Travel Service Head Office, China Youth Travel Service Head Office and the tourism administration of related province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the Central Government.

2. A name list of the members of the tourist group. If the last page of the list has left a blank, a straight line should be drawn across the blank from its upper corner on the left to the lower corner on the right.

3. Original passport of each group member and a photocopy of the information page from each passport, which should be arranged according to the names listed.

4. A letter issued by the travel agency organizing the tour, the content of which should mainly include the group number, total number of group members, contact person and the itinerary of the tour.

Method and Time for submission of applications
1. Method: An applicant may submit his or her visa application to the Centre in person or entrusts someone or a travel agent to submit on his or her behalf. You must make an appointment online in advance via the Centre's website before submission. If you select to apply by post, you need to follow Guidelines on Postal Application in addition to preparing for all the documents provided for above. You may be required to go to the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General for an interview if the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General deems it necessary.

2. Time: Regular visa processing time is 4 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Thursday. Express visa processing time is 3 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Wednesday. Please note that express service is only available to those customers who submit applications to the visa counter before 12:00 at noon, Monday to Friday. Therefore, if you request express service, please select the time period before 12:00 at noon while booking online appointment.

Group visas will be ready for collection 5 working days after submission, and no express service are available. iii.Visa fee, period of validity and duration of stay
(1) Pay visa and service fees when collecting passport;
(2) You may select cash or debit card when making payment;
(3) Schedule of visa Fees and Service Fees (Unit: British Pound):

Notes:
1. The total amount of the fees to be paid by an applicant = visa fees + application service fees.
2. Visa Fees are collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General;Application Service Fees are charged by the Centre.
3. We do not provide either same day service or next day service. 4 working days regular service and 3 working days express service are available for applications submitted directly to the Centre. Postal applications will be processed and returned within 5 to 14 working days assuming the documentation is in good order and no further requirements are necessary.
4. Cash or debit card can be accepted. ( For postal applications debit card only )
5. Unless specifically requested by the applicant in his or her completed application form and approved by consular officers, a single-entry visa is valid for 3 months, and a double-entry visa valid for 6 months, both with a 30-day duration of stay.
6. Consular officers decide on the visa's period of validity, duration of stay and number of entry in the light of China's laws and regulations.
7. Whether a visa is to be issued or not to be issued, and what type of visa to be issued shall be decided by Consular officers in the light of China's relevant laws and regulations.

Please Note:

1. Please apply for a visa about one month in advance of your intended date of entry into China, and do not apply 3 months earlier than your intended date of entry into China. You should take upon yourself any consequences resulting from your failure to submit visa application at an appropriate time, which may lead to either your already-issued visa becoming expired or it would be too late to get a visa before your planned departure date.

2. The visa application form should be fully filled in and signed by the applicant upon completion (application for an applicant under 18 years of age should be signed by one of his or her parents). Items which are not applicable should be filled in with N/A.

3. Consular officers may request an applicant to provide additional supporting documents. The applicant should provide this as soon as possible.
PS:
For up-to-date and detailed information about China visa, please consult Chinese embassy in the country you live.
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States
E-mail: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn
Tel: 001-202-4952266
Fax: 001-202-4952138
Web site: www.china-embassy.org/eng

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Austrilia
Address: 15 Coronation Drive, Yarralumla,　ACT 2600
Tel: 0061-2-62734780
Fax: 0061-2-62735848
E-mail: chinaemb_au@mfa.gov.cn
Web site: au.china-embassy.org/eng/

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in UK
Office hours: 09:00am-03:00pm: For Visa Application; 10:00am-04:00pm: For Passport Collection
Address: Morley House, 26 Holborn Viaducts, London, EC1A 2AT
Tel: 020-7842 0960
Fax: 020-7842 0961
E-mail: ukcentre@visaforchina.org
Web site: www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada
Chinese Consulate General in Calgary
1011 6th Ave. S.W., Suite 100, Calgary, AB T2P 0W1
Tel: (403) 2643322
Visa section: (403)5371247
Fax: (403) 2646656
Consular District: Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories

Chinese Consulate General in Toronto
240 St. George Street, Toronto Ontario M5R 2P4
Tel: (416) 9647260
Fax: (416) 3246468
Consular District: Provinces of Ontario and Manitoba

Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver
3380 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3K3
Tel: (604) 7347492
Fax: (604) 7370154
Consular District: Provinces of British Colombia and the Yukon Territory
Web site: www.chinaembassycanada.org/eng/