How To Get A China Visa

How to get a China Visa - China visa application guide

1. Make sure which visa you need

There are many kinds of Chinese visas, such as Chinese tourist visa (L visa) for tourists coming to China, F visa for exchange, study tour, business visa (M visa) for business and trade, and student visa (x visa) for studying in China. So first you need to find out which visa to apply for. According to the purpose of your visit to China is to travel, business, work, transit, family reunion, etc., to determine which visa type you are suitable for.

2. Apply for Chinese visa

According to various visa policies, applicants who meet the relevant requirements can apply for a Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy, diplomatic and consular embassy, or special entry port. You need to prepare and submit a valid passport with a validity period of at least 6 months, leave a white page, a copy of the first page of the passport, fill in the complete visa application form and paste 2 recent photos (color photo, white background, taken in the past 6 months, size: 48mmx33mm), sufficient visa fee and service fee as well as other supporting documents.

3. Collect and check your Chinese visa

Processing times vary depending on the visa type. Generally, applicants need about 4 to 5 working days to obtain a Chinese visa, and the exact date of receipt will be indicated on the transfer form. If you submit a China travel visa on Monday, you can get it on Thursday. After you get your passport back, please check the visa type, stay time, and entry times carefully. When you plan to enter China, please check its validity carefully, otherwise, you will be refused entry.

FAQs and helpful tips on visa requirements in China

1. Special notes on the visa application form

If your application form was completed by another person or agent, please provide relevant information. A power of attorney is required if he/she will file an application and collect a visa on your behalf.

2. Long term Chinese visa application requirements

Please note that if you are applying for a long-term multiple entry China visa, such as a 10-year China Travel/business visa, the passport should be valid for at least one year. Other requirements are the same as the short-term visa type.

3. Copy each document (except visa form)

The materials you prepare to apply for a Chinese visa are very important. Some of them may only be "one of them". You can download and print visa forms without restrictions. However, if other original documents are lost, it will be a very troublesome thing. So it's best to back up and avoid any surprises.

4. Prepare at least two qualified visa photos

Each country and region has different requirements for the number of visa photos, most of which require two photos, and few require one. We suggest you prepare 2 or more just in case.

5. Pay attention to the invitation letter

For a China Travel (L) visa, an invitation is optional unless you are indeed invited to visit China. For special types of visas, such as visa j 1 and visa Z, the issuing authority is officially designated, while there is no clear restriction for ordinary visas.