Chinese Visa Application: A Complete Guide

Important: All the requirements listed above are necessary but not sufficient for obtaining a Chinese VISA. This is because depending on the type of VISA you’re applying for, you’ll have to submit some additional documents. Read the next section for the details.

Finally, note that if the applicant is a child born outside China to a Chinese parent, the VISA requirements are different. Click here to learn more about this.

Update: When applying for the visa in some Consular Offices, travelers with passports issued after 01/01/2015 must include their previous passport, along with their current passport.

If you don’t have your previous passport anymore, or you have a gap between your old and new passport (for instance your old passport expired in May and you got a new passport in July), then you shall include a statement explaining the situation.

Note: as said, for now the old passport doesn’t seem to be required everywhere, it depends on where you apply for the visa. Thus, the best you can do is to ask to your Consular Office, before you apply.

Update: We received several comments from readers that claim being denied a Chinese VISA because they had a previous entry stamp from Turkey in their passport. Further, this problem may also happen when having passport stamps from other Middle East countries, beside Turkey.

What are the different types of Chinese VISAs (and the additional requirements for getting them)?

Here is the complete list of Chinese VISAs (after the table we list the additional required documents for each types of VISA):

Note that regardless of what you are applying for, the Chinese Consular Office reserves the right to refuse your VISA or to grant a different validity, duration of stay and/or number of entries for your VISA.

Below, we list the additional requirements for each type of VISA.

C VISA – Foreign crew members and their family members

The only additional requirement is a letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transport company, which is only needed if you don’t have an invitation letter.

D VISA – For permanent residents

The only additional requirement is the original and photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Foreigners Permanent Residence Status issued by the Ministry of Public Security of China.

F VISA – For exchanges, visits, study tours, and other activities

The new F VISA is issued to people who come to China for non-business purposes such as educational, scientific, cultural, health or sporting reasons. Before July 2013, the F VISA was the same thing as a business VISA.

The basic requirements, including the invitation letter, should be enough in most cases.

G VISA – For transit through China

The only additional requirement is an onward plane (train or ship) ticket with a confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region.

J1 and J2 VISAs – For journalists

The only additional requirements are a Visa Notification Letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and an official letter issued by the media organization for which you work.

Be aware that you should contact the press office of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General in advance and complete the appropriate formalities.

You should apply for a J1 VISA if you intend to stay more than 180 days, and for a J2 VISA (short-term) if you intend to stay in China for less than 180 days.

L VISA – For tourists or visits to relatives

The basic requirements listed above were once usually enough. However, since July 2013, you’re also required to provide a copy of your return trip plane ticket for China (click here to read our guides on how to buy a plane ticket for China) and a copy of a Chinese hotel booking for the whole duration of your stay containing the full names of all the people that are applying for the VISA (click here to read our guide on how and where to book an hotel in China).

If you intend to stay at your friend or relative’s house, you won’t need to book an hotel. However, your friend/relative will have to send an invitation letter to you (scroll down for more details on the invitation letter).

Sometimes, the consular office employee may even ask you for proof of your ability to financially support yourself before accepting your VISA application. Therefore, before going to the VISA office, be sure to ask via email or to call them to be sure of the documents that you need to bring.

The most common tourist VISA is the Single Entry Tourist VISA (that is, you can’t leave China and then enter again with the same VISA) which has a validity of between 30 days. The Double Entry Tourist VISA (2 entries, 30 days each), is also common.

Note that U.S. citizens may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry VISA. In this case, the remaining validity of your passport must be more than 12 months.

If you are planning to go to Tibet, be aware that in addition to your VISA, you need a special entry permit issued by the Tibetan Tourist Bureau. Currently, you can only enter Tibet with a travel agency. Click here if you want to learn more on Tibet permits.

M VISA – For business and trade activities

This is the new “business” VISA and it’s issued to people who come to China for business and trade activities. You are required to provide an invitation letter issued by a registered Chinese company or organization (for example, a trade fair).

Note that U.S. citizens may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry VISA. In this case, the remaining validity of your passport must be more than 12 months.

While many people use Business VISAs to work in China, this is illegal. If you want to legally work in China, you need a Work VISA. Click here to read our complete guide on Business VISAs for China.

Q1 or Q2 VISA – For family reunions or foster care

The Q VISA is issued to people who intend to visit their relatives or friends in China for a period longer than 30 days (for less than 30 days you can simply apply for an L VISA).

For the Q2 VISA, which only allows you to stay for a maximum of 180 days, an invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residence permit who lives in China should be enough.

For the Q1 VISA, which is needed for stays longer than 180 days, in addition to the invitation letter, you’ll also need to provide further documentation.

For family reunion purposes, you’ll have to provide the original and photocopy of the certificate (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the Public Security Bureau or a notarized certificate of kinship) showing the family relationship between the applicant and the inviting individual. Note that “family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters or parents-in-law.

For foster care purposes, you’ll have to provide a large number of documents and, in my opinion, you should contact the Chinese Consular Office in your country before starting to collect the documents.

Note that U.S. citizens may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry VISA. In this case, the remaining validity of your passport must be more than 12 months.

R VISA – For high-level talents

You’re required to submit relevant certifications in order to meet the requirements of the competent authorities of the Chinese government on high-level talents and individuals with special skills urgently needed by China.

The requirements in this case are quite vague, due to the fact that “talents” and “skills” may vary greatly.

S1 or S2 VISA – For family reunions or private affairs

The S VISA is issued to people who intend to visit their (foreign) relatives or friends in China for a period longer than 30 days (for less than 30 days you can simply apply for an L VISA). It may also be issued for “private affairs”.

For the S2 VISA, which only allows you to stay for a maximum of 180 days, in addition to an invitation letter issued by a foreign citizen with a Chinese temporary residence permit who lives in the country, you’ll have to provide the original and photocopy of the certificate (marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarized certificate of kinship) showing the family relationship between the applicant and the inviting individual. “Family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters or parents-in-law.

For private affairs, in addition to the invitation letter, you’ll have to provide documentation identifying the nature of the private affairs. The term “documentation” is left purposely vague, as the nature of private affairs may vary greatly.

For the S1 VISA, which allows you to stay for longer than 180 days, in addition to an invitation letter issued by a foreign citizen with a Chinese temporary residence permit who lives in the country, you’ll have to provide the original and photocopy of the certificate (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the Public Security Bureau or a notarized certificate of kinship) showing the immediate family relationship between the applicant and the inviting individual. “Immediate family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law.

Note that U.S. citizens may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry VISA. In this case, the remaining validity of your passport must be more than 12 months.

X1 or X2 VISA – For students

You are required to provide the JW201 (or JW202) form issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education (only necessary for the X1 VISA) and the notice of admission from your school. Your school should obtain these documents and send them to you.

You may also be required to provide a medical certificate, depending on the duration of your stay.

If you want to study in China for less than 180 days, you’ll have to apply for an X2 VISA. However, if you want to stay longer, you’ll need an X1 VISA.

Note that U.S. citizens may be eligible for a 5-year multiple entry X1 VISA. In this case, the remaining validity of your passport must be more than 12 months.

Z Visa – For working

Important: Holding a Z VISA is the only way to work legally in China.

In addition to the Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit or Confirmation Letter of Invitation issued by the relevant Chinese entity, in most of the cases you will have to provide a Foreigner’s Work Permit issued by the State Bureau of Foreign Experts.

There some special cases in which a different document is required (you find them listed here); however if you have a “normal job”, such as teacher, engineer, etcetera, the Foreigner’s Work Permit shall be enough. We still recommend that you double check the requirements with your employer.

Since 1 April 2017, foreigners that work in China has been divided into 3 classes: Class A (high level talents), Class B (professional personnel), Class C (foreigners who are nontechnical or service workers hired on a temporary/seasonal basis).

There are several criteria that are used to rate the applicant: salary, education, Chinese language skills, experience, etcetera.

If you reach at least level C, then your employer can apply online for your Foreigner’s Work Permit.

Beside the basic requirements and the the Foreigner’s Work Permit, in order to get the Z VISA you will also have to provide the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (in English or Chinese language);

• Original copy of bachelor (or higher degree) diploma. If the diploma has not been issued in China, then you shall also provide an authenticated copy, which can be obtained in a Chinese Consulate or Embassy in your country (or in the Embassy or Consulate of the country that released the diploma, if you are already in China);

• Original reference letter from one or more non-Chinese companies that prove you have at least 2 years of full-time working experience (after graduation) in the industry you intend to work in China;

• On top of that, you may also be required to provide a medical certificate and /or a clean criminal record check issued by your country of citizenship (check the details with the CVASC or the Chinese Consular Office in your country);

However, note that, if you fall into Class A (high level talent), then the requirements are much less strict (read this article for more details).

Be aware that not all employers can get you a Work VISA. For instance, small, private English schools often can’t. This is the main reason for which they often try to convince you to come to China and work under a Tourist or Business VISA.

Do this at your own risk because it’s illegal. If you get caught working with the wrong VISA, you risk paying a fine that ranges between 5,000 and 20,000 Chinese Yuan, and may even end up in prison (from five to fifteen days). Afterwards, you’ll be asked leave the country or, depending on the conditions, will be deported (at your expense). If you’re deported, you won’t be able to get a new Chinese VISA for a period that ranges from one to ten years.

Having said that, many firms and public organizations (universities, for instance) are accredited to employ foreigners and can help you get a work VISA as long as you qualify as a “foreign expert.”

Depending on the field, you may need to prove you have English as first language and hold a Bachelor’s Degree (if you want to teach English) or provide a Ph.D. degree (if, for instance, you want to become a university professor).

The logic behind this rule is the following: you have to prove that you are useful to China by bringing some skills and expertise that the country needs. If you can’t do anything, why should a Chinese company hire you instead of a Chinese person?