Visas for China

Except in very special cases, you will have to apply for a Visa to enter China. The exact requirements and steps for the application vary by country, so these are only basic guidelines. You should check the Chinese embassy website of your own country for the exact requirements for getting a Chinese visa.

Types of Visas

The type of visa you apply for should reflect the nature of your visit to China. Below is a list of the types of visas available.

Visa Category	Eligible Applicants
C	Foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships.
D	Foreigners who intend to reside in China permanently.
F	Foreigners who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other non-business activities.
G	Foreigners who intend to transit through China.
J1	Resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
J2	Foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
L	Foreigners who intend to go to China as a tourist.
M	Foreigners who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.
Q1	Foreigners who are family members* of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
Q2	Foreigners who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
R	Foreigners who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.
S1	Foreigners who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
S2	Foreigners who intend to visit their family members* who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters.The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
X1	Foreigners who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.
X2	Foreigners who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
Z	Foreigners who intend to work in China.

Source: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/hrsq/

What You Need

In order to apply for your visa, you will need the following documentation:

Your passport. It must have 1+ blank pages (the exact number depends on your country) and must be valid at least 6 months after the end of your trip.
2 passport-sized photos with white background.
A complete Visa Application Form. This form is available on the Chinese Embassy website of your country.
Money. The charge for getting a visa depends on your country.

Before submitting visa your application, make sure to check with your country’s Chinese Embassy website in case there is other documentation you need.

The Application Process

Applying for your visa is a complicated and time-consuming process, so make sure you have read the requirements for your country carefully before submitting. You should apply for your visa no more than a month before your trip because the visa expires if you have not entered China 30 days after the visa was issued.

In order to apply, you will need to go to the Chinese embassy in person. If you do not want to go in person, you can in some countries use a Visa agency, though there is a charge. In this case, you send the agency your information, and they take it to the embassy for you. They then mail back your passport and visa.

When you are applying for your visa, make sure to keep in mind the number of permitted entries. If you have a single-entry passport, you can only enter China once. If you try to enter more than once, you will need to apply for a new visa. Applying for a multi-entry visa does not ensure that you will get one, so make sure to review your visa carefully after it is issued.