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China Visa Information

 

Citizens of most countries are required to obtain Chinese visas to enter China. If you are not sure if you need visa to enter/exit China, please check with China embassies or consulate generals in your country (region). Please Click Here for list of Chinese Embassies and Consulate Generals and find contact information of local China visa office.


Important News about China Visa Application:
 

China Visa Application

A Chinese visa is a permit issued by Chinese visa authorities to non-Chinese citizens for entry into, exit from and transit through China. American citizens and citizens of most countries are required to obtain a China visa before entering China. There are eight categories of ordinary Chinese visas, which are respectively marked with the letters C, D, F, G, J-1, J-2, L, X and Z.

L Visa: The most popular type of China visa, an L visa is also known as a tourist visa. It is issued to those who visit China for tourist purposes, family visit or other personal matters.

F Visa: Also known as business visa, an F visa is issued to applicants who are invited to China for business, research, lecture, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months.

Z Visa: A work visa, it is issued to those who are hired by Chinese companies to work or teach in China, and their accompanying family members.

X Visa: A student visa, issued to applicants who go to China for the purpose of study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period of more than six months.

C Visa: Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and family members accompanying them on China-bound flight.

G Visa: Issued to those who transit through China. American passport holders must obtain a transit visa to transit through all Chinese airports except Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.

D Visa: Issued to applicant who is to reside permanently in China.

J-1 Visa: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.

J-2 Visa: Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview missions in China.

Validity of Visa: A single entry Chinese visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, and a double entry visa is valid for 6 months. A China visa holder must enter China before the expiration date for the visa to remain valid.

Duration of Stay: The duration of stay is specified on a Chinese visa. Chinese visa holders must not stay beyond the specified date without extending their visas. Otherwise, they will be subject to stiff penalties.

Overseas Chinese Visa Authorities: Foreign citizens can obtain a China visa from Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, and the consular department of the office of Chinese Foreign Ministry. For further information, please consult the nearest China visa authorities in your country.

Links to China Visa Authorities in U.S.A.:

Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C.
Chinese Consulate in Houston
Chinese Consulate in New York
Chinese Consulate in Chicago
Chinese Consulate in San Francisco
Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles

Links to China Visa Offices (List of Embassies and Consulate Generals) in Other Regions

More Information and Links about China Visa Application.

China Visa Application FAQ
 

 
 

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China Visa Related News and Information

Macao, Brazil Swaps Visa-free Access

 China's Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and Brazil have started to offer each other visa-free access for a maximum stay of 90 days. A press release issued here on Wednesday by Macao's Information Bureau said the mutual visa-free access pact has been effective since March 24, 2006. There are currently 69 countries and territories having agreed to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to MSAR passport holders, said the release.

 

Starting September 1, 2003 Japanese businessmen and tourists will not require visas for brief visits to China.
As is now the case for tourists from Singapore and Brunei, Japanese visitors will be permitted to stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

Shanghai to Change Foreigner Visa Alteration Process
Shanghai will change the way it handles some aspects of foreigner visa alteration, which includes such services as change of visa type, extension, etc. The application process will definitely change. And according to a source within the Shanghai visa office, other changes - such as duration of stay for various visas are in store, as well. The changes are designed to bring greater flexibility and ease to the visa alteration process.

Visa Safe, But No Use to Stranded Tourists
Shanghai Daily Mar. 28, 2007 - A group of French tourists arriving at Pudong International Airport on Monday narrowly escaped being sent back home after immigration police discovered their visas were 9,000 kilometers away - and locked in a safe. The 34 tourists, all aged over 60, including one in a wheelchair, were looking forward to a tour of China organized by a French travel agency. However, when the group reached immigration they were denied entry because they held only photocopies of their group visa. The tourists were traveling without a representative of their travel agency, so immigration authorities phoned it up only to find that the original group visa was still sitting in a safe in France. It had been mistakenly left there by the assistant in charge of the tourists' travel plans.

 "According to immigration law, the seniors should have been told to fly back home because they lacked the legal visa documents," said Lin Heping, an immigration police officer.

 

However, after an investigation to confirm details of the China tour, immigration authorities issued all group members with landing visas and they were allowed to leave the airport five hours after touching down.

"Many of the seniors told us that it was their first trip to China and they had waited a long time to make the journey," said Liu.

 

Liu, however, warned other travelers that this was a special case.

 

"Visitors must have an invitation from a limited number of authorized high-level local government authorities or entities to apply for landing visas according to law."

 

Liu reminded foreign travelers to bring original copies of their visas to China to avoid problems.

 

The group of elderly French tourists were due to start their China tour in Suzhou, a popular travel destination in Jiangsu Province.

 

Visa Safe, But No Use to Stranded Tourists
Shanghai Daily Mar. 28, 2007 - A group of French tourists arriving at Pudong International Airport on Monday narrowly escaped being sent back home after immigration police discovered their visas were 9,000 kilometers away - and locked in a safe. The 34 tourists, all aged over 60, including one in a wheelchair, were looking forward to a tour of China organized by a French travel agency. However, when the group reached immigration they were denied entry because they held only photocopies of their group visa. (Click for full report.)

 

China Simplifies Border Entry, Exit Formalities

Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2006 - All Chinese citizens, including Taiwan residents, will be able to enter China without filling forms from Jan. 1, 2007, the Ministry of Public Security has announced.

 

 "All Chinese citizens including mainland residents, Taiwanese and overseas Chinese will not be required to fill entry registration cards at border checkpoint. This will greatly shorten the processing time," said a spokesman for the ministry. The card includes personal information such as name, gender, birth date, passport number, purpose of visit and passport issue place. The ministry has operated entry and exit card procedures since March 1976. However, the rapid increase in international travelers has put enormous pressure on border checkpoints.

 

China recorded more than 302 million entries and exits last year, including more than 40 million foreigners, up 19.9 percent from 2004, and almost 262 million Chinese citizens, up 8.42 percent.China's booming economy and deepening reforms were making overseas travel easier for Chinese, he said.

 

Mainland residents bound for Hong Kong and Macao special autonomous regions and Chinese tourist groups to foreign countries, together accounting for two thirds of border crossings in 2005, are not required to fill entry or exit cards.

 

China Promises to Make Visa Application Easier for Olympics
Xinhua News,  Jan. 26, 2007China's public security authorities on Thursday promised to improve visa application procedures so foreigners involved in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will find it easier to enter the country. "Anyone with valid Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards (OIAC) will enjoy visa-free entry into China one month before and after the Olympics," said Li Changyou, deputy director of the Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration with the Ministry of Public Security. The OIAC is a personalized card granted by the International Olympic Committee, which gives its holder the right to attend the Olympic Games for participation or in a work capacity. Li said that China had already relaxed some requirements, including the granting of one-year work permits to people coming to work on the Games in the run up to, and during, the Games. "We will further improve relevant procedures according to the Olympic conventions and charter so that we can guarantee a successful Games," Li said.

 

HK Welcomes Extension of Individual Visit Scheme
Xinhua News, April 21, 2006 - Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) welcomed the further extension of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to the remaining six provincial capitals of the Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) region from May, 1, 2006. (Click for full report.)

 

Hangzhou: New Visa Windows to Serve Foreigners
Zhejiang News, Aug. 30, 2006 - New visa windows for foreign people will be opened as of August 28 in Hangzhou. The new windows are on the right side of the gate of Hangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, neighboring the hall of Chinese Citizens' Exit Certificates. It is reported that the hall of Chinese Citizens' Exit Certificates will be rearranged: the original visa windows for foreign people will serve as widows for charging entry-exit certificate fees and issuing certificates.

Macao, Brazil Swaps Visa-free Access

Xinhua News Mar. 29, 2006 - China's Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and Brazil have started to offer each other visa-free access for a maximum stay of 90 days. A press release issued here on Wednesday by Macao's Information Bureau said the mutual visa-free access pact has been effective since March 24, 2006. There are currently 69 countries and territories having agreed to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to MSAR passport holders, said the release.

New Visa Center Opens in Pudong
Shanghai Daily Oct. 10, 2005 - Frustrated Chinese travelers and foreigners can breathe a sigh of relief - there's a new, more efficient center for passports, visas and residence permits. (Click for full story)

HK tightens visa policy for 4 countries
Chinaview.cn, July 4, 2005 - The citizens of Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Somalia will require a Hong Kong visa from July 11, including for airside transit, according to a government press release on Monday. Hong Kong Immigration Department said on Monday that this was due to security and immigration control reasons. Nationals of Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia have been able to visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to14 days, while Somalis have needed a visa for visits unless they are in airside transit. Hong Kong adopts a liberal visa policy under which nationals of about 170 countries and territories can visit visa-free and stay for up to 180 days. The department regularly reviews its visa policies and will take into account social, economic and political situations around the world. It will review its policies in light of ongoing developments.
Beijing appears to be restricting entry rules for Taiwanese
Taipei Times, Taiwan Mar. 18, 2005 - Beijing may be tightening policies on granting travel papers for Taiwanese wishing to visit China in the aftermath of its recently established "Anti-Secession" Law, according to the nation's top cross-strait policymaking body... (full report)

Shanghai to Change Foreigner Visa Alteration Process
CriEnglish.com Dec. 22, 2004 - Shanghai will change the way it handles some aspects of foreigner visa alteration, which includes such services as change of visa type, extension, etc. The application process will definitely change. And according to a source within the Shanghai visa office, other changes - such as duration of stay for various visas are in store, as well. The changes are designed to bring greater flexibility and ease to the visa alteration process.

United States, China relax visa requirements for business and tourism
US-Politics.news.designerz.com, Jan. 7, 2005 - The United States and China have agreed to a reciprocal visa arrangement with both sides offering 12-month multiple-entry business and tourist visas. (full coverage)

Starting September 1, 2003 Japanese businessmen and tourists will not require visas for brief visits to China.
As is now the case for tourists from Singapore and Brunei, Japanese visitors will be permitted to stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

 

 

 

 
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