[Visa]
[Visa Regulations]
1. How to Apply for a Chinese Visa for Foreign Tourists?
Foreign tourists traveling to China need to apply for a travel visa (Visa L) with the overseas embassies and consulates of China. Tourist groups consisting of nine or more people may apply for a group travel visa.
In applying for visas, aliens shall provide such pertinent information as requested and complete the following procedures:
a. Present valid passports or replacement certificates;
b. Fill in visa application forms and submit recently taken two-inch half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photos;
c. Submit for examination papers supporting the application for entry into or transit through China.
Aliens holding a travel visa (Visa L) shall enter China through the ports opening to aliens or the designated ports, and accept the inspection by the frontier inspection organs, present valid passport and Chinese visa to the frontier inspection organs, fill in the entry card, and enter after the passport and visa are checked with a “Checked” stamp of the frontier inspection organs.
Alien tourists shall not travel to the areas not opening to the aliens, or he shall be punished in accordance with the law. In case the business thus requires the alien traveling to the areas not opening to the aliens, he shall apply for an Aliens Travel Permit by presenting his valid passport, showing the official letters presented by the reception departments, filling in the Application Form of Aliens Travel Permit. And the Aliens Travel Permit shall not be valid unless it is used together with the passport.
Alien tourists holding travel visa (Visa L) shall not be engaged in activities in inconformity with their identities, such as employment, missionary work and illegal interview. Those who violate the rules shall be punished. Chinese Government shall protect the legal rights and interests of the aliens in the territory of China. Aliens in the territory of China shall abide by and respect the laws, regulations, and customs of China.
Aliens shall leave China within the time limit prescribed in the visas or within the period of validity of their residence certificates. In case they need to continue the travel in China, they may apply for an extension of the period of validity with the local public security organs. After the travel, they shall fill in the exit card, and leave after the passport and visa are checked with a “Checked” stamp of the frontier inspection organs.
In case the passport is lost in the territory of China, the holder shall, before exit, report the loss with the local public security organs, tell the story of the loss, and apply for exit permits with his country’s embassies or consulates in China by presenting the certificate of loss report issued by the public security organs.
2. Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa
Chinese visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a diplomatic, courtesy, service or ordinary visa to a foreigner according to his identity, purpose of visit to China and passport type.
The ordinary visas consist of eight sub-categories, which are marked with Chinese phonetic letters (C, D, F, G, J-1, J-2, L, X, and Z respectively).
Visa C: Issued to train attendants, air crewmembers and seamen operating international services, and to their accompanying family members.
Visa D: Issued to aliens who are to reside permanently in China.
Visa F: Issued to an applicant who is invited to China on a visit, on a study or lecture, business tour, for scientific-technological and cultural exchanges, for short-term refresher course or for job-training, for a period of no more than six months.
Visa G: Issued to aliens who transit through China.
Visa J-1: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.
Visa J-2: Issued to foreign correspondents who make a short trip to China on reporting tasks.
Visa L: Issued to aliens who come to China for sightseeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes.
Visa X: Issued to aliens who come to China for study, advanced studies or job-training for a period of six months or more.
Visa Z: Issued to aliens who are to take up posts or employment in China, and to their accompanying family members.
The overseas Chinese visa authorities are Chinese embassies, consulates, the authorized agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa.
Crewmembers and tourists who directly transit through China, or stay in China for less than 24 hours, or don’t leave the airports are free from visas.
Citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan holding ordinary passports and traveling to China for the purposes of business, tourism, visiting relatives or transit, if staying in China not more than 15 days, are free from visas.
Hong Kong and Macao Compatriots
* Hong Kong and Macao compatriots with Chinese nationality can enter and exit with valid home-visiting certificate.
* In case they fail to obtain home-visiting certificates for special reasons, they may apply for Entry and Exit Permit of PRC with the visa authorities at the specially-permitted ports.
Taiwan Compatriots
Taiwan compatriots shall enter and leave the Mainland with Travel Passes for Taiwan Residents to Enter or Leave the Mainland and valid visa.
In case they fail to obtain the above-mentioned certificates and visa, they may apply for Travel Passes for Taiwan Residents to Enter or Leave the Mainland for a single journey.
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