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. Hereunder is an introduction to the ordinary visa and its
application procedure:
The ordinary visas consist of eight sub-categories, which are
marked with Chinese phonetic letters (D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1 and
J-2 respectively).
Visa D: issued to foreigners who are to reside
permanently in China. A permanent residence confirmation form shall
be required for the application of Visa D. The applicant shall
apply to obtain this form himself or through his designated
relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public
security bureau in the city or county where he applies to
reside.
Visa Z: Issued to foreigners who are to take up
posts or employment in China, and to their accompanying family
members. To apply for a Visa Z, an Employment License of the
People's Republic of China for Foreigners (which could be obtained
by the employer in China from the provincial or municipal labor
authorities) and a visa notification letter/telegram issued by an
authorized organization or company are required.
Visa X: Issued to foreigners who come to China
for study, advanced studies or job-training for a period of six
months or more. To apply for a Visa X, certificates from the
receiving unit and the competent authority concerned are required,
i.e., Application Form for Overseas Students to China (JW201 Form
or JW202 Form), Admission Notice and Physical Examination Record
for Foreigners.
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. To apply for a Visa F, the invitation letter from the
inviting unit or the visa notification letter/telegram from the
authorized unit is required.
Visa L: Issued to foreigners who come to China
for sightseeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes. For
a tourist applicant, in principle he shall evidence his financial
capability of covering the travelling expenses in China, and when
necessary, provide the air, train or ship tickets to the heading
country/region after leaving China. For the applicants who come to
China to visit relatives, some are required to provide invitation
letters from their relatives in China.
Visa G: Issued to foreigners who transit
through China. The applicants are required to show valid visas and
on-going tickets to the heading countries/regions.
Visa C: Issued to train attendants, air
crewmembers and seamen operating international services, and to
their accompanying family members. To apply for a visa C, relevant
documents are required to be provided in accordance with bilateral
agreements or regulations of the Chinese side.
Visa J-1: Issued to foreign resident
correspondents in China.
Visa J-2: Issued to foreign correspondents who
make short trip to China on reporting tasks. The applicants for J-1
and J-2 visas are required to provide a certificate issued by the
competent Chinese authorities.
In addition to providing the above-mentioned documents, an
applicant is also required to answer relevant questions and go
through the following formalities (with the exception of those
stipulated otherwise by agreements):
Providing valid passport or a travel document in lieu of the
passport
Filling out a visa application form, and providing a recent
2-inch, bareheaded and full-faced passport photo.
Paying the visa fee
The overseas Chinese visa authorities are Chinese embassies,
consulates, visa offices, the consular department of the Office of
the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR, and
other agencies abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of China. 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. For
further information, please consult the nearest Chinese visa
authorities.
(Ministry of Foreign Affaris of People's Republic of
China)