To travel in China, citizens of virtually
all other countries need a visa. Getting
a Chinese visa is easy for Western tourists,
as you don’t need an invitation, for
example. Chinese Visa is quite cheap
compared to other countries’ visa fees,
with approximately 20€ (200 Chinese RMB)
for one Visa. The usual tourist single-entry
Chinese visa is valid for thirty days
and must be used within three months
after it was issued. In some cases, it
is possible to obtain a visa on arrival
to China, but it is recommended to get
your visa in advance.
A Chinese visa is a permit issued by
the Chinese visa authorities to an alien
for entry into, exit from or transit
through China. The Chinese visa authorities
may issue a Diplomatic, Courtesy, Service
or Ordinary Visa to an alien according
to his status, purpose of visit to China
or passport type. The Ordinary Visa consists
of eight sub-categories, which are respectively
marked with Chinese phonetic letters
C, D, F, G, J-1, J-2, L, X and Z.
Chinese Visa Categories
(L) Type Chinese Visa: Visa
for visitors to China
Chinese (L) Visa is issued to an alien
who comes to China for sightseeing or
visiting family members/friends. Usually
the validity of a Single Entry or Double
Entry (L) visa is 90 days or 180 days
from the date of issue. This means the
holder of a Chinese L type visa shall
enter China no later than 90 days or
180 days from the date of issue, otherwise
the visa is expired and is null and void.
The duration of stay of an (L) visa is
30 days, which means the holder of the
visa may stay in China for up to 30 days
from the date of entry. The Chinese visa
officer may extend the Duration of Stay
if the applicant needs and requests a
stay in China for more than 30 days.
(F) Type Chinese Visa: Visa
for doing business in China
(F) Visa is issued to an alien who
is invited to China for a visit, an investigation,
a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological
and culture exchanges, short-term advanced
studies or internship for a period of
no more than six months. Usually, the
validity of a Single Entry or Double
Entry (F) visa is 90 days or 180 days
from the date of issue. This means the
holder of the visa shall enter China
no later than 90 days or 180 days from
the date of issue, otherwise the visa
is expired and is null and void. The
duration of stay of a (F) visa is 30
days, which means the holder of the visa
may stay in China for up to 30 days from
the date of entry. The visa officer may
extend the Duration of Stay if the applicant
needs and requests a stay in China for
more than 30 days.
(Z) Type Chinese Visa: Visa
for working in China
(Z) Visa is issued to an alien who
comes to China for a post
or employment, and his/her accompanying
family members. (Z) visa is valid for
one entry, three months. The holder of
a (Z) visa shall go through residential
formalities in the local public security
department within thirty days of entry
into China.
Any person suffering from mental disorder,
leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious
tuberculosis or other such infectious
diseases shall not be permitted to enter
China.
(X) Type Chinese Visa: Visa
for studying in China
(X) Visa is issued to an alien who
comes to China for study, advanced studies
or intern practice for a period of more
than six months. An alien who comes to
China to study, short-term advanced studies
or intern practice for a period of no
more than six months shall apply for
a (F) Visa. Generally, (X) visa is valid
for one entry, three months. American
citizens may apply multiple entry (X)
visas valid for 12 months, and the application
fee is $150. The holder of a (X) visa
must go through residential formalities
in the local public security department
within thirty days of entry into China.
Chinese Visa Application Forms
Chinese Visa application forms are
available on the web site
of the Embassy of China in
the U S. You can download
the forms here: Chinese
Visa Application Forms
China Visa Information on
the Web
This article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License. It uses
material from the Wikitravel
article “China”. It also based on
information by the Chinese
Embassy in the U S A.