1.General Provisions
A visa is a travel document issued by authorized government agencies to foreign citizens applying to enter, exit from or transit through the host country's territory based on the host country's laws and regulations.
In accordance with international law and practice, any sovereign state is entitled to decide on whether or not to allow a foreign citizen to enter or exit from its territory, and whether to issue a visa, decline a visa application or to cancel an issued visa in accordance with its national laws.
In accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, consular officers will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant. Consular officers reserve the right to decline a visa application or revoke an issued visa.
2.Visa-issuing Authorities.
Embassies and consulates of the People’s Republic of China and other institutions stationed abroad entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for issuance of entry visas to foreigners.
Eligible applicants for Article 20 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China，may apply for port visas with the visa-issuing authorities entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security at the ports which are approved to issue port visas by the State Council.
3. Visa Categories
Chinese Visas are categorized as diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, official visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are subdivided :
Visa Categories | Description of Visa |
C | Issued to 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 | Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. |
F | Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities. |
G | Issued to those who intend to transit through China. |
J1 | Issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. |
J2 | Issued to 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 | Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist. |
M | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities. |
Q1 | Issued to those 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. "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
Q2 | Issued to those 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 | Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China. |
S1 | Issued to those 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 | Issued to those 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. "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
X1 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. |
X2 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. |
Z | Issued to those who intend to work in China. |
4.Visa Validity
Visa Validity ("Enter Before") means that the visa is valid, or can be used for entering into China from the date of issue to the "Enter Before" (Beijing Time) date indicated on the visa . If a visa has unused entries, the bearer can enter China by 24:00 o’clock (Beijing Time) of the expiration date.
5.Visa Entries
"Visa Entries" refers to the number of times the bearer is permitted to enter China during the validity of a visa.
A visa becomes invalid if there are no entries left, or there are entries left but the visa validity expires. If a visa becomes invalid, its bearer must apply for a new visa before entering China. Traveling with an invalid visa to China will result in refusal of entry.
6.Duration of Each Stay
"Duration of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days the visa bearer is permitted to stay in China each time, which is calculated from the second day of entry into China.
7. Residence of Foreigners
Holders of Z, X1, D, J1, Q1, S1 Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people’s governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigner’s residence permits.
Members of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China must apply for a residence permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or local foreign affairs departments within 30 days of entry into China.