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Visa Requirements (China)

Do I need a visa for China?

If you are travelling to mainland China, you require a visa to be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate prior to your trip, unless you are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries. Macau and Hong Kong have their own visa requirements.

Types of visas

Ordinary visa

For the ordinary visa, there are eight categories, separately represented by eight Chinese phonetic letters (C, D, F, G, J-1, J-2, L, X, Z) as the visa code.

1) C Visa (Crew Visa): issued to foreign crew members performing their duties on international transportations including trains, aircraft, ships, sailor or motor vehicle drivers, and their accompanying family members.

2) D Visa (Permanent Residence Visa): issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.

3) F Visa (Visit Visa): Issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for the visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of fewer than six months.

4) G Visa (Transit Visa): issued to a foreign citizen who intends to transit through China on their way to a third country (or region).

5) J1 Visa (Long-term Journalist Visa): issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news agencies stationed in China. The duration of stay can exceed 180 days.

6) J2 (Short-term Journalist Visa): issued to foreign journalists who intend to visit China for short-term news coverage, up to 180 days.

7) L Visa (Tourist Visa): issued to a foreign citizen who intends to visit China as a tourist.

8) M Visa (Business Visa): issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.

9) Q1 Visa (Family Reunion Visa): issued to those who want to go to China for a family reunion or to those who intend to go to China for foster care.

10) Q2 Visa (Family Visit Visa): issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China.

11) R Visa (Talent Visa): issued to those who are high-level talents are urgently needed in China.

12) S1 Visa (Long-term Private Visit Visa): issued to those who intend to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters. They can stay more than 180 days.

13) S2 Visa (Short-term Private Visit Visa): issued to those who intend to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters. They can stay up to 180 days.

14) X1 Visa (Long-term Study Visa): issued to those who intend to study in China for more than 180 days.

15) X2 Visa (Short-term Study Visa): issued to those who intend to study in China for up to 180 days.

16) Z Visa (Working Visa): issued to those who intend to work in China.

Visa Application Requirements

1) A valid passport with at least six months validity remaining

2) One visa application form fully completed and signed

3) One passport size photograph

4) Copy of the Green Card or a valid visa back to the U.S.

5) For the non-U.S. citizen, onward/return tickets or confirmed itinerary

Please note: The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Please contact your nearest embassy for accurate, up-to-date information. For more information, visit:
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/
http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/lhqzjjs/