1) Issued to: Persons entering the country for commercial and trade activities

(2) Required materials
1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.
2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you must provide a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study or a valid visa in your country and a copy of it.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo data page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is different from that in the original passport, you must also provide a document proving the name change issued by the relevant official).

5. Business activity documents, trade fair invitations and other invitation letters issued by trading partners in China. The invitation letter must contain the following:

(1) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.

(2) Information about the invitee’s visit: purpose of visit to China, arrival and departure dates, places visited, relationship with the inviting organization or inviter, source of expenses, etc.

(3) Information about the inviting organization or inviter: name of the inviting organization or inviter, contact number, address, organization seal, signature of the legal representative or inviter.

(I) Issued to: Inbound tourists

(II) Required materials
1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.
2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide the original and photocopy of a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study or a valid visa in your country of nationality.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo data page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is different from that in the original passport, you must also provide a document proving the name change issued by the relevant authorities).

5. Itinerary materials such as round-trip air ticket orders and hotel orders, or an invitation letter issued by an organization or individual in China. The invitation letter must include the following:

(1) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.

(2) Itinerary information of the invitee: arrival and departure dates, travel destinations, etc.

(3) Information of the inviting organization or inviter: name of the inviting organization or inviter, contact number, address, organization seal, signature of the legal representative or inviter, etc.
Depending on the case, the consul may also request other materials related to the application.

(I) Issued to: People who transit through China

(II) Required materials
1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.
2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who apply for a visa outside their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you must provide the original and photocopy of a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study, or a valid visa in your country of nationality.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo data page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a document proving the change of name issued by the relevant official).

5. A connecting flight (train, ship) ticket with a confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region.

(I) Issued to: Personnel entering the country for exchanges, visits, inspections, etc.

(II) Required materials
1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.
2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study in your country or the original and photocopy of a valid visa.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo data page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is different from that in the original passport, you must also provide a document proving the name change issued by the relevant official).

5. Invitation letter issued by relevant units or individuals in China. The invitation letter must contain the following:

(1) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.

(2) Information about the invitee’s visit: purpose of visit to China, arrival and departure dates, places visited, relationship with the inviting unit or inviter, source of expenses, etc.

(3) Information about the inviting unit or inviter: name of the inviting unit or inviter, contact number, address, unit seal, signature of the legal representative or inviter, etc.

(I) Issued to: People who enter the country for permanent residence

(II) Required materials

1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you must provide a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study or a valid visa in your country and a copy of it.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo data page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of name change issued by the relevant official).
5. The original and copy of the Foreigner Permanent Residence Identity Confirmation Form issued by the Ministry of Public Security of China.

(I) Issued to: International train crew members, international aircraft crew members, crew members of international ships and their accompanying family members, and drivers of cars engaged in international road transport who perform passenger, aviation, and shipping tasks.

(II) Required materials: 1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study, or a valid visa in your country and a copy of it.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and apply for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo information page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of name change issued by the relevant official).
5. A letter of guarantee issued by a foreign transportation company or an invitation letter issued by a relevant unit in China.

The services provided by different embassies and consulates usually vary depending on the situation in the host country. It is recommended that you consult directly with the embassy or consulate where you will submit your visa application.

Depending on the situation in the host country, different embassies and consulates usually choose different charging methods. It is recommended that you directly consult the embassy or consulate where you will submit your visa application.

If you need expedited service, please inform the visa officer when submitting your visa. As long as you have reasonable reasons, the visa officer can usually meet your request, but you will need to pay an additional fee when you pick up the visa (usually about RMB 170 to 250).

Under normal circumstances, the embassy or consulate abroad can complete the visa application within four to five working days. However, in some special cases, the embassy or consulate abroad also has the right to extend the visa approval time. For applicants, it is more appropriate to submit a visa application about one month before the intended date of entry.

Normally, yes. However, the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad may require the applicant to come to the embassy for an interview depending on the circumstances.

Currently, only some Chinese embassies have opened online appointment services for visa applications. It is recommended that you directly consult the embassy or consulate where you will submit your visa application.

1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: one copy of the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China and one recent front-facing barehead color passport photo with a light background attached to the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you must provide the original and photocopy of a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work or study in your country or a valid visa.

4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a photocopy of the passport photo data page; if you have obtained a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the photo data page of the original foreign passport and a photocopy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of name change issued by the relevant official). In addition to the basic application materials, you will also need to provide other supporting application materials depending on the type of visa you are applying for.

Refers to the period of stay that the holder is allowed to stay each time he/she enters the country, calculated from the day after entry.

Refers to the valid time range for the entry of the visa held by the holder. If there is no special mark, the visa will take effect from the date of issuance and will expire at 24:00 Beijing time on the day of expiration. If there are still unused entries, the holder can enter the country before the expiration date (including the day).

Answer: Chinese visas are divided into diplomatic visas, courtesy visas, official visas and ordinary visas. Among them, there are 16 types of ordinary visas, which are marked with Chinese pinyin letters and Arabic numerals:

Visa types

Applicant scope

C

International train crew members, international aircraft crew members, crew members and family members of international ships performing service, aviation and shipping tasks, and drivers engaged in international road transportation

D

Persons entering for permanent residence

F

Persons entering for exchanges, visits, inspections and other activities

G

Persons transiting through China

J1

Foreign journalists resident in Chinese news agencies (residence for more than 180 days)

J2

Foreign journalists entering for short-term (staying no more than 180 days) interviews and reports

L

Inbound tourists

M

Persons entering the country for commercial and trade activities

Q1

Family members of Chinese citizens (spouse, parents, children, spouse of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, grandchildren, grandchildren-in-law and parents-in-law) who apply for residence in China for family reunion and family members of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence status (spouse, parents, children, spouse of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, grandchildren, grandchildren-in-law and parents-in-law), as well as persons applying for entry and residence for foster care and other reasons

Q2

Relatives of Chinese citizens and relatives of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence status who enter the country for short-term (no more than 180 days) visits

R

Foreign high-level talents and urgently needed specialized talents needed by the country

S1

Spouses, parents, children under 18 years of age, parents-in-law of foreigners who reside in China for work, study, etc., who enter for long-term (more than 180 days) family visits, and people who need to stay in China for other private matters

S2

Family members (spouse, parents, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, grandchildren, grandchildren-in-law and parents-in-law) of foreigners who stay in China for work, study, etc., who enter for short-term (no more than 180 days) family visits, and people who need to stay in China for other private matters

X1

People who study in China for a long time (more than 180 days)

X2

People who study in China for a short time (no more than 180 days)

Z

People who work in China

The Chinese visa authorities decide what kind of visa to issue based on the applicant’s purpose of entry and identity.

Answer: Foreigners in China must abide by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China.

(i) Before coming to China, applicants should check whether their visas are valid and have sufficient entry times. If the visa has expired or the number of entries is insufficient, they should apply for a new visa.

(ii) Foreigners who bring animals, plants, currency and other items into China must comply with relevant Chinese laws, as well as relevant regulations of health quarantine, animal and plant inspection and quarantine, customs, and financial regulatory departments.

(iii) Foreigners entering China shall not engage in activities unrelated to the reasons they declared when applying for visas.

(iv) Foreign citizens shall not overstay in China. Foreign citizens in China should pay attention to the validity period of their passports and the stay period of their visas. If they need to extend their stay, they must go to the local public security agency to apply for an extension 7 days before the expiration of their stay.

(v) Foreigners shall not enter areas restricted to foreigners without approval.

(VI) The following situations will result in being denied boarding, denied entry or being fined, so please avoid them:

1. Those who come to China without obtaining a visa in advance, except for those who are exempted from visas;

2. Those who come to China with expired visas;

3. Those who overstay in China;

4. Those whose passports expire during their stay in China (regardless of whether the visa stay period is valid).

(I) Issued to:

Q1 visa: Family members of Chinese citizens (spouse, parents, children, spouse of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren and parents of spouse) who apply to reside in China for family reunion and family members of foreigners with permanent residency in China (spouse, parents, children, spouse of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren and parents of spouse), as well as persons applying for entry and residence for foster care and other reasons

Q2 visa: Relatives of Chinese citizens and relatives of foreigners with permanent residency in China who enter China for a short-term (no more than 180 days) visit.

(II) Required materials

1. Passport: original passport with blank visa page and a copy of passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you must provide the original and copy of a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work or study in your country or a valid visa.

4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; if you have obtained a Chinese visa and apply for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo information page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of name change issued by the relevant official).
5. Q1 visa:

If the reason is family reunion, the following documents must be provided:

(1) An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence permit who resides in China. The invitation letter must contain the following:

① Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

② Information about the invitee’s visit: purpose of visit, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended duration of residence, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;

③ Information about the inviter: name, contact number, address, signature, etc. of the inviter. （2）Copy of the inviting person’s Chinese ID card or a foreigner’s passport and permanent residence permit;
（3）Original and copy of the family relationship certificate (spouse, parents, children, children’s spouse, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren and parents of spouse) between the applicant and the inviting person (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by the police station or notarized kinship certificate, etc.).
If the purpose is foster care, the following documents must be provided:

(1) A notarized letter of foster care authorization issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or a letter of authorization notarized and certified by the host country or China;

(2) The original and copy of the principal’s passport and proof of kinship between the principal and the foster child (marriage certificate, birth certificate, proof of kinship issued by the public security police station or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.);

(3) A letter of consent to foster care issued by the trustee and a copy of his/her ID card;

(4) If both or one of the parents of the foster child is a Chinese citizen, a copy of the certificate of residence of the Chinese parent abroad at the time of the child’s birth should also be provided.

【Note】The holder of the visa must apply for a residence permit from the exit and entry administration of the public security organ of the local people’s government at or above the county level in the proposed place of residence within 30 days after entering China.

Q2 visa:

(1) An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen residing in China or a foreign citizen with permanent residence in China. The invitation letter must contain the following:

① Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

② Information of the invitee’s visit: purpose of visit to China, arrival and departure dates, place of visit, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;

③ Information of the inviter: name, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

(2) A copy of the inviter’s Chinese ID card or a copy of the inviter’s passport and permanent residence permit.

(I) Issued to: Foreign high-level talents and urgently needed specialized talents needed by the country.

(II) Required materials

1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study in your country or the original and photocopy of a valid visa.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and apply for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo information page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of name change issued by the relevant official).

5. Meet the conditions and requirements for the introduction of foreign high-level talents and urgently needed and scarce specialized talents determined by the relevant competent departments of the Chinese government, and submit relevant supporting materials in accordance with the regulations.

(I) Issued to:

S1 visa:

Spouses, parents, children under 18 years of age, parents-in-law of foreigners who are staying in China for work, study, etc., who enter the country for long-term (more than 180 days) family visits, and those who need to stay in China for other private matters

S2 visa:

Family members (spouse, parents, children, spouses of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, grandchildren, grandchildren-in-law and parents-in-law) of foreigners who are staying in China for work, study, etc., who enter the country for short-term (no more than 180 days) family visits, and those who need to stay in China for other private matters

(II) Required materials

1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China and 1 recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who are not applying for a visa in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you must provide the original and a copy of a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work or study in your country or a valid visa.

4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo information page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a certificate of name change issued by the relevant official).

5. S1 visa:

(1) Invitation letter issued by a foreigner residing in China. The invitation letter must include the following:

① Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.

② Information of the invitee’s visit: purpose of visit, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended duration of residence, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.

③ Information of the inviter: name, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

(2) Copies of the inviter’s passport and residence permit;

(3) Original and copy of proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (spouse, parents, children under 18 years of age, parents of spouse) (marriage certificate, birth certificate, proof of kinship issued by the public security station or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.).

【Note】The holder of the certificate must apply for a residence permit from the exit-entry administration of the public security organ of the local people’s government at or above the county level in the intended place of residence within 30 days after entering China.

S2 visa:

If the visit is for a short-term family visit, the following documents must be provided:

(1) Copies of the passport and residence permit of the inviting person (specifically a foreigner who stays in China for work, study, etc.);

(2) Invitation letter issued by the inviting person. The invitation letter must contain the following:

① Personal information of the invited person: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;

② Information of the invited person’s visit: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place of visit, relationship with the inviting person, source of expenses, etc.;

③ Information of the inviting person: name, contact number, address, signature of the inviting person, etc.

(3) Copies of proof of family relationship between the applicant and the inviting person (spouse, parents, children, spouse of children, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren and parents of spouse) (marriage certificate, birth certificate, proof of kinship issued by the public security police station or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.).

If it is a private matter, you must provide relevant supporting documents upon request by the consular officer.

(I) Issued to:

X1 is issued to those who study in China for a long time (more than 180 days)

X2 is issued to those who study in China for a short time (no more than 180 days)

(II) Required materials

1. Passport: original passport with a blank visa page and a photocopy of the passport photo data page with a validity period of more than 6 months.

2. Visa application form and photo: one copy of the “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” and one recent front-facing, bare-headed, light-colored background color passport photo pasted on the application form.

3. Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who apply for a visa outside their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide a valid certificate of legal stay, residence, work, study in your country or the original and photocopy of a valid visa.
4. Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo data page; if you have been granted a Chinese visa and are applying for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo data page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have obtained (if the name recorded in the new passport is inconsistent with the original passport, you must also provide a document proving the name change issued by the relevant official).

5. X1 visa:

(1) The original and a copy of the admission notice issued by the recruiting unit in China;

(2) The original and a copy of the Visa Application Form for Foreign Students Studying in China (JW201 or JW202).

[Note] The holder must apply for a residence permit from the exit and entry administration agency of the public security organ of the local people’s government at or above the county level in the intended place of residence within 30 days after entering China.
X2 visa:
The original and copy of the admission letter issued by the recruiting unit in China.

(i) The invitation letter may be a fax, photocopy or printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to provide the original invitation letter.
(ii) If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other supporting documents or supplementary materials, or require the applicant to be interviewed.
(iii) The consular officer will decide whether to issue a visa and the validity period, duration of stay and number of entries of the visa based on the specific circumstances of the applicant.
(iv) For further details, please visit the websites of relevant Chinese embassies and consulates abroad.

According to the bilateral agreements or protocols signed or reached between China and relevant countries, people from some countries who meet certain conditions can visit China without a visa. For more information, please refer to the List of Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements between China and Foreign Countries.

(i) Foreigners holding valid residence permits may reside in China and enter and exit China multiple times within the validity period of their residence permits without applying for a separate visa.

(ii) Foreigners holding valid permanent residence permits of the People’s Republic of China may reside in China and enter and exit China multiple times without applying for a separate visa.

(I) Transiting the Hong Kong SAR

1. Holders of passports of the People’s Republic of China who transit through the Hong Kong SAR to the Chinese mainland or other countries (or regions) can stay in Hong Kong for 7 days without an entry permit by presenting a valid passport and connecting flight ticket. Holders of passports of the People’s Republic of China who travel from the mainland to other countries (or regions) via the Hong Kong SAR can stay in the Hong Kong SAR for 7 days without an entry permit by presenting a connecting flight ticket and a visa for the country or region to which they are going, or a legal residence document (such as a “green card”).

2. If you plan to stay in the Hong Kong SAR for more than 7 days, you should apply for an entry permit in advance. Chinese embassies and consulates abroad may issue entry permits valid for one or two times for three months, with each stay not exceeding 30 days, depending on the applicant’s situation. Holders of foreign permanent residence documents who have lived overseas for at least one year can apply for a two-year multiple entry permit.

(II) Visiting the Hong Kong SAR

1. Chinese citizens who travel to Hong Kong for a short period of time, regardless of the passport they hold, must apply for an entry permit.
2. The following persons, regardless of the length of their stay, should apply directly to the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government or to the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad for entry permits:

(1) Those who come to Hong Kong for employment, performances or exhibitions;

(2) Those who come to Hong Kong for study, vocational training, or industrial or commercial training;

(3) Those who intend to work or settle in Hong Kong.

Please visit the website of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government (www.immd.gov.hk) for details and requirements.

3. Holders of the Travel Permit of the People’s Republic of China are required to apply for entry permits when transiting through or entering the Hong Kong SAR.

Foreigners who fall into one of the following situations can come to China without a visa:

(i) Bilateral agreements. According to bilateral agreements or protocols signed or reached between China and relevant countries, people from some countries who meet specific conditions can come to China without a visa. For specific information, please refer to the list of mutual visa exemption agreements between China and foreign countries http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zlbg/bgzl/lhqz/.

(ii) Direct transit.

For specific information, please refer to the website of the China National Immigration Administration:

24-hour visa exemption for transit: https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c759334/content.html

72-hour/144-hour visa exemption for transit: https://www.nia.gov.cn/n897453/c1613010/content.html

(iii) Holders of valid foreigner residence permits issued by Chinese public security organs. Foreigners and resident foreign journalists who come to China for study, employment, family reunion, long-term family visits, etc. must apply for foreigner residence procedures at the public security organs after entering the country. During the validity period of the residence permit, foreigners can reside in China and enter and exit the country multiple times without applying for a separate visa.

(IV) Holders of a valid permanent residence permit for foreigners of the People’s Republic of China.

(V) Holders of a valid APEC Business Travel Card (APEC virtual cardholders can enter the country without a visa from May 1, 2023).

(VI) Traveling to the Pearl River Delta, Hainan Island, and Guilin

1. Foreigners holding ordinary passports of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and who are already in Hong Kong and Macao, can enter the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong (referring to the administrative regions under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou) for tourism in groups organized by travel agencies legally registered in Hong Kong and Macao, and stay for no more than 6 days, without a visa.

2. Visa-free entry for tourism in Hainan Province:

https://www.hainan.gov.cn/hainan/5309/202311/58bf0483fde6462a8069ad1df780a966.shtml

3. Tourist groups (2 or more) from the following countries, organized and received by travel agencies with qualifications approved by the tourism administration department of Guilin, Guangxi, and entering and exiting the country as a whole through Guilin Airport, can stay in the administrative area of ​​Guilin without a visa for no more than 6 days: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.

(VII) Citizens of some countries holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days can enter without a visa. For specific information, please consult the Chinese embassy or consulate in the relevant country.

(VIII) Visa-free entry or transit conditions may be adjusted dynamically. It is recommended to consult the Chinese embassy or consulate in the relevant country or the China National Immigration Administration before travel.

The number of entries refers to the number of times the holder can enter China during the validity period of the visa. A visa that has been used up or has not been used up but has expired is considered an invalid visa. If you want to travel to China, you must apply for a new visa. If the holder comes to China with an invalid visa, he or she will be denied entry.

Visa registration items include: visa type, holder’s name, gender, date of birth, number of entries, entry validity period, duration of stay, issue date and place, passport or other international travel document number, etc.

Currently, no medical examination report is required for visa application.

Under normal circumstances, the embassy or consulate abroad can complete the visa within four to five working days, and will indicate the date of collection on the collection form. However, in some special cases, the embassy or consulate abroad also has the right to extend the visa approval time. After approval, the embassy or consulate will notify you by phone or email. Please wait patiently. If there are special circumstances, you can contact the relevant embassy or consulate by phone.

In principle, Chinese visa applicants should apply for visas in advance from Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, offices, offices in Hong Kong and Macau, or other overseas institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applicants should apply for visas in advance according to their itinerary.
Foreigners who need to enter urgently for humanitarian reasons, are invited to enter for emergency business, engineering repairs, or have other emergency entry needs and hold evidence that the Chinese competent authorities agree to apply for visas at ports can apply for port visas from the port visa authorities entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security at ports approved by the State Council of China to handle port visa business.
Travel agencies that organize inbound tourism in accordance with relevant national regulations can apply for group tourist visas from port visa authorities.
The ability to apply does not mean that the application will be approved as a matter of course, and all responsibilities that may arise from this should be borne by the applicant.
Except for 24-hour transit without leaving the airport, 72-hour transit in 7 cities including Beijing and Shanghai, 6-day convenient tour in Guangdong, and 15-day visa-free tour in Hainan, citizens of the United States and France must apply for visas abroad in advance when traveling to China, and cannot apply for visas at ports.

When applying for a visa, the applicant should indicate the number of entries and the maximum length of stay in China on the visa application form. The visa cannot be changed after it is approved. If the applicant changes the planned itinerary so that the number of visas or the length of stay do not meet the actual needs, he/she can reapply for a visa, but he/she needs to submit the application materials and pay the fee again.

After the visa expires, the applicant should reapply. Chinese embassies and consulates abroad do not handle visa extension procedures. When applying for a visa, the applicant should indicate the length of stay in China on the visa application form. After entering the country, if for some reason you are unable to leave the country as planned, you should go to the local public security entry and exit management department to apply for visa extension procedures before the expiration of your stay. Please consult the public security department for specific requirements.