Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject: VISA TO CHINA (tourism/employment visa information)
VISA TO CHINA (tourism / employment visa information)
What do you need before your travel to China?
All travelers to China are required to hold a valid visa. If travel in group, the visa will be kept by the accompanying guide and for individual traveler, visa, which is insert into the passport, should be kept by himself.
Passports are also needed as it will be the prime means of identification. You will have to show them when you cash travelers checks, make plane or train reservations, exchange money or establish the holder's identity.
A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa
Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities to those foreigners who want to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. According to the applicants' identity, visiting purpose and passport type, the Chinese visa falls into four categories, namely, diplomatic, courtesy, service and ordinary visas.
The ordinary visa consists of nine sub-categories, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters F, L, Z, X, C, J-1, J-2, G, and D.
Visit / Business Visa (F): Issued to those foreigners who are invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and cultural exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of less than six months.
Tourism Visa (L): Issued to those who enter China temporarily for touring, family visiting or other personal affairs (multiple-entry is not granted for this category).
Working Visa (Z): Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.
Study / Student Visa (X): Issued to those who come to China for study or intern practice for a period of six months or above.
Crewmember Visa (C): Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and their accompanying family members.
Journalist Visa (J-1): This visa is for journalists who are posted to China for at least one year.
Journalist Visa (J-2): Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview mission in China.
Transit Visa (G): Issued to those who transit through China.
Residence Visa (D): Issued to people who are going to live in China permanently.
The Chinese visa authorities overseas include Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, and the consular department of the office of the Commissioner of 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.
Detailed information of Chinese visa
Visa Categories Entries of Visas Validity Duration of Stay
Journalist Visa (J-1) Single 3 months /
Journalist Visa (J-2) Single / /
Study / Student Visa (X) Single 3 months /
Residence Visa (D) Single 3 months /
Tourist Visa (L) Single / Double 3 months 1-60 days
Crewmember Visa (C) Single / Double 3 months 1- 30 days
Transit Visa (G) Single / Double 3 months 7 days
Visit / Business Visa (F)Single/Double/Multiple 3 months 6/12 mts 1-dys
The following notes are offered as a general guide in order to assist you to understand the passport and visa requirements. Should you require any further information, we recommend that you contact the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulate in your country of domicile.
General Requirements for Applying for a Chinese Visa:
1. A completed Visa Application Form. Forms can be obtained from the local Chinese Embassy or Consulate or downloaded from their official websites.
2. Two 2" X 2" passport photos showing applicant's full front face.
3. Current Passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of travel. The passport must also have a more than two blank visa pages.
4. Submitting documents which explain one's reasons to enter China.
Requirements applicable to the 9 different classes of Visa
Visa D: Permanent Residence Visa
A permanent residence confirmation form is required. This can be obtained by the applicant direct or through his/her designated relatives in China from the exit and entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county in which the applicant wishes to reside.
Visa Z: Working Visa
Foreign applicants wishing to take up employment in the PRC are required to obtain an Employment Licence from either their proposed employer in China or from the provincial or municipal labor authority. A visa notification letter or a telegram issued by an authorised organization or company as appropriate should accompany this document.
Visa X: Students Visa
Certificates from the receiving unit and competent authority concerned are required. These comprise JW-201 or JW_202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China and a letter of admission from a Chinese University / College.
Visa F: Visit/Business Visa
The invitation letter from the inviting unit or a visa notification letter/telegram from the authorised unit is required.
Visa L: Tourism Visa.
In principle a tourist must be able to demonstrate the ability to finance all of his/her expenses whilst in China. It is also necessary to produce evidence of exit travel arrangements in the form of air, rail or ship tickets for the onward/return journey to the appropriate destination.
Applicants who are intending to stay with relatives in China will be required to show an invitation letter from such relatives by way of confirmation.
Visa G: Transit Visa
When arrangements have been made to continue foreign travel applicants must be able to produce the necessary visas and/or travel permits that are required by the country to which they will travel upon leaving China.
Visa C: Crewmember Visa
Applicants must produce relevant documents in accordance with bilateral agreements or regulations stipulated on the Chinese side.
Visa J-1 and J-2: Journalist Visa
Applicants for these classes of visa are required to produce a certificate issued by the competent Chinese authorities.
Besides 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.
General Notes:
It is vital that you have the necessary documents with you when you travel to China otherwise entry will be denied.
Fees for Visas can vary from one country to another but details can be obtained from the web site of the Chinese Embassy in your country. For details of Chinese Embassies in different countries, please click here. (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/embassy_list.htm)
Overseas 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 authorised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
All foreigners intending to enter into, exit from or transit through Chinese Territory must have a valid visa. For further information please consult your nearest China Visa authorities.
Visa validity: A single or double entry visa is normally valid for three months form the date of issue. Multi-entry visas can be valid for either six months, one year, or two to five years.
Duration of stay/number of entries: Duration may vary and it is possible to extend the period of your stay when appropriate. It should be noted that entry into China from Hong Kong or Macao is subject to a special permit.
Passport requirements:
A) There must be at least one totally blank page in the passport. Pages for endorsements or amendments cannot be used as a visa page.
B) Single or double entry visa requires a passport valid for at least 6 months. For multiple entry visas, a passport should be valid for at least 9 Months.
Accompanying person using the same passport
The photo of the accompanying person using the same passport should be affixed to the form. The full visa fee will apply.
How to apply for your Visa:
Applicants should come in person or through a third party (e.g. Travel Agent or Tour Operator) to apply for the Chinese visa during office hours 9 -12 am in Chinese Embassy / Chinese Consulates-General in the country you live.
Usually, the processing time is about 5- 7 working days.
Applications by Mail: It takes 2 weeks to process the application, so there is no same day or express day service. It is advised that your passport(s) should be sent by registered post for security and proof of posting needs to be kept. Please enclose a self-addressed envelope, the visa application form and payment (visa fee and service fee---see item: visa fee).
You should send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your application together with the appropriate fee.
Traveling in China requires a tourism visa (L). L Visa is sub-divided into two kinds: group visa and individual visa. If you are a part of a group, the tour operator will often obtain it. Group visas will usually be issued for groups with at least 5, and the guide accompanying your group will keep the visas.
An Individual traveler can apply for one at any Chinese embassy or consulates, and the procedure is usually straightforward. China has its embassies and consulates in most western and many other countries. You can either get an application form in person at the embassy or consulate or download one by visiting the website of Chinese embassies in the foreign countries.
After fully and accurately completed your application, you submit it to the nearest Chinese consulate and embassies, either in person or by mail. A standard 30-day, single-entry visa from most Chinese embassies abroad can be issued in three to five working days. Rush processing of 24 hours issue or same-day is also available (additional Embassy fee applies).
When apply for a tourism visa, some extra documents are required sometimes besides the basic general requirements:
1) For individual tourism visa, a letter of confirmation of the tour arrangement made by a travel agency in China or letter of reservation of hotel in China is required.
2) For group tourist visas, a confirmation letter from a provincial tourist bureau or a government-authorized Chinese travel agency; a name list of the whole group in triplicate and one copy of the information page of each passport are required.
Foreigners from countries which have visa agreements with China are treated in accordance with these agreements.
Visitors who want to Tibet need to acquire the consent of the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region or any one of its foreign representative offices.
Foreigners requesting to visit Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen and other Special Economic Zones may apply directly to visa authorities in these zones for tourist visas. Foreign tourist groups from Hong Kong for a 72-hour visit to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone are exempt from entry visas.
Tourist visas are usually valid for three months, but can be extended for an extra month at the Foreigners Section of the Public Security Bureau. Passports must be valid for at least six months before you travel to China.
Extension of Visa
Foreigners who want to stay in China beyond what their current visa allow need to apply for an extension to their visa with appropriate reasons.
The extension application should be made at the municipal public security bureau 7 days before the visa expires. Multiple visas cannot be extended.
Foreigners who wish to apply for extension or alteration of visas or certificates need to provided the relevant documents:
1) A valid passport and visa as well as the documents regarding accommodation registration
2) An fully completed application form for extension or alternation
3) Documents and papers supporting reasons for extension or alternation
The duration of visa extension:
1) F Visa: the total extensions add up to no more than 1 year and each extension should be less than 3 months
2) L Visa: The L visa held by visitors could be extended once with the duration no more than 1 month; L visa held by family visitors could be extended three times with each duration under 3 months
3) C Visa: C visa only could be extended once with the total duration less than 7 days
Foreigners who are disallowed to extend:
1) Foreigners whose duration of stay is shortened and those whose residence right are deprived
2) Individual travelers who have no sufficient traveling expenses
3) Family visitors who has no special reason for extension when their visa expires
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 1:42 pm Post subject: Student and working visas
Hi,
I have several questions about visas for China. I'm hoping to go to China initially on a 6-month student's visa, so I can study Mandarin. Once I'm there and feel more comfortable with the language, I'm hoping to find a job. How difficult is it to get a working visa once you're already in the country? Would I have to leave and come back? Can I do it there? Also, with the student's visa, is it possible to work part-time (20 hours)?
Thanks!
Yep, same situation, and same questions for me...When do you plan to get to China, Laura ?
I heard if English is your mother tongue and you are in Beijing, even though you got a student (X) visa, you can still earn well by giving english language tuitions ?
Is this true in other cities too ?
One more thing that is required for those who are thinking of extending their Visa's:
Upon entry into China, you are required to go to the nearest Police Station to report your residential adress in China within 1 week (If i'm not wrong). Failing which there will be fine of RMB500 imposed.
After reporting, the Police (Gong An) will isue you with a duplicate copy (Yellow Slip) which will be required to be submitted with the other neccesary papers/documents for extension.
Sorry if this is mentioned previously. I just joined and yet to read thru the other postings.
Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 1:47 pm Post subject: Application for PR in China
Hi! My husband is from China and we got married in UK.
We're both expecting a baby soon...
Our future plan is that we're both be moving to China and stay there permanently...anyone know what is the application process for Permanent Residency in China (I'm a Malaysian and baby being born in UK, is going to take up UK passport first, but things can be change depending...)
Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Beijing Home Country: china
Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject:
To have X (student) visa changed to residence permit for work is really hard. But Beijing LEEO can help to change X visa to F visa.
With X visa, officially it's not permit to work. But there are a lot of people who did and are doing so.
To Kipishop,
It's almost impossible to get Permanent Residence in China now. As you know, China have a large number of population. And although the number of the official unemployed is not high, the real number is really big.
If you want to stay in China for a long time, it's really better to have some one (you or your husband) to have a Residence Permit for work. Other family members can get residence permits as Alien employee family members.
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:25 am Post subject: Re: Application for PR in China
kopishop wrote:
Hi! My husband is from China and we got married in UK.
We're both expecting a baby soon...
Our future plan is that we're both be moving to China and stay there permanently...anyone know what is the application process for Permanent Residency in China (I'm a Malaysian and baby being born in UK, is going to take up UK passport first, but things can be change depending...)
Thanks!
First of all, the Original Poster's information on "D" visas is seriously outdated and no longer correct.
The only way you can qualify for permanent residency based on marriage to a PRC national or other PRC permanent residence is if you have been married for 5 years and, subsequent to marriage and immediately preceding your application for permanent residency, you have lived in China for 5 consecutive years with absences totallying to more than 90 days each year.
Once you meet these basic requirements, you need to prove you have a stable residence and stable employment in China in addition to proof of no criminal convictions in your country of citizenship.
Finally, you need to be really lucky. About 85% of applications are rejected.
If you do not qualify for permanent residency, you are likely elegible for a one-year multiple entry "L" tourist visa as the spouse of a PRC national.
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