China Information

Chinese Visa Information

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.

Media Partners
Visit these sites for the latest China news
090609guardian2.png 090609CNN3.png
China Media Timeline
Major media events over the last three decades
Danwei Model Workers
laomo2008fpA.jpg
Recommended blogs and new media
Books on China
AXL091030storiesforthcoming.jpg
Princess Der Ling: Two Years in the Forbidden City: Two years in the Forbidden City is largely a reminiscence of the minutiae of life for one of history's most powerful women, by one of her court attendants, a Manchu noble's daughter by the name of Der Ling.
Carl Crow's The Long Road Back to China: In 1939 Carl Crow - an American journalist, advertising executive and author who had lived in Shanghai for 25 years until forced out by the Japanese - travelled up the Burma Road from Rangoon to Chongqing on assignment for Liberty magazine - 'the most interesting assignment I have ever been given'.
Front Page of the Day
A different newspaper every weekday
From the Vault
Classic Danwei posts
+ New Years Past: Other Spring Festivals by Geremie R. Barmé (2007.02): Sang Ye interviews two people about their experiences during Great Leap Forward-era Spring Festivals. Translated and annotated by Geremie R. Barmé.
+ Trend-spotting in online fiction (2007.06): An interview with Daniel Dan Fei (丹飞), publisher of Notes on Graverobbing (盗墓笔记), Rear Palace (后宫), and Those Ming Dynasty Things (明朝那些事).
+ China's 50 Most Beautiful People (2005.03): The Beijing News borrows a picture of Maggie Cheung from Cosmo for the cover of today's Entertainment insert, "50 Most Beautiful People in China". Ms. Cheung takes the top spot, with Takeshi Kaneshiro, Little S, Zhang Ziyi, and Liu Ye rounding out the top five in this exercise that is a conscious imitation of People magazine's yearly rundown.
Danwei Archives
Danwei Feeds
Via Feedsky rsschiclet2.png (on the mainland)
or Feedburner rsschiclet.gif (blocked in China)
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Main feed: Main posts (FB has top links)
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Top Links: Links from the top bar
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Danwei Jobs: Want ads
rsschiclet2.png rsschiclet.gif Danwei Digest: Updated daily, 19:30