| Q: As a foreigner, how could I apply for a Chinese visa
and what kind of visa should I apply for?
Chinese visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa
authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory.
The Chinese visa authorities may issue a diplomatic, courtesy, service or
ordinary visa to a foreigner according to his identity, purpose of visit to
China and passport type. Hereunder is an introduction to the ordinary visa and
its application procedure:
The ordinary visas consist of eight sub-categories, which are marked with
Chinese phonetic letters (D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1 and J-2 respectively).
Visa D: issued to foreigners who are to reside permanently in China. A
permanent residence confirmation form shall be required for the application of
Visa D. The applicant shall apply to obtain this form himself or through his
designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public
security bureau in the city or county where he applies to reside.
Visa Z: Issued to foreigners who are to take up posts or employment in
China, and to their accompanying family members. To apply for a Visa Z, an
Employment License of the People's Republic of China for Foreigners (which could
be obtained by the employer in China from the provincial or municipal labor
authorities) and a visa notification letter/telegram issued by an authorized
organization or company are required.
Visa X: Issued to foreigners who come to China for study, advanced
studies or job-training for a period of six months or more. To apply for a Visa
X, certificates from the receiving unit and the competent authority concerned
are required, i.e., Application Form for Overseas Students to China (JW201 Form
or JW202 Form), Admission Notice and Physical Examination Record for Foreigners.
Visa F: Issued to an applicant who is invited to China on a visit, on
a study or lecture, business tour, for scientific-technological and cultural
exchanges, for short-term refresher course or for job-training, for a period of
no more than six months. To apply for a Visa F, the invitation letter from the
inviting unit or the visa notification letter/telegram from the authorized unit
is required.
Visa L: Issued to foreigners who come to China for sightseeing,
visiting relatives or other private purposes. For a tourist applicant, in
principle he shall evidence his financial capability of covering the travelling
expenses in China, and when necessary, provide the air, train or ship tickets to
the heading country/region after leaving China. For the applicants who come to
China to visit relatives, some are required to provide invitation letters from
their relatives in China.
Visa G: Issued to foreigners who transit through China. The applicants
are required to show valid visas and on-going tickets to the heading
countries/regions.
Visa C: Issued to train attendants, air crewmembers and seamen
operating international services, and to their accompanying family members. To
apply for a visa C, relevant documents are required to be provided in accordance
with bilateral agreements or regulations of the Chinese side.
Visa J-1: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.
Visa J-2: Issued to foreign correspondents who make short trip to
China on reporting tasks. The applicants for J-1 and J-2 visas are required to
provide a certificate issued by the competent Chinese authorities.
In addition to 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.
Paying the visa fee.
The overseas Chinese 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 authorized by
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. |
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