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China Visa

All visitors traveling to mainland China whether for business or pleasure, require a China visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the duration of your intended stay. Visas are issued through Chinese embassies and consulates overseas. It's very difficult to obtain a China visa at the Chinese border entry points.

China Visa Introduction

What is a China visa?

A China Visa is a travel authorization required by China which is placed in your passport. The visa is a permission issued by a Chinese Embassies or consulate which allows the passport holder to enter the country legally.

Who needs a China visa?

All visitors traveling to mainland China, whether for business or pleasure, require a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the duration of your intended stay. Visas are issued through Chinese embassies and consulates overseas. It's very difficult to obtain a China visa at the Chinese border entry points.

How long is a visa valid for?

Different visas have different validity. Single-entry China visas are usually valid for 3 months after the issue date, and will permit you to stay in China for a maximum of 30 days. This visa will allow you to travel as a tourist or conduct general business activities. Most people need only to apply for a single-entry, however double or multiple entry visas would be required if you frequently travel between mainland China and Hong Kong or Macau or Taiwan on the same tour.

China Visa Processes Top

What Do I Need For Visa Application?

Passport (original, not a copy), which must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel, with at least one blank visa page (amendment pages and pages with bar codes are not acceptable for visa stamping).

One completed, signed Visa Application Form for each passport, with two passport photos (head and shoulders only, front view, with a white background, approximately 35mm x 45mm).

How do I apply for a visa?

It is usually recommended that you apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel.

When you have the required items ready, submit the application at the visa office of China embassy/consulate-general in your country. Check out China embassy/consulate information. If you cannot go in person, you can entrust someone else to drop off the visa application, or a travel/visa agency to help handle your visa application.

For applicants holding a U.S. passport, we recommend VisaHQ, who provides a fast, efficient service at a very competitive price. Visit their website at http://www.visahq.com/

What are the visa exemptions?

Tourists holding ordinary passports of Singapore, Brunei and Japan are allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without visas, the travel purposes can be for tourism, family or friends visits.

Foreign tourists from countries that require a visa for Hong Kong and Macau and who hold that visa are able to visit Guangdong province using a 144-hour Convenient Visa to stay for up to 6 days. The entry ports are in the following cities - Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou and Shantou*;(*The 144-hour Convenient Visa also applies to tourists traveling to Shantou on group tours with the condition that they enter and leave via Shantou.)

Tourists holding ordinary visas from the following countries are allowed to enter Hainan for no more than 15 days without a visa: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand, USA and Ukraine. A tour group should be with at least 5 people. Tour groups from South Korea, Germany and Russia can stay up to 21 days, and two people can be regarded as a group. The visa should be processed through local registered agencies.

How do I extend my visa?

Foreigners who want to stay in China beyond the duration of their visa need to apply for an extension.
The visa extension application should be a form submitted to the Local Public Security Bureau 7 days before the expiration date of the visa.
Visitors traveling with a group on a group visa and who want to stay longer than the group should apply for an individual visa.
Visitors who want their visa to be extended should provide the following evidential materials:

1. Valid passport and visa
2. A completed application form for visa extension
3. Reason for the extension

The length of the extension depends on the type of visa and multiple entry visas can not be extended.
You are advised not to overstay the duration of your visa or fail to apply for an extension before your visa expires as you risk being heavily fined and have your travel plans disrupted. Please contact your travel advisor for assistance in visa extensions.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Passport During My Stay In China?

1. Be sure to check if your passport is indeed lost before you report it. Once it is reported lost, it is cancelled and no longer valid, and you’ll need a replacement. Also note that offices handling such issues usually close on weekends and public holidays.
2. Ask your tour guide for assistance, and immediately report the loss to the nearest Public Security Bureau, who will issue a proof of loss for you.
3. Go to your hotel and ask for stamped proof of your residency.
4. Have your original identity and proof of citizenship (must be the original government-issued photo ID document).
5. Have about 8 passport photos 1.4" X 1.8" (35 mm X 45 mm) with a white background. It usually needs 2 photos for the application of new passport, but you will also need photos to apply for visa, emergency passport and your new passport.
6. Have a copy of your passport (Suggest you take several copies of your passport before you start your trip just in case)
7. With all the things prepared, locate the nearest embassy or consulate of your own country and apply for a replacement passport in person. You’ll be required to complete a new passport application and there will be a fee charged for replacing passport. (Check out embassies in China at /embassy/)
8. After the new passport is issued, go to the Public Security Bureau and apply for new visa, so you can go on your trip or re-enter your country. Please note that in some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time, so take especial care of your passport in your journey.

Applying to visit Special Parts of China and SE Asian Countries Top

Do I need a visa for a visit to Hong Kong?

Residents of most countries can enter Hong Kong without applying for a visa in advance and are allowed to stay for up to 90 days. A visa will be issued on arrival.

Do I need a visa to enter Macau as a tourist?

Valid Passport or Travel Entry Permit is required for one to enter Macau. The period of validity should be 30 days at least. If you join in a tour group, the procedure for visa transaction should be processed by any of the travel agencies in Macau.

Macau Visas are required to all travelers who travel to Macau except:

• Holders of the "Hong Kong Identity Card"; "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong Reentry Permit" can stay up to one year;
• Passport holders of France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Egypt, Greece, Holland, Finland, Austria, Hungary, Czech, Norway, Iceland, Britain, Ireland, Rumania, Estonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Tanzania, Cyprus, Lebanon, Poland, Lithuania, South Korea and Malta can stay up to 90 days
• Passport holders of South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Philippines, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, USA, Uruguay, Turkey, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Samoa, Seychelles, Monaco, Namibia, Israel and Kiribati can stay up to 30 days;
• Nationals of China mainland with valid Macau entry/depart documents, including residents of Mainland China.
  Starting from July 1, 2010, passport holders of Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are required to obtain an entry visa before arriving at the Macao Special Administrative Region. Visa-upon-arrival is no longer applicable to these nationals.

However, holders of a diplomatic passport may still enjoy visa-free access to Macao. In addition, the consular officials of the above six countries posted to Chinese territory, the officials of various international organizations posted to Chinese territory and their respective families may apply for an entry permit with their passport and diplomatic/consular identity card or staff card upon their arrival at Macau.

Visas can be obtained from embassies/consulates of the People’s Republic of China, or the Immigration Department of Macau SAR Government. The visa should be used within the validity, and it expires after the valid date.

There are three types:
Individual- MOP100, children under 12 years of age pay MOP50.
Family Passport- MOP200
Group- MOP50 per person for members in group comprised of at least 10 people organized by a single travel manager and presenting a collective travel document.
(1 USD≈12 MOP)

Please note that the above information is for reference only. It is suggested that travelers contact and check with embassies/consulates of the People’s Republic of China (See Chinese Embassies) or the Macau Immigration Services of Public Security Police Force (website: http://www.fsm.gov.mo) for the most updated information on entry formalities.

Can I Travel To Tibet Independently?

You don’t need a separate visa to visit Tibet, but a Tibet Permit is required for overseas tourists to enter the area in addition to a China visa. China's official regulations prevent independent travelers from traveling to Tibet. China Highlights offers great Packages to Tibet and we will also take care of your Tibet Permit.

How to obtain a China visa in Nepal?

To obtain a China Visa in Nepal, you will need to allow about 4 days in Nepal for the visa application and Tibet permit to be processed. It takes at least 2 working days to obtain a visa from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and the Embassy only works on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You will need to use an authorized travel agency in Nepal to help with your application. Please provide us with the contact information of the agency, so that we can email or fax the completed documents to the travel agency, as well as the Chinese embassy in Nepal.

The following information is required for these documents:
Photocopies of passports
Name as on Passport
Passport Number
Date of birth
Gender: Male/female
Occupation
Nationality

If you do not have a travel agency in Nepal, our partner travel agent - Explore Nepal Richa Tours will be happy to help you. Please contact them for more details. Just tell them that you are a client of China Highlights and they will give you the special discount price that we have negotiated for our customers.

Explore Nepal Richa Tours
Fax number: 009771 4374658
Contact person: Major Ram (direct line)
Fax number: 009771 4411746
Tel: 009771 4422007/ 4411746 Mobile 00977 9851052550
I also attached the contact information for Chinese Embassy in Nepal:
Tel: 009771 4419053, 4415383, 4411740
Fax no. 009771 4414045
Visa Section Tel: 009771 4425520
Please ensure that you allow time for the visa application to be processed in Nepal.

How do I get a landing or tourist visa to Taiwan?

It is possible to apply for a Landing visas as long as you hold an ordinary passport which is valid for at least 6 months, and your intended travel is within 14 days (American tourists can stay up to 30 days holding return airline or ship tickets indicating a departure date in 30 days), however the success of the application can not be guaranteed. To apply for a tourist visa, you will need to make sure that your passport valid for at least 6 months , have 2 recent passport photos, application form and confirmation of travel itinerary. A Taiwan tourist visa is good for a period of 60 days with an extension possible. The link below will open a new window. Close window after printing application form.

Taiwan Visa Form(PDF format)
You can also use on-line visa application service to get your Taiwan visa processed quickly and efficiently, here is a recommended companyTravel Visa Pro

Do I need a visa to visit Thailand?

Tourists from the following 42 countries are exempted from applying for a visa to travel to Thailand for up to 30 days, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom,  United States of America, and Vietnam. Brazil, Peru and South Korea are allowed up to 90 days.

Those who are not exempted nor have time to apply for a visa, can apply for a landing visa if you are from one of the following countries and territories: Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Czech, Estonia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia,Uzbekistan and Ukraine. A landing visa is good for a stay of 15 days.

If your country doesn't fall into any of the above categories or if you wish to stay longer up to 60-120 days, you will need to apply for a tourist visa. Visit theThai embassy or consulatein your home country to apply for a tourist visa. Tourist Visa applications can also be done by mail/post or in person. Either way, expect the visa processing to be concluded in two business days although someThai consulates or embassiescan do it in a day.

Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?

Passport holders from the following countries requireavisato enter Singapore:

Nationals of Assessment Level I Countries
India, Myanmar, People Republic of China, Holders of Hong Kong Document of Identity, Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Travel Permit and Commonwealth of Independent States (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan), Nigeria

Nationals of Assessment Level II Countries
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, and holders of Palestinian Authority Passport, Temporary Passport issued by the United Arab Emirates and Refugee Travel Document issued by Middle-East countries.

British and Irish passport holders do not need visas to visit Singapore for a stay no more than one month as long as they have a passport valid for at least 6 months, an issued return ticket and sufficient funds for their stay in Singapore.

For all other countries, please visit the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website for more detailed information on visa requirements to Singapore:
http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre.aspx?pageid=232&secid=20
Obtain Visa application forms from ICA’s website: http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre.aspx?pageid=232&secid=20

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Tourists from countries listed below can visit Vietnam without an entry visa:
Most citizens of ASEAN member-countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Lao citizens do not need a Vietnam visaif their stay is less than 30 days; passport holders from the Philippines do not need a visa for up to 21 days; Brunei passport holders are not required avisa for Vietnamfor a stay of up to 15 days. They could apply for popular passport type with return tickets. Citizens of Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste are all required to get a visa to travel Vietnam.

Passport holders from Korea, Japan, and the Scandinavian nations (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland) do not need a visa to visit Vietnamif the stay is no more than 15 days. Russian passport holders are no longer required a visa totravel in Vietnamfor 15 days as long as they have return tickets.

All other citizens are required to get a Vietnam entry visa before landing, check with your local consulates or embassies for more information.

Types of China Visa Top

What are the types of China Visa?

Ordinary visa consists of eight sub-categories, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters L, F, Z, X, C, G, D, J-1 and J-2.

L (tourist visa):Issued to an applicant who comes to China for tourist purposes, family visiting or other personal affairs.
F (business visa):Issued to an applicant who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months.
Z (work visa):Issued to an applicant who is to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.
X (student visa):Issued to an applicant who comes to China for the purpose of study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period over six months.
C (crew visa) Visa:Issued to crew members on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and family members accompanying them.
G (transit visa):Issued to those who transit through China.
D (resident visa):Issued to applicant who is to reside permanently in China.
J-1 (journalist visa):Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.
J-2 (journalist visa):Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview missions in China.

Do I need a Transit Visa when connecting flights at the airports?

Visas are not required for transit passengers who hold tickets and have booked seats on international airlines flying on route to a third country no more than 24 hours in advance.

Passengers from the following countries don’t need a Transit Visa when connecting international flights in Shanghai as long as the stay is less than 48 hours: US, Canada, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Schengen countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and Greece.

What is a 144-hour Convenience visa?

Foreign visitors in Hong Kong and Macau can visit Guangdong Provincefor a maximum of 144 hours (6 days) via entry ports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou and Shantou* using the 144-hour Convenient Visa.(*The 144-hour Convenient Visa also applies to visitors traveling to Shantou in tour groups, on the condition that they enter and leave via Shantou.)

To apply for the 144-hour Convenient Visa, visitors

1. must join a tour organized by a registered Hong Kong Travel Agent
2. must travel in a group consisting of a minimum 3 persons and a maximum of 40 persons
3. can have a choice of ports of entry or exit in Guangdong Province
4. must enter and leave the areas together via the above-stated ports of entry.

At the ports of entry and exit in Guangdong Province, immigration officers will examine passports and the list of names in the group. Group members will not need to fill in any immigration cards for passport stamping.

The above policy is applicable to ordinary passport holders of nations with diplomatic relations with China. You may contact your hotel concierge or tour operators in Hong Kong to find out about the application procedure and related service charges.

The following are some major tour operators organizing group tours using 144-hour Convenient Visa:
Able & Promotion Tours Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2544 5656
Email: enquiry@able-tours.com
China Travel Service (HK) Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2853 3531
Email: info@ctshk.com
Gray Line Tours of Hong Kong Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2368 7111
Email: sales@grayline.com.hk
Splendid Tours & Travel Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2316 2151
Email: info@splendid.hk
Vigor Tours Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2739 3828
Email: general@vigorholding.com.hk
Tiptop Tours & Travel Ltd.
Tel: (852) 2366 7070
Email: antony@tiptoptours.com.hk

How does a landing visa work?

A landing visa is available at ports in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Hainan, however, it is not guaranteed that a landing visa will be issued to every tourist. It is advisable to get a visa before departure. The number of days allowed in the city varies between entry ports; as do the costs and conditions. Zhuhai allows three days in the city but Shenzhen and Hainan are more flexible with a stay of up to three months combining other cities. Tourists from America and France are not granted a landing visa. The visa fee will be only charged CNY, cash on the spot. British tourists are expected to pay almost double for the visas.

Visa Related Topics Top

Is It Possible For Foreigners To Get Married In China?

Yes, it is possible for foreigners to get married in China; one of the couple must reside in China and present a Chinese residence permit. If the couple is on L visa, it is not likely to register to get married.

I am Not Chinese. Can I marry a Chinese person in China? How do I register my marriage? What are the formalities?

It is possible to marry in China if one person is of Chinese nationality. It is also suggested that you consult Chinese embassy for the most up to date information.

Step 1: Submit the required documents
The Sino-foreign couple must go together, in person to the appropriate marriage registration office and submit a completed marriage registration application form (available at the marriage registration office). The appropriate marriage registration office will be the one in the jurisdiction in which the Chinese partner is registered (the location of the hukou). Together with the application form, the couple must submit a number of other documents:

Chinese Partner
(1) A certificate of marriageability (2) A certificate of birth (3) Household registration book (hukou) (4) A health certificate (obtainable from a regional-level local hospital) (5) A letter from the parents of the Chinese partner giving permission for their child to marry a foreigner (this letter should include the index fingerprint of both parents below their signatures and date)
Foreign Partner
(1) A current passport (2) Chinese residence permit (3) A health certificate from a local hospital designated by the marriage registration office (4) Three photos of the marrying couple, taken together (5) A registration fee (6) A certificate of marriageability.
Item 6 requires further explanation. Basically, the marriage registration office needs a form from the foreign partner's home government stating he/she is not already married in his/her home country. Every foreign government has its own version of this type of form with its own requirements for obtaining one. Couples will need to check the embassy website of the foreign partner's home country in China for details on how to obtain this kind of certification. (Chinese translations must accompany foreign-language documents.)

Note: Application requirements may vary from office to office. When an individual visits the appropriate marriage registration office to pick up an application form and find out which local hospital(s) the foreign partner must receive a check-up at, he/she should also check to see if the office's requirements differ from those listed here.

Step 2: Wait for the good news

It takes the marriage registration office about an hour or so to review the submitted documents and approve the application.

Step 3: Once the marriage registration office approves the application and registers the marriage, it will issue a marriage certificate to be picked up by the couple.

Visa And Passports FAQs Top

1. What are the Methods of obtaining a China Visa?
2. How to get an invitation letter from your company for my visa application?
3. What type of visa do I need? Should I apply for special visa when leaving and re-entering mainland China?
4. What do you mean by passport photo?
5. What should I do if I lose my passport during my stay in china?
6. Should I apply for visa now, or should we wait until we are closer to the time of travel?
7. What type of visa should I apply for my group? A group visa or individual visa?
8. Hong Kong visa free list for foreign countries
9. How Do I Get Visa For A Visit To Shenzhen Special Economic Zone