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| Chinese
Visa - Types of Visa - Details |
A Brief Introduction to the Chinese Visa :
The Chinese visa authorities
may issue a Diplomatic, Courtesy, Service, or Ordinary
Visa to a foreigner according to his/her: identity,
purpose of visit to China, and passport type. The Ordinary
Visa consists of sixteen sub-categories, which are respectively
marked with the Chinese phonetic letters L, M, F, Z,
S1 and S2, Q1 and Q2, R, C, X1 and X2, D and G. There
are also J1 and J2 visas for journalists, and Diplomatic
visas, so seventeen types all told. Briefly:
1. L Visa: aka Tourist Visa
Issued to an applicant who comes to China for tourist
purposes, family visiting or other personal affairs.
2. F Visa: aka Study/exchange
Visa
Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges,
visits, study tours and other activities.
3. M Visa: aka Business Visa
Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial
and trade activitiess.
Please Note: Rules for issue of Business
Visa changed in 2008, and now a Company Letter of Invitation
is not good enough - you need an Official Letter of
Invitation issued by a Chinese Governmental Department
or Authorised Company
4. Z Visa: aka Work Permit
or Official Teaching Visa
Issued to an applicant who is to take up a post or employment
in China, and his/her accompanying family members, and
who is to conduct commercial performance in China.
Please Note: China is now adopting
a USA style 'Green Card', by installments. Please do
not confuse the D-Class visa, and the Z-Class visa -
they are very different things. By 'Green Card', Chinese
mean a Z visa only
5. X1 & X2 Visa: aka Student
Visa
Issued to an applicant who comes to China for the purpose
of studying or intern practice:
X1 - for more than six months.
X2 - for less than six months.
6. G Visa: aka Transit Visa
Issued to those who transit through China.
7. C Visa: aka Crew Visa
Issued to crew members on international aviation, navigation
and land transportation missions and family members
accompanying them.
7. J Visa: aka Journalists
Visa
Issued to foreign journalists. J Visa is subdivided
into J-1 Visa and J-2 Visa.
J-1 Visa is issued to a foreign resident
correspondent in China.
J-2 Visa is issued to a foreign correspondent
on temporary short term news report mission in China.
8. D Visa: Issued to applicant who
is to reside permanently in China (Normally 10-year
validity).
Residency Permits (Versions). These
are actually 'D' visa's - and usually apply to Foreign
Chinese only, especially Hong Kong
9 . Diplomatic or Official Service Visa:
Issued to applicants who are visiting China for: Diplomatic,
Armed Services, or other Official Governmental Capacity.
Newer Categories below, which address mainly
family visits.
S1 Visit to a foreigner working in
China.
S2 Visit to a foreigner for a family
visit.
Q1 and Q2 are intended for Chinese
born abroad and not being a Chinese nationals.
R Visa - Issued to High-level talents
Information on Visa to Hong Kong S.A.R. and
Macao S.A.R.:
British citizens may visit Hong Kong for up to180 days
without a visa, but visa is required for those to work,
study, establish or join in any business or to take
up residence. For visa requirements for foreign citizens,
please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department web
site: http://www.info.gov.hk/immd
Citizens of U.K. and U.S. and other 53 countries may
visit Macao without visas. Citizens from the other countries
should apply for entry permit when they enter Macao.
Please visit the Identification Department of Macao
web site: http://www.dsi.gov.mo
for details.
Covid
No Pre-entry COVID Test Required as of 2023-08-29 23:30
Effective from August 30, 2023, all China-bound travelers
are not required to take COVID-19 nucleic acid or antigen
test prior to border entry nor to declare the test result
on the Health Declaration Form.
Source: Chinese
Embassy UK.
Please check with the Chinese Embassy of your home coutry
for latest information, and your home country's current
policy for return travel. |
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| This information
is as supplied by the Chinese
Embassy in USA, as dated 20th May 2024, and/or other
reliable sources. Please check this information yourself
as it may alter without notice, and whilst we try our
best to ensure it is correct, please do not hold us
responsible for any errors - this is intended as a simple
guide only |
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