中文
English1. Basic concept of visa
(1) Validity
The entry validity period of a visa ("ENTER BEFORE") refers to the valid time range for the visa holder to enter the country. Unless certified by the issuing agency, the visa will take effect from the date of issuance and will expire at 24:00 Beijing time on the date of expiration. If there are still unused entry times, the holder can enter before the expiration date (including the day).
(2) Entries
The number of entries of a visa ("ENTRIES") refers to the times that the holder can enter the country within the validity period of the visa. A visa whose entries has been exhausted or entries has not been exhausted but the validity has expired is considered an invalid visa. In that case, if you want to go to China, you must apply for a new visa. Otherwise, you will be refused entry.
(3) Duration of stay
The duration of each stay of a visa ("DURATION OF EACH STAY") refers to the time limit for which the visa holder is allowed to stay each time he/she enters the country, and is counted from the next day of entry.
(4) Residence Procedures
Holders of D, J1, Q1, S1, or X1 Visas shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organizations at/above the county level in the proposed places of residence for residence permits.
Holders of W-series diplomatic, courtesy, official or ordinary visas shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, go through the residence formalities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Foreign Affairs Office of the local government.
2.Chinese visas include diplomatic visas, courtesy visas, official visas and ordinary visas. Among them, ordinary visas are divided into the following categories:
Categories Description of Visa
Visa Categories | Description of Visa |
C | Issued to foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships. |
D | Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. |
F | Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study toursand other activities. |
G | Issued to those who intend to transit through China. |
J1 | Issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. |
J2 | Issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. |
L | Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist. |
M | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities. |
Q1 | Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
Q2 | Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. |
R | Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China. |
S1 | Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. |
S2 | Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. "family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
X1 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. |
X2 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. |
Z | Issued to those who intend to work in China. |
3.For Visa free policies, please refer to the following links:
(1)List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries:
http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zlbg/tyxy_660627/201202/t20120207_961630.shtml
(2)Visa-free transit regulations for foreign travelers to China:
https://en.nia.gov.cn/index.html
(3)Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:
https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/visit-transit/visit-visa-entry-permit.html#notes
(4)Immigration Clearance of Non-residents of Macao Special Administrative Region:
https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1474/ps-1474b/