Introduction to Chinese Visa
Visa Types, Validity, Number of Entries and Duration of Stay
Chinese visas fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are further divided into 12 sub-types or 16 categories.
Visa Validity ("Enter Before") means that the visa is valid, or can be used for entry into China from the date of issue to the "Enter Before" date indicated on the visa (Beijing Time). If a visa has unused entries, the bearer can enter China before 24:00 (Beijing Time) on the expiration date.
"Entries" refers to the number of times the bearer is permitted to enter China during the validity of a visa. A visa becomes invalid if there are no entries left, or there are entries left but the visa validity expires. If a visa becomes invalid, its bearer must apply for a new visa before entering China. Traveling with an invalid visa to China will result in refusal of entry.
"Duration of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days the visa bearer is permitted to stay in China each time, which is calculated from the date of entry into China.
Residence Permit: A holder of category D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 or Z visa must apply for a residence permit at the local public security authorities within 30 days of entry into China unless the Duration of Each Stay on the visa is marked as 30 days. Members of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China must apply for a residence permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or local foreign affairs departments within 30 days of entry into China.
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. |
Visa-free entry into mainland China
A foreign citizen can enter mainland China without a visa under any one of the following circumstances:
1. Direct Transit
1) A foreign citizen who is transiting through China to a third country or region by air, ship or train is exempted from a visa if he/she will stay within the port of entry for no more than 24 hours and has a valid connecting ticket with confirmed seating.
2) Citizens of 53 countries who meet certain requirements can apply for a 72-hour or 144-hour transit visa exemption at ports of entry in certain cities.
For more detailed information, please refer to the website of the Chinese National Immigration Administration.
2. Bilateral Agreement
Based on bilateral agreements signed or reached between China and foreign countries, foreign citizens of some countries who meet certain requirements may visit China without a visa. Please refer to the List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption between the People's Republic of China and Foreign Countries for more information.
3. APEC Business Travel Card
The APEC Business Travel Card is a substitute of a multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years. A card holder who presents a valid passport with image and biographic data exactly matches that on the APEC Business Travel Card can enter China multiple times during the validity of the card for a stay of no more than 90 days for each entry.
4. Other circumstances
1) Pearl River Delta Region
A foreign citizen holding an ordinary passport issued by any country with diplomatic relations with China is exempted from a visa if he or she is already in Hong Kong or Macao and joins a tourist group organized by a travel agency, which is registered in Hong Kong or Macao, for a visit to the Pearl River Delta region (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou) and his or her stay is no more than 6 days.
2) Hainan
From 1 May 2018, foreign citizens from 59 countries (including the UK) are exempted from a visa for visiting Hainan. For more detailed information, please refer to the website of the People's Government of Hainan Province.
3) Guilin
From 28 May 2015, group visitors (2 tourists and more) who hold ordinary passports of 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar and Philippines), who are organized and received by tourist agencies certified by the Tourism Administration Department of Guilin, Guangxi Province, and enter or leave as a whole from Guilin airport, can enjoy a 6-day visa-free tour in Guilin.
4) Citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan
A citizen of Singapore, Brunei or Japan with an ordinary passport is exempted from a visa if he or she visits Chinese mainland for tourism, business, or meeting with friends or relatives, enters China through ports open to foreigners, and stays for no more than 15 days.
5) Holder of valid Residence Permit for Foreigners
Holder of Foreigner's Permanent Residence Card of the P.R.C. and holder of valid Residence Permit for Foreigners issued by Chinese Public Security Bureau may stay in China and enter or exit China multiple times without the need of a visa during the validity period of the permit.