Chinese Visa Introduction - How to Read A China Visa

Notice on Latest Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners Entering China - Updated on January 24, 2024:

1. Booking of flights and hotels, China itineraries and invitation letters are not required for application of Chinese Tourist Visa for U.S.nationals.

2. 15 Days Visa Exemption Policy is now available for other 6 countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. China will be 15-day visa free for Ireland and Switzerland soon.

3. China will gradually phase out the appointment system for visa applications. As of now, nearly 100 Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have implemented the "walk-in" system, and it is expected that all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad will have implemented the "walk-in" system by the end of this year.

4. Starting from 00:00 on November 1, 2023, individuals entering or exiting the country are exempt from filling out the "People's Republic of China Health Declaration Card for Entry/Exit."

5. Norway has become the 54th country whose passport holders can transit without visa up to 72/144 hours in China.

6. The 15-day visa-free entry policy for Singaporean citizens has been resumed.

7. Starting from August 30, 2023, individuals traveling to China will no longer be required to undergo pre-entry COVID-19 nucleic acid or antigen testing.

8. Make the following adjustments to the visa and entry policies for foreigners entering China, effective from 00:00 March 15, 2023 Beijing time:

1). The entry function of visas which were issued before March 28, 2020 and still valid will be restored.

2). Overseas visa offices will resume issuing various types of visas (including Tourist Visa) for foreigners to travel to China, with specific requirements detailed in the visa application guidelines of Chinese embassies or consulates.

3). Port visa offices will resume issuing various types of port visas for lawful purposes.

4). The policies of visa-free entry for Hainan, Shanghai International cruise arrival, Guangdong for Tourist group entry of foreigners from Hong Kong, Macau, and ASEAN tourist groups entering Guilin, Guangxi will be restored.

9. Attention on China Group Visa on Arrival in Nepal: needs minimum 4 applicants, and no maximum limit. All applicants from one list must all come to the Visa Center for application.

10. U.S. citizens holding multi-year multiple-entry visas issued before March 28, 2020, whose visas temporarily lost entry functionality between March 28, 2020, and March 14, 2023, due to the pandemic, are eligible to apply for compensation. Those who choose to apply for compensation will receive a free 3-year multiple-entry visa. Those who choose to waive the compensation can apply for a new 10-year multiple-entry visa at the regular fee.

China Discovery will keep focusing on the updates of the latest Chinese visa and entry policy! You can also call +86 010 12367 (Official telephone number of China National Immigration Administration) to check further information. Welcome to join in our Facebook Groups to catch up with the latest news!

Invitation letter is a vital document for Chinese visa application. If you travel with us, we will not only create a valuable tour for you, but also provide you an invitation letter if you request, which will help you obtain your visa successfully. Start customizing your tour in China now!

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Foreigners holding ordinary passport are required to obtain a valid visa to visit China, unless you meet relevant policies of Chinese Visa Exemptions. According to different purposes & ways of visit, there are two visa forms, including individual visa stamped on passport (most common) and Group Visa on paper sheet (special form).

After you successfully obtain a Chinese Visa, you must pay attention to the definitions, read all details carefully, especially the visa category, number of entry, issued validity and duration of stay. To ensure your trip to China, you shall fully understand each section of information.

China Visa on Passport

A Sample of Chinese Tourist (F) Visa (New Version Used Since June 1, 2019)

1. Category (签证种类) - Chinese Visa Types

Chinese Visa contains diplomatic, courtesy, service and ordinary visa, according to different identity and types of passport they hold. For ordinary visa, there are totally 16 kinds of visas for Chinese mainland, besides Hong Kong Visa and Macau Visa. More about Chinese Visa Categories >>

Normally, a single English letter is stamped on the top left of the visa page, and it stands for the corresponding visa category. It’s very important to figure out which kind of visa to apply for before submission, and check after you get the Chinese Visa. If you apply a visa not in accordance with the purpose of visiting, your entry will be refused.

Major types of Chinese Visas:

“L” = China Tourist Visa (visit China for travel)

“M” = China Business Visa (visit China for commercial & trade activities)

“C” = China Crew Visa (visit China as foreign crew members of international transportation and their accompany family members)

“D” = China Resident Visa (to reside in China permanently)

“F” = China Non-commercial Visit Visa (go to China for exchanges, visits, study tour, etc)

“G” = China Transit Visa

“Q1/Q2” = China Family Reunion Visa (to visit family members in China, who are Chinese citizens or foreigners holding China’s permanent residence)

“S1/S2” = China Private Visa (visit family members who are working, studying in China for private matters)

“X1/X2” = China Study Visa (for study in China)

“Z” = China Work Visa (to work in China)

2. Entries (签证的入境次数)

The entries refers to how many times you can enter China during the period of validity. China offers 3 entry options to meet foreigners’ different needs of visiting, including regular single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visa. (The very less-known Zero-entry Visa is an exit visa, not allowing any entry.)

Applicants can choose the number of entries when filling in visa application form. But the final number of entries and duration of stay are determined by the Chinese Embassy and Consulates aboard.

Notes: You have to apply for a new Chinese Visa if you are in the following 2 situations: 1.) the entry times have been used up; 2.) the visa has expired. Your entry would be rejected if holding a expired visa, even there are entries left.

① Single-entry Chinese Visa

The Single-entry China Visa allows visitors to enter China only once. It is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Holders can stay up to maximum 30 days within China's mainland. If you want to re-enter China, you must apply for a new Chinese Visa.

Pattern on Passport: 01 (壹)

② Double-entry Chinese Visa

Foreigners holding the Double-entry Chinese Visa can get into China's mainland twice. The period of validity is 3 to 6 months from the date of issuance, with duration of each stay 30 days.

Please note that Hong Kong and Macau SARs owns separate policies of visa or entry permit. So you will need a double-entry or multiple-entry Chinese Visa, if you firstly visit China's mainland, then to Hong Kong or Macau and later come back to China's mainland again.

Pattern on Passport: 02 (贰)

③ Multiple-entry Chinese Visa

A multiple-entry China Visa is the most popular option, because it permits the visitor to enter and exit China as many time as he/she likes within the validity. You can apply for multiple entry visa for 6 months, 1 year, 2 year, 5 year and above ( up to 10 years in countries like US, UK, etc). Visa fees will be charged differently.

Attention that the permitted duration of each stay vary from different types of Chinese Visas. For example, Canadian citizens can stay up to 60 days each visit for China L & M Visas, and 120 days for China Q2 Visa. And there is no limitation to the gap between two individual entries.

Pattern on Passport: M (多)

3. Valid for Entry By (签证的有效期) - Chinese Visa Validity

The “Valid For Entry By” means the expiry date of the Chinese Visa, it is the deadline you can enter China. The exact expiration is 24:00 of China official time (Beijing GMT+8:00). The complete period of validity counts from the "Valid For Entry By" date and lasts the days issued to you. The validity vary from visa types and number of entries, usually is 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and more. Visitor can NOT enter China if the time has passed as indicated on the visa.

Format on Passport: YY-MM-DD

4. Duration of Each Stay (停留期限) - Days After Entry

On the right section next to “Valid For Entry By”, “Duration of Each Stay” means the maximum number of days visitors are allowed to stay in China per entry. It is calculated from 00:00 on the day after entry into China, till to the 24:00 (Beijing GMT +8:00) of last permitted day. And it counts every time you enter China, not calculated.

The“Duration of Each Stay” differs by the visa types. The duration ranges from a few days, to 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 120 days and 180 days at most. A regular stay for the Tourist (L) Visa is 30 days. If you want to stay longer than the issued duration, you need to apply for China Visa Extension from public security authorities at least one week before the expiration date. Overstaying is against the laws of China.

“000” days is a special note for certain long-term Chinese Visas, like China Work (Z) Visa, China Study (X1/X2) Visa, China Foreign Journalist (J1) Visa & China Resident (D)Visa. It doesn’t mean the bearer can’t stay in China or they can stay in China without limitation of length of duration. They are required to apply a residence permit in the local Public Security Bureau within 30 days upon arrival. Their accurate duration of stay will be specified on the residence permit.

5. Others Information on China Visa Page

● China Visa Number: It consists of 8 digit numbers, 1 capital Latin letter and 7 Arabic numerals. It’s one and only code representing you Chinese Visa.

● Date of Issue: It is the date when your Chinese Visa is issued, and your visa validity starts from that day.

● Place of Issue:It is printed a city/region name in Chinese, which is the location of Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

● Full Name, Sex, Date of Birth and Passport Number are also crucial personal information should be stamped correctly.

China Tourist Group Visa

Sample of New Chinese Tourist Group Visa

China Tourist Group Visa is a special kind of Chinese Visa, which issues to a tour group with at least 5 members and organized by a local travel agency. The old Group Visa, unlike the regular individual visa printed on passport, it was on a sheet of paper, listing related personal information about all tourists, including applicants’ name, gender, nationality, date of birth, passport number, passport validity and procession/occupation. From June 1st, 2019, a New China Group Visa form has been started as like the regular Chinese Visa

All group tourists have to enter into and exit from China at the same port and same time.

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Trave China with China Discovery

China Discovery is a professional and experienced travel companion who offers high-value and worry-free tours for you. We not only design ideal itinerary covering sightseeing, dining, transfer and hotel, but also can provide any support & help you need to travel to China. With a Chinese Visa, you can freely travel to many cities in China's mainland, among all, Beijing, Shanghai are used as gate way cities, Xian, Guilin, Chengdu are also excellent destinations to discovery different regional culture, history and local customs in China.

You may choose from our most popular China tours, or just contact us, tell your interests and travel plans, we could customze a perfect China tour as you like.