How To Apply

Important – Please read this information carefully before you complete your application.

You should apply for visa 1 to 2 months in advance to your planned date to enter China.

Please make sure that your passport has at least 2 blank visa pages and enough validity time left.

• 6-month validity is required when you apply for a single-entry visa
• 9-month validity for double-entry visa.

No modifications or cancellations will be accepted once the application is lodged. The supporting documents for your application will not be returned once lodged with the application. If necessary, please make copies beforehand.

The visa application can be lodged by yourself or by any individual /agent you entrust at your own discretion. The Consulate does not have any designated agents.

You may arrange for another person to help you complete the application form, but you must sign it. Any amendments in the form made by this person will be considered as agreed by you.

Collecting day:

• Normal: Fourth working day. For example, if you lodge your application on Monday, you may collect it on Thursday.
• Urgent: Third working day.
• Emergent: Second working day. Same-day collection is possible.

Please pay for the visa on collection in cash, bank cheque, money order or company cheque. Personal cheques, credit cards and bank cards are not accepted.

Basic requirements for visa application:

• For “L” visa (tourism/visiting relatives), please provide:
• One completed application form;
• Your passport;
• One recent colour passport photo,
• Return tickets;
• Proof of hotel reservations if you go for tourism;
• Proof of relations if you go to visit relatives (not applicable for applicants born in China).

For “F” visa (business visa), please provide:

• One completed application form;
• Your passport;
• One recent colour passport photo;
• Return tickets;
• Proof of hotel reservations;
• Visa Notification letter from the competent office of the Chinese government. Your inviter in China should get it and forward it to you to support your visa application.

For “Z” visa (employment visa), please provide:

• One completed application form;
• Your passport;
• One recent colour passport photo;
• Employment Permit (the original and a photocopy) and Visa Notification letter, both from the competent office of the Chinese government.

Please note:

• Your employer in China should get the Employment Permit and the Visa Notification letter for you from the competent office of the Chinese government, and forward them to you to support your visa application.
• After presenting the original Employment Permit at the counter, please ask for it back and leave the photocopy with the application only. The original will be of further use in China.
   
• Employment Visa holders can enter China once within 3 months, and should apply for residence permit in the local Public Security Office within 30 days of entering China.

For “X” visa (study visa), please provide:

• One completed application form;
• Your passport;
• One recent colour passport photo;
• JW201or JW202 Form (the original and a photocopy) and admission letter (the original and a photocopy) from the education provider in China.

Please note:

• Your education provider in China should send the JW201or JW202 Form and admission letter to you in order to support your visa application.
• After presenting the original JW201or JW202 Form and the admission letter at the counter, please ask for it back and leave the photocopy with the application only. The original will be of further use in China.
• Student Visa holders can enter China once within 3 months, and should apply for residence permit in the local Public Security Office within 30 days of entering China.
• If your study in China lasts for no more than 6 months, a Business Visa (“F”Visa) will be issued instead. Therefore, you will not need any residence permit in China.

For “G” visa (transit visa), please provide:

• One completed application form;
• Your passport;
• One recent colour passport photo;
• Visa of the destination country.

Please note:

• You do not need a Transit Visa if you stay in the airport within 24 hours.
• You do need to apply for a Transit Visa either if your transit is more than 24 hours, or if you have to leave the airport.
• Australian, New Zealand, American, Canadian, South Korean, German, French, Dutch, Luxemburg, Belgian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Austrian, Greek, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish passport bearers do not need a Transit Visa if they transit via Shanghai within 48 hours, whether or not they leave the airport.

For “J-2” visa (short-term journalist visa), please provide:

• One completed application form;
• Your passport;
• One recent colour passport photo;
• Application letter from your employer with signature. The letter should give details of your journalist activities in China, including name list and travel itinerary of the team, content and places of the interview etc.;
• Visa Notification letter from the competent office of the Chinese government;
  People bringing filming equipments into China for the journalist activities should fill in the Equipment Declaration Form, which you can get from the Consulate. Three copies are needed.

Note:
This is just guide line for how to apply Chinese visa, all regulations are subject to change without notice. For visa apply details and charges, please contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country.

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