Passport and Visa

Passport

The Chinese government requiresthat your passport must be valid for at least six months after theexpiry date of your visa.

You`ll need at least one-entireblank page in your passport for the visa. Your country`s embassy orconsulate can usually add additional pages to your passport ifnecessary.

Losing your passport is a verybad news indeed. Getting a new one takes time and money. However. ifyou will be staying in China or any foreign country - for a long time.it helps tremendously to register your passport with your embassy. Thiswill eliminate the need to send telexes back to your home country toconfirm that you really exist.

If you lose your passport. youshould certainly have some ID card with your photo many embassiesrequire this before issuing a new passport. Some embassies will accepta driver`s license. but others will not - an expired passport willoften save the day.

Visa

--  A  Brief  Introduction  to  Chinese  Visa

Chinese visa is a permit issuedby the Chinese visa authorities to those foreigners who want to enterinto. exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. According tothe applicants` identity. visiting purpose and passport type. theChinese visa falls into four categories. namely. diplomatic. courtesy.service and ordinary visas.

The ordinary visa consists ofnine sub-categories. which are respectively marked with Chinesephonetic letters F. L. Z. X. C. J-1. J-2. G. and D.

Visit / Business Visa (F):Issued to those foreigners who are invited to China for visit.research. lecture. business. scientific-technological and culturalexchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for aperiod of less than six months.

Tourism Visa (L): Issued tothose who enter China temporarily for touring. family visiting or otherpersonal affairs (multiple-entry is not granted for this category).

Working Visa (Z): Issued toforeigners who are to take up a post or employment in China. and theiraccompanying family members.

Study / Student Visa (X):Issued to those who come to China for study or intern practice for aperiod of six months or above.

Crewmember Visa (C): Issued tocrewmembers on international aviation. navigation and landtransportation missions and their accompanying family members.

Journalist  Visa  (J-1):  This  visa  is  for  journalists  who  are  posted  to  China  for  at  least  one  year.  

Journalist  Visa  (J-2):  Issued  to  foreign  correspondents  on  temporary  interview  mission  in  China.  

Transit  Visa  (G):  Issued  to  those  who  transit  through  China.  

Residence  Visa  (D):  Issued  to  people  who  are  going  to  live  in  China  permanently.  

The Chinese visa authoritiesoverseas include Chinese embassies. consulates. visa offices. and theconsular department of the office of the Commissioner of the Ministryof Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into. exitfrom or transit through the Chinese territory. he shall apply to any ofthe above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa. Forfurther information. please consult the nearest Chinese visaauthorities.

Detailed  information  of  Chinese  visa  

--  Basic  Requirements  for  Applying  for  a  Chinese  Visa

When applying for a visa.foreigners are required to present relevant documents and go throughthe following formalities:

Your  original  valid  passport  with  at  least  2  blank  visa  pages  and  six  months  validity  left  before  expiration  

A  fully  completed  visa  application  form  with  your  passport  photo  attached  

Sometimes.  documents  which  explain  and  prove  your  reason  to  enter  China  are  needed  for  visa  application  

Any incomplete or falseinformation in the visa application form would lead to the failure ofapplication. And all the consequences arising therefrom shall be bornby the applicant himself.

--  How  to  Apply  for  a  Tourist  Visa?

Traveling in China requires atourism visa (L). Visa (L) is sub-divided into two kinds: group visaand individual visa. If you are a member of a group. the tour operatorwill often obtain it. Group visas will usually be issued for groupswith at least 5. and the guide accompanying your group will keep thevisas.

An Individual traveler canapply for one at any Chinese embassy or consulate. and the procedure isusually straightforward. China has its embassies and consulates in mostwestern and many other countries. You can either get an applicationform in person at the embassy or consulate or download one by visitingthe website of Chinese embassies in the foreign countries.

After fully and accuratelycompleted your application. you submit it to the nearest Chineseconsulate or embassy. either in person or by mail. A standard 30-day.single-entry visa from most Chinese embassies abroad can be issued inthree to five working days. Rush processing of 24 hours issue orsame-day is also available (additional Embassy fee applies).

When  applying  for  a  tourism  visa.  some  extra  documents  are  required  besides  the  basic  requirements:

1) For individual tourism visa.a letter of confirmation of the tour arrangement made by a travelagency in China or letter of reservation of hotel in China is required

2) For group tourist visas. aconfirmation letter from a provincial tourist bureau or agovernment-authorized Chinese travel agency; a name list of the wholegroup in triplicate and one copy of the information page of eachpassport are required

Foreigners  from  countries  that  have  visa  agreements  with  China  shall  comply  with  these  agreements.  

Visitors who want to Tibet needto acquire the consent of the Tourism Administration of the TibetAutonomous Region or any one of its foreign representative offices.

Foreigners requesting to visitShenzhen. Zhuhai. Xiamen and other Special Economic Zones may applydirectly to visa authorities in these zones for tourist visas. Foreigntourist groups from Hong Kong for a 72-hour visit to the ShenzhenSpecial Economic Zone are exempt from entry visas.

Tourist visas are usually validfor three months. but can be extended for an extra month at theForeigners Section of the Public Security Bureau. Passports must bevalid for at least six months before you travel to China.

--  Extension  of  Visa

Foreigners who want to stay inChina beyond what their current visa allow need to apply for anextension to their visa with appropriate reasons.

The extension applicationshould be made at the municipal public security bureau 7 days beforethe visa expires. Multiple visas cannot be extended.

Foreigners who wish to applyfor extension or alteration of visas or certificates need to providerelevant documents:

1)  A  valid  passport  and  visa  as  well  as  the  documents  regarding  accommodation  registration

2)  A  fully  completed  application  form  for  extension  or  alternation

3)  Documents  and  papers  supporting  reasons  for  extension  or  alternation  

The  duration  of  visa  extension:  

1) F Visa: the total extensionsadd up to no more than 1 year and each extension should be less than 3months

2) L Visa: The L visa held byvisitors could be extended once with the duration no more than 1 month;L visa held by family visitors could be extended three times with eachduration under 3 months

3)  C  Visa:  C  visa  only  could  be  extended  once  with  the  total  duration  less  than  7  days  

Foreigners  who  are  disallowed  to  extend:

1)  Foreigners  whose  duration  of  stay  is  shortened  and  those  whose  residence  right  are  deprived

2)  Individual  travelers  who  have  no  sufficient  traveling  expenses

3)  Family  visitors  who  has  no  special  reason  for  extension  when  their  visa  expires

--  How  to  Obtain  Business.  Work  or  Student  Visa?

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  documents.  the  followings  are  required:

For visitor / business visa(F). an official invitation letter or telegram with a seal and codefrom the Chinese Government or Government-authorized Chinese companies(institutions) is required.

For study / student visa (X).an application form for international students (JW202 or JW 201) issuedby the Chinese Ministry of Education and an admission from thereceiving college are required.

For working visa (Z). anemployment license or a work permit or an official visa notice fromauthorized Chinese organizations is required.

Besides.  all  applicants  for  ``Z``  and  ``X``  visa  should  provide  a  physical  examination  record.

--  How  to  Obtain  Transit  Visa?

For transit visa (G). applicantshould provide a valid visa to or from the destination or visitingcountry. Sometimes. an air ticket or its copy is also required

--  Hong  Kong  and  Macao  Compatriots:

Hong Kong and Macao compatriotswho are Chinese nationalities can enter China with valid back-homecertificates. Those who haven`t back-home certificates can enter Chinawith inbound and outbound certificates of People`s Republic  of  China  authorized  by  relevant  police  departments.

--  Taiwanese:

Taiwanese can enter China andback with passport for Taiwanese come-and-go to the Chinese Mainlandand valid vise. Those who haven`t passport for Taiwanese come-and-go tothe Chinese Mainland and valid vise can enter China with one-offpassport authorized by relevant police departments