1. Basic concepts
A visa is a permit issued by a government authorized agency of a country in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country for foreigners to apply for entry into, exit from or transit through the country.
According to international law and international practice, any sovereign country has the right to decide whether to allow foreigners to enter or leave its borders, and issue, refuse or revoke visas issued in accordance with its laws.
China’s visa authorities, in accordance with laws and relevant regulations, decide on the types, frequencies, validity periods and duration of stay of visas to be issued, and have the right to refuse visa applications or revoke visas already issued.
2. Issuing authority
The embassies and consulates of the People’s Republic of China or other institutions stationed abroad entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for issuing entry visas for foreigners abroad.
Aliens who fall under the circumstances prescribed in Article 20 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China may apply for visas through the visa authorities entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security approved of the State Council to handle visas.
3. Type of Visas
Chinese visa is divided into diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, official visa and ordinary www. Among them, ordinary visas are divided into the following categories:
| Visa type | Applicants |
| C | International train attendants, crew members of international aircraft, crew members of international sailing ships and their accompanying family members, and car drivers engaged in international road transport |
| D | Persons who enter China for permanent residence |
| F | Persons who enter China for exchange, visit, study and other activities |
| G | Persons passing through China |
| J1 | Foreign journalists who enter the country for a long period (more than 180 days) |
| J2 | Foreign journalists who enter the country for a short period (no more than 180 days) |
| L | Inbound tourist |
| M | Persons who enter China for commercial or trade activities |
| Q1 | Relatives of Chinese citizens living in China and relatives of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who visit their relatives for a long period (more than 180 days) |
| Q2 | Relatives of Chinese citizens living in China and relatives of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who visit their relatives for a short period (not more than 180 days) |
| R | Foreign high-level talents needed by China and specialized talents urgently needed |
| S1 | Family members of foreigners who stay or reside in China for work, study or other purposes and who need to stay in China for other personal affairs who enter China to visit relatives for a long period (more than 180 days) |
| S2 | Family members of foreigners who stay or reside in China for work, study or other purposes and who need to stay in China for other personal affairs who enter China to visit relatives for a short period (not more than 180 days) |
| X1 | Long-term (more than 180 days) study in China |
| X2 | Short-term (less than 180 days) study in China |
| Z | People working in China |
4. Validity
The entry period of a visa means the period of time in which the holder’s visa is valid for entry. Unless indicated by the issuing authority, a visa shall take effect on the date of issuance and expire at 24:00 Beijing time (UTC+8) on the date of expiration. If there are still unused entry times, the holder can enter the country before the expiry date (including the date).
5. Number of entries
Entries for a visa means the number of entries the holder is allowed to enter during the validity period of the www. Visas that have run out of times of entry or have not run out of times of entry but have expired are invalid. If you want to travel to China, you must apply for a new www. If the holder comes to China with an invalid visa, he/she will be refused entry.
6. Stay period
Duration of each stay of the visa mean the duration of stay allowed for each entry, commencing on the second day of entry.
7. Residence formalities
Aliens who enter China with D, J1, Q1, S1 or X1 visas shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, apply for residence permits with exit/entry administrations of public security organs at or above the county level where they intend to reside.
Foreigners holding W-series diplomatic, courtesy, official or ordinary visas shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, go through residence formalities with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the local foreign affairs department entrusted by the Ministry.
(Source: http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/)