How to get a visa for China has to be one of the most searched questions on the internet today, with the volume of visa applications pouring into Chinese embassies globally. The Chinese economy has witnessed a resurgence in recent decades, becoming the world's second-largest economy and a global superpower. This has created a huge buzz around the globe, with millions visiting every year to exploit the economic and social opportunities up for grabs and many more applying for visas. If you are interested in visiting China anytime soon and would like to apply for a visa, you need to know the type of visas on offer. Keep reading to learn more.
Type of Chinese Visas
Tourist Visa: The tourist visa is for visitors coming to China as tourists to experience the sights and sounds of this great nation. Being a large country, China has hundreds of historical monuments and landmarks that attract visitors worldwide. Monuments like the Great Wall Of China are UNESCO world heritage sites that attract millions each year.
You can tour these sites for 90 days or less with a tourist visa, depending on your nationality.
Business Visa: The business visa is for visitors coming for trading or any other commercial activity.
This visa is issued as a single, double, or multiple entry visa with different validity. Some business visas may even be for up to 10 years and issued to frequent visitors with long-term deals with Chinese suppliers. Business visitors can stay for up to 60 days to transact business.
Non-Commerce Visa: The non-commerce visa for non-commercial purposes. It is for those coming for research or scientific purposes or a study tour. Also called the F visa, it is normally issued as a single or double-entry visa. Holders can stay for up to 90 days.
Work Visa: Foreigners recruited by Chinese entities can only work in China if they have a work visa. Only holders of this visa qualify for an employment license or work permit. Anybody who arrives in China on this visa is expected to visit the Public Security Bureau and apply for a residence permit within the first 30 days after they enter the country. A residency permit allows them to work or conduct any economic activity in the country.
Study Visa: Those admitted into a Chinese college or university must apply to the Chinese consulate in their country for a visa. There are two categories of student visas: the X1 and X2. The X1 visa is for international students doing a course over six months, while the X2 Visa is for those doing a course of fewer than six months. The X2 is issued as a single entry visa, while X1 is mostly multiple entries.
Other visas are private visas for immediate family members, family visas for blood and marriage relatives, transit visas, crew visas, and group visas. These visas have different eligibility requirements and validity.
How To Get A Visa For China?
There are two ways to get a visa for China;
Online Visa: The online application method is not as popular because the authorities have only opened online portals for selected countries. If your country is eligible for an online application for a China tourist visa, you don't have to visit the embassy in person to submit your application, as you can do so online via VisaHQ. Here are the simple steps visa applicants can take if they want to use this option.
Visit VisaHQ
Select China as your destination
Select your citizenship
Choose the visa you want
Fill out the visa application form
Attach the required documents
Pay the visa fee with a credit or debit card
Submit for processing
The online application process is only open for short-term tourist or transit visas. Check if an online application is accepted for your country; if not, use the other method.
Visit The Embassy: The second method, the most popular method, is to submit your documents to the embassy in your country. This method requires arranging and submitting a completed application form and documents to the embassy for processing and approval. Also, the embassy will likely invite you for an interview which you must attend with original copies of all your documents for review. If you meet all the requirements, you will be invited to collect your visa and passport later.
Documents For A Chinese
These are the basic documents required for a Chinese visa other documents may be required depending on the visa you're applying for
Completed Application Form
Valid passport (6 months validity minimum)
ID card
Invitation letter
Previous China visa
Round trip airline ticket
Travel itinerary
Other supporting documents
Now that you know how to get a visa for China, visit VisaHQ for an online application or submit your documents to the Chinese embassy.