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Home Living in China Chinese Law A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa and the Procedure for Visa Application
A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa and the Procedure for Visa Application
Chinese Law
A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa and the Procedure for Visa Application
中国签证简介及申办程序

A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa and the Procedure for Visa Application
Chinese visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a diplomatic, courtesy, service or ordinary visa to a foreigner according to his identity, purpose of visit to China and passport type. Hereunder is an introduction to the ordinary visa and its application procedure:
 
The ordinary visas consist of eight sub-categories, which are marked with Chinese phonetic letters (D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1 and J-2 respectively).

Visa D: issued to aliens who are to reside permanently in China. A permanent residence confirmation form shall be required for the application of Visa D. The applicant shall apply to obtain this form himself or through his designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county where he applies to reside.

Visa Z: Issued to aliens who are to take up posts or employment in China, and to their accompanying family members. To apply for a Visa Z, an Employment License of the People's Republic of China for Foreigners (which could be obtained by the employer in China from the provincial or municipal labor authorities) and a visa notification letter/telegram issued by an authorized organization or company are required.

Visa X: Issued to aliens who come to China for study, advanced studies or job-training for a period of six months or more. To apply for a Visa X, certificates from the receiving unit and the competent authority concerned are required, i.e., Application Form for Overseas Students to China (JW201 Form or JW202 Form), Admission Notice and Physical Examination Record for Foreigners.

Visa F: Issued to an applicant who is invited to China on a visit, on a study or lecture, business tour, for scientific-technological and cultural exchanges, for short-term refresher course or for job-training, for a period of no more than six months. To apply for a Visa F, the invitation letter from the inviting unit or the visa notification letter/telegram from the authorized unit is required.

Visa L: Issued to aliens who come to China for sightseeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes. For a tourist applicant, in principle he shall evidence his financial capability of covering the travelling expenses in China, and when necessary, provide the air, train or ship tickets to the heading country/region after leaving China. For the applicants who come to China to visit relatives, some are required to provide invitation letters from their relatives in China.

Visa G: Issued to aliens who transit through China. The applicants are required to show valid visas and on-going tickets to the heading countries/regions.

Visa C: Issued to train attendants, air crewmembers and seamen operating international services, and to their accompanying family members. To apply for a visa C, relevant documents are required to be provided in accordance with bilateral agreements or regulations of the Chinese side.

Visa J-1: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.

Visa J-2: Issued to foreign correspondents who make short trip to China on reporting tasks. The applicants for J-1 and J-2 visas are required to provide a certificate issued by the competent Chinese authorities.

In addition to providing the above-mentioned documents, an applicant is also required to answer relevant questions and go through the following formalities (with the exception of those stipulated otherwise by agreements):

Providing valid passport or a travel document in lieu of the passport

Filling out a visa application form, and providing a recent 2-inch, bareheaded and full-faced passport photo.


Paying the visa fee.

The overseas Chinese visa authorities are Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, the consular department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR, and other agencies abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa. For further information, please consult the nearest Chinese visa authorities.
(2000/11/5)

中国签证简介及申办程序
中国签证是中国签证机关发给外国公民入、出或过境中国的许可证明。中国签证机关根据外国人的身份、来华目的，并参照护照种类，分别发给外交签证、礼遇签证、公务签证或普通签证。以下着重介绍普通签证的有关情况以及申办普通签证的程序。

　　普通签证分为八个类别，分别用八个汉语拼音字母（D、Z、X、F、L、G、C、J-1、J-2）作代码。

　　D字签证：发给来中国定居的人员。申请D字签证，须持有定居身份确认表。定居身份确认表由申请人或者委托其在中国的亲属向申请定居地的市、县公安局出入境管理部门申请领取。

　　Z字签证：发给来中国任职或就业的人员及其随行家属。申请Z字签证，须提供《中华人民共和国外国人就业许可证书》（就业许可证书由中国聘雇单位向各省、市劳动部门申请办理）和被授权单位的签证通知函电。

　　X字签证：发给来中国留学、进修、实习六个月以上的人员。申请X字签证，须有接受单位或者主管部门的证明，即《外国留学人员来华申请表》（JW201表或JW202表）、《录取通知书》和《外国人体格检查记录》。

　　F字签证：发给应邀来中国访问、考察、讲学、经商、进行科技文化交流及短期进修、实习等活动不超过六个月的人员。申请F字签证，须提供中国邀请单位的邀请信或被授权单位的签证通知函电。

　　L字签证：发给来中国旅游、探亲或因其他私人事务入境的人员。申请L字签证，来华旅游的，原则上须提供有足够来华旅费的证明，必要时须提供离开中国后前往国家（地区）的飞机票、车票或者船票；来华探亲的，有些须有国内亲属的邀请信。

　　G字签证：发给经中国过境的人员。申请G字签证，须持有前往国家（地区）的有效签证和联程客票；

　　C字签证：发给执行乘务、航空、航运任务的国际列车乘务员，国际航空器机组人员及国际航行船舶的海员及其随行家属。申请C字签证，按双方协议或中方规定提供有关证明。

　　J-1字签证：发给来中国常驻的外国记者。

　　J-2字签证：发给临时来中国采访的外国记者。申请J-1、J-2字签证，须有国内主管部门的证明。

　　申请上述各类签证除提供上述有关申请文件外，还须回答被询问的有关情况并履行下列手续（协议另有规定者除外）：

　　提供有效护照或者能够代替护照的证件；

　　填写签证申请表一份，交本人近期二寸正面免冠半身照片一张；

　　交纳签证费。
　　
　　中国的签证机关，在境外是中国驻外国大使馆、总领事馆、签证办事处、驻香港特派员公署领事部或外交部授权的其他驻外机构。外国人入境或过境中国，应向中国的上述签证机关申请办理签证。有关申请签证的具体手续可就近向中国签证机关咨询。

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