1、 Basic introduction
Visa is a kind of permit issued by a government authorized authority in accordance with its laws and regulations for foreigners applying for entry, exit or transit.
According to international law and practice, any sovereign state has the right to decide whether to allow foreigners to enter or leave its territory, issue or refuse a visa or revoke a visa issued in accordance with its own laws.
In accordance with the law and relevant regulations, the Chinese visa authorities decide on the types, frequency, validity and duration of stay of the issued visa, and have the right to refuse the visa application of the parties concerned or revoke the visa that has been issued.
2、 Issuing authority
The embassies and consulates of the people's Republic of China abroad or other agencies abroad entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for issuing entry visa for foreigners abroad.
Foreigners who meet the relevant provisions of Article 20 of the law of the people's Republic of China on the administration of exit and entry may apply for port visa at the ports approved by the State Council to the port visa authorities entrusted by the Ministry of public security.
3、 Types of visa
Chinese visa is divided into diplomatic visa, Courtesy visa, official visa and ordinary visa. Among them, ordinary visa is divided into the following categories:
|
Types |
Description of Visa |
|
C |
Issued to foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships. |
|
D |
Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently. |
|
F |
Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study toursand other activities. |
|
G |
Issued to those who intend to transit through China. |
|
J1 |
Issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. |
|
J2 |
Issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. |
|
L |
Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist. |
|
M |
Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities. |
|
Q1 |
Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
|
Q2 |
Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. |
|
R |
Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China. |
|
S1 |
Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. |
|
S2 |
Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. "family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. |
|
X1 |
Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days. |
|
X2 |
Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days. |
|
Z |
Issued to those who intend to work in China. |
4、 Visa for Hong Kong and Macao
（1） HKSAR visa
A. The HKSAR grants visa free treatment to some national and regional personnel (please click for details http://www.immd.gov.hk/sc/services/hk-visas/visit-transit/visit-visa-entry-permit.html#part2 ）。
B. Foreigners who do not enjoy visa free treatment shall apply for a visa to Hong Kong.
（2） Macao SAR visa
A. Macao SAR grants visa free treatment to some national and regional personnel (please click for details http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/visa_ free_ macau_ c.pdf ）。
B. Except for a few persons from a particular country, foreigners who do not enjoy visa free treatment may, in principle, apply for landing visas at Macao ports.
Foreigners who apply for travel to the mainland of China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR shall apply for mainland visas, and visas for Hong Kong and Macao respectively.
5、 Validity
The term of entry validity of a visa ("enter before") refers to the valid period of entry of the visa held by the holder. Without the approval of the issuing authority, the visa shall come into force from the date of issue and shall expire at 24:00 Beijing time on the date of expiry of the validity period. If there are still unused number of entry, the holder may enter the country before the expiry of the validity period (including the day).
6、 Number of entry
Number of entry (the "entries") of a visa means the number of times a licensee may enter the visa during the period of validity of the visa entry. Visas that have not been used up in the number of entry or have not been used up but have passed the validity period shall be invalid visas. If you need to go to China, you must apply for a new visa. If the holder comes to China with a valid visa, he will be refused entry.
7、 Stay period
The duration of each stay means the time limit for each entry of a licensee to be allowed to stay, calculated from the day of entry.
8、 Residence procedures
After entering China with visas of D, J1, Q1, S1 and x1, foreigners shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, apply for residence certificates to the entry and exit administration agencies of the county and above public security organs that are to reside.
After entering China with W series diplomatic, courtesy, official and ordinary visa, foreigners shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, go through residence procedures with the Ministry of foreign affairs or the local foreign affairs department entrusted by the Ministry of foreign affairs.
