Foreign citizens must first verify the types of visas in China before traveling to this country. There are varied Chinese visa categories for which specific conditions apply. If you want to immigrate to China or travel for business, employment or tourism purposes, our Chinese lawyers can help you know everything about applying for a visa. Below is information about the types of visas available in China and some of their requirements.
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Categories of ordinary visas in China
Ordinary visas are subdivided into categories based on the purpose of the visit:
- C visa: foreign crew members who work for import and export businesses on trains, ships, aircrafts and their accompanying family members;
- D visa: foreigners who want to become permanent residents in China;
- F visa: exchange visits, study tours, non-business activities;
- J1: foreign journalists, if the duration of the stay exceeds 180 days;
- J2: foreign journalists, if the duration of the stay does not exceed 180 days;
- L visa: foreigners who visit the country as tourists;
- M visa: commercial and trade activities;
- Q1: family members of Chinese citizens who travel with the purpose of family reunion and the duration exceeds 180 days;
- Q2: foreigners who visit their relatives who are Chinese residents and do not stay for more than 180 days.
- R: high-level talented foreigners or whose skills are needed in China;
- S1: visiting foreigners working or studying in China;
- S2: visiting family members who are working or studying in China;
- X1: study in China for more than 180 days;
- X2: study in China for no more than 180 days;
- Z: foreigners who want to work in China.
Some of the main types of visas in China and specific conditions
There are many Chinese visa categories, each of them with special features. We will review some of the types of visas in China, specifying that our immigration lawyers in China can help with the procedures for obtaining the desired visa:
- The Chinese visa category L can be obtained by those who come for tourism purposes. In this case, a valid passport, health/travel insurance, and also information about the return flight ticket are required.
- The Chinese visa category M is dedicated to foreign citizens who want to carry out their business activities in China. Basically, it can be said that it is a business visa in China, for which various documents are required.
- The Chinese visa category F is issued to citizens interested in studying in China, and visiting the country, but without undertaking business activities.
- The Chinese visa category C is issued to those who are involved in international transportation and cross-border operations. In this case, it is about transport such as airplanes, motor vehicles, ships, trains, etc.
- The Chinese visa category Q1 is issued to foreigners who have family members established in China, with a residence permit. This visa is requested for family reunification/visits of no more than 180 days.
- The Chinese visa category Z is the work permit for foreigners who accept a job in China. Incidentally, there is also a Chinese Visa category R that is issued to highly qualified individuals to cover specific jobs in China.
We remind you that you can opt for our legal services if you want to obtain:
- Chinese visa category M,
- Chinese visa category L,
- Chinese visa category F, and many more.
Our lawyers in China can guide you from a legal point of view regarding the necessary visas to enter this country, depending on the category in which you fall. Moreover, we help foreign citizens to get residency in China, depending on the length of stay in this country. We are here to provide you with complete information about the types of visas in China.
What is required to obtain a Chinese visa category M, L, or F?
There are many types of visas in China and various requirements. Some of these are common to all visa types, but others require certain documents. For example, for Chinese visa category M, an invitation letter from a business partner in China signed and stamped, is needed. In the case of Chinese visa category F, it is mandatory to prepare and present an invitation letter from a college/university/research center/institution in China. As for the Chinese visa category L, the authorities ask for the itinerary of the journey as well as proof of accommodation in China.
Who needs Chinese visa category J?
Chinese visa category J is necessary for journalists who come to China, either for interviews, documentation, reports, or as part of a government delegation. In this situation, it is necessary to consider the formalities and requirements of the immigration department. An invitation letter or a specific approval to issue the journalist visa, plus a copy of a journalist license interested in Chinese visa category J are requested. The procedures may seem quite complex, but if you contact our lawyers in China you can get the desired visa. We invite you to talk with us and find out everything you are interested in the types of visas in China.
About immigration in China
Below we present some data about immigrants in China, provided by the National Immigration Administration:
- Over 14,635,000 foreigners entered China in the first 6 months of 2024.
- -0.253 per 1000 population is the current net migration rate in China.
- Less than 1% represents the immigrant population of China.
In addition to visa assistance in China, our specialists can also help you in other endeavors. For example, we can guide you to obtain residency in China. Moreover, foreigners who already have residency and meet certain conditions can opt for citizenship in China, where we offer specialized legal assistance. On the other hand, those who want to get a divorce in China can choose the services of our Chinese lawyers. We also come to the aid of those interested in registering a trademark in China before starting their activities. Please contact our law firm in China and find out more about the legal services we provide in specific cases.