China
Passport and Visa Travel Guide
All foreigners must take their valid passports with them
when entering China; They should  also
apply for an visa in China's diplomatic institutions,
consular offices and Chinese institutions authorized by the
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After they have
obtained such visas, foreigners can travel in all the open
cities across China.
Port visa is a necessary supplement in handling visa by
Chinese diplomatic institutions stationed abroad, and
enables those foreigners who want to enter China for
emergency matters but fail to apply for a visa before hand,
to obtain a visa in the port at where they arrive.
To provide convenience for foreigners who come to China
on matter of urgency, China has set up port visa
institutions in some open cities and regions. Foreigners,
having letters or telegrams authorized by Chinese units,
passports of countries with diplomatic relations or official
trade relations with China, and must come to China at once
but have no time to apply for a visa at Chinese diplomatic
institutions stationed abroad, may apply for a visa at ports
designated by the relative institutes of the Chinese
government.
Those under the following conditions may apply for a visa
at ports.
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(1) At a provisional decision of the Chinese side
to come to China to attend trade fairs;
(2) Invited to China to take part in bidding or
formal signing of economic and trade contracts;
(3) According to contracts to come to China to
inspect import and export commodity inspection or
check contracts;
(4) Invited to take part in installation or
emergency engineering repairing;
(5) Invited by the Chinese side to solve the
problem of indemnity;
(6) Invited to China to provide technological
consultation;
(7) Delegations or groups that have arrived in
China with visas, but have to make changes with the
approval of the Chinese side;
(8) Looking after invalids who are critically ill
or attending funeral arrangements;
(9) Those who just pass through China but cannot
leave within 24 hours with the original plane due to
irresistible cause or should leave China through
other means of transportation ;
(10) Invited to China but really have to time to
apply for a visa with Chinese diplomatic
institutions stationed abroad and with letters or
telegrams of designated departments agreeing them to
apply for a visa in ports.
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Ports designated to handle visa by the Ministry of Public
Security are the following: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin,
Dalian, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming,
Guangzhou (Baiyun Airport), Shenzhen (Luohu, Shekou), Zhuhai
(Gongbei), Haikou City, Sanya City, Qingdao City, Yantai
City, and Weihai City.
No visa is necessary for foreign passengers with through
tickets who transit China by international flight or
passengers who stay in China's airports for less than 24
hours.
The types of visas can be classified into: diplomatic
visa, courteous visa, service visa and general visa
according to the status and types of passports held by
aliens coming to China. Among them, general visas are
divided into:
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1. D visa for aliens who are permitted to
immigrate to China;
2. Z visa for aliens who come to China for a
public post or employment as well as their family
members traveling with them;
3. X visa for aliens who come to China for over
six months of study, training and internship;
4. F visa for aliens who come to China for visit,
inspection, lecture, business, scientific,
technological or cultural exchanges or less than six
months of training or internship at the invitation
of Chinese organizations;
5. L visa for aliens who come to China for
tourism, visiting relatives or other personal
affairs. Among them, tourist groups of over nine
members can be granted team visas;
6. G visa for people who transit China;
7. C visa for crew members in international
trains, airplanes or ships and their spouses on
entourage;
8. J-1 visa for foreign journalists who serve as
resident correspondents in China, J-2 visa for
foreign journalists in China for short stays.
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Aliens must answer inquiries related and present the
following documents:
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1. Valid passports or their equivalent
certificates;
2. Fill in visa application forms and present two
recent half-length, full-face and bareheaded photos;
3. Present documents associated with applying for
entry and transit.
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