Visa to China

The state in East Asia is not inferior to European countries in terms of the number of tourists. People come here to study, work, engage in commercial and non-commercial projects. China is considered a global center of economy and innovation.

Despite the large domestic labour force, the government attracts foreign specialists, returns labour migrants who left for the United States and Europe to work. The trend is due to the lack of qualified personnel for the implementation of technological projects.

Privileges

Migration legislation is aimed at creating favorable conditions for relocants, increasing the number of workers, students and business quotas. In some regions, the policy of free entry is successfully implemented. As of July, the flow of foreigners increased by 152.7% in the first half of the year compared to 2023. Of these, 58% of expats arrived under the visa-free regime.

Methods to obtain Chinese visa

In the past 3 years, the Republic of China has been closed due to the coronavirus. In March 2023, the country resumed issuing visas. Residents of the border regions can enter the territory with passports to 4 regions. In Macau and Taiwan, tourists are allowed to stay for 21 and 30 days, in Hong Kong the visa free period is 2 weeks. Foreigners enter Hainan Island as part of tourist groups. In other regions and cities, a visa is required regardless of the purpose and term.

Transit passengers are allowed a visa-free stay of up to 3 days, to Beijing and Shanghai — 144 hours by temporary permission. In the capital, Shanghai, Harbin, Guangzhou, single entry visas open for groups of 2 people on arrival. Personal entry certificates are issued in Chengdu.

A single-entry permit is issued for 30 days with re-entry posibility only after 3 months. Double entry visa open for the same period, but for 2 trips with a six-month interval. Expats planning to move to China for permanent residence request a national visa of category D. This visa gives the right to repeatedly cross the border, stay in the territory for 30-90 days in a row. M visas are valid for three months and above. A two-year visa is issued only if there are two used annual visas.

Freelancer Visa

The platform economy makes China an attractive center for digital nomads, freelancers, and experts in various fields. There is no separate program for these categories of foreigners yet. But this does not prevent remote workers from applying for an R talent visa for a period of 5 to 10 years. It is issued who are of professional interest and possess expert knowledge in narrow areas. This type of visa serves as an addition to the universal work visa Z. It is opened if the applicant holds a work permit.

The following foreign citizens can submit the file:

• specialists with scientific degrees;
• teachers of 200 best universities in the world;
• sports prize-winners;
• cultural and art workers;
• managers and businessmen from the Fortune 500 list.

Talent Visa

A talent visa is issued to IT specialists with a confirmed professional education and work experience. Appropriate conditions have been created for them in the PRC. 95% of the territory is covered by a network of fiber-optic cables that provide high-speed communication. In megacities, there are Internet cafes to visit with passports, and comfortable coworking spaces.

How much does the visa cost?

The price consists of visa/ consular fees. For urgent and regular visas, the costs differ. By the end of this year, the price was lowered for the EU. A single registration costs from $250. The cost of double registration – $550 , multiple for 6-12 months – $755. Applicants pay another $200 for urgency. Previously, prices for these categories reached $300, $660 and $990, respectively.

When opening an express permit, the price increases by $460. The amounts for adults and children are the same. Consideration of the visa application takes from 5 days. Due to long queues, even if you pay extra for urgency, the waiting time may be delayed.

Types of visas

China has a regulated visa policy for travelers, labour migrants, and more. The stated purpose of the trip determines the content of the file for submission to the consulates, the validity period.

Main categories:

• tourist visa for sightseeing tours of the country, trips on short-term business or on a visit;
• student visa for educational purposes;
• business for businessmen, middle and senior managers in order to carry out entrepreneurial, cultural, scientific activities;
• working with a permit to fulfill contractual obligations.

Student visa

Short-term X1 visa is awarded for educational programs for 6 months. It is intended for students who plan to study Chinese or take qualification courses. Under certain circumstances, expats apply for extensions within a month.

China is the third in the world in terms of the number of students. Young people come to the country on study visas.

Category X2 visa is issued for university education for 4-5 years on the basis of a letter of admission to the studies. Suitable for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. After arriving in China, students visit the Public Security Bureau, receive a residence permit based on the application.

Tourist Visa

There are 3 types of permits for travelers for sightseeing purposes and relaxation. Type L-3-30 visa involves one trip. Double L-3-30-2 visa is given for 90 days with a corridor of a month, L06-30-2 is issued for 2 trips with an interval of 30 days.

Tourism also includes short-term S1/Q1, long-term S2/Q2 for 180 days. Applicants indicate the desired category in the application when submitting.

Business Visa

Foreigners wishing to come to China for business meetings or to conclude a contract can apply for the M category visa. For presentations, seminars or trips with a marketing purpose, cultural categories F are opened. The Chinese state issues F visa for 60 and 90 days to participate in trade fairs, exhibitions, exchange of experience, and provision of advisory assistance.

Double entries visas allow to re-enter the country after 6 months. Holders of multi visa are not limited in the number of visits.

Work visa

Qualified industry specialists are invited to implement the companies' ambitious plans. Official letters for consulates contain information of the legal entity and the applicant. Candidates are given permissions of two categories.

Type R visa is designed for narrow-profile and specialists with professional Hard skills. The Z visa is open to relocants wishing to work in China for 3 months. Upon arrival in China, they will exchange the visas for a residence permit. A working permit on the spot is issued by the Ministry of Labour or the Office for Foreigners.

Necessary documents

The file is accepted in English and Chinese. When the applicant applies the file in person, the applicant is photographed and authorities ask to submit biometrics. Tourist (L) and business (M) visas can be issued remotely.

Package of documents:

• passport and a copy of the reverse;
• the application filled out at the consulate or a printed electronic version;
• ticket scans;
• an itinerary for each day;
• $15,000 health insurance; 
• a certificate from work on a letterhead with information about salary, position;
• availability of funds on the account ($100 per day).

When submitting the file for a business visa, an invitation letter and documents on commercial activities shall be attached. Students attach originals and photocopies of letters of admission to the educational institution. The basis for opening a talent visa is certificates from the State Office for Foreigners, patents. Candidates also add letters of guarantee from inviting companies to the main package of documents.

Recent changes in the visa issuance for China

In July 2024, the first single-entry e-Visa was issued in Shanghai. The government said that the introduction of an e-visa system is available for all categories. Holders can enter and exit the PRC through any operating terminal.

The convenience is that you do not need to visit the consulate for registration. It is enough to upload documents on the website and get confirmation by email.

Visa-free travel to a big number of countries

To develop tourism in parallel, China has introduced visa-free entry for 15 countries. The list includes the countries of the Schengen zone, Malaysia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. To cross the border, a passport, a return air ticket, and a hotel reservation are enough.