M

Persons entering China for business and trade activities

Invitation letters such as business activity documents and invitations to economic and trade fairs issued by trade partners in China.

L

Tourists 

Round-trip air tickets, hotel reservation and other travel materials; or invitation letters issued by units (travel agencies, etc.) or by individuals (copies of the ID cards of the inviter shall be attached) within Chinese territory, which shall include the following details:

—Personal information of the invitee, including name, sex, date of birth, etc.;

—The invitee’s itinerary, including arrival and departure dates, travel destination, etc.;

—Information of the inviting unit or inviter, including name of the inviting unit or inviter, Tel number, address, seal of the unit, signature of the legal representative or inviter, etc.

Q1

Family members of Chinese citizens and family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who apply for residence in China for family reunification, and those who apply for entry and residence due to foster care.

*Family members include spouse, parents, parents of spouse, offspring, spouse of offspring, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.

In the case of family reunification, the following must be provided:

 (I) Invitation letter (original, fax, copy are acceptable) from a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China (they shall live in China), which must contain the following information:

——Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality, etc.;

——Information about the invitee’s visit: reason for coming to China, proposed date of arrival, proposed place of residence, proposed duration of stay, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;

——Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, ID number, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.;

 (II) Original and copy of the proof of the relationship between the family members of the applicant and the inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the police station (public security bureau) or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.)

 (III) Copy of the inviter’s Chinese identity certificate (such as Chinese ID card or household register; overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots can provide passport, hometown permit, Taiwan compatriot permit and proof of work or residence in China for more than 6 months), or copy of foreigner’s passport and Chinese permanent residence permit.

In the case of foster care, the following must be provided:

 (I) Original and copy of the notarized certificate for foster care issued by the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or the notarized/certified certificate for foster care in the staying country or China;

(II) Original and copy of the passport of the principal;

(III) Letter of consent to accept foster care and copy of ID card from the trustee who accepts the foster care;

 (IV) If both or one of the parents of the foster child is a Chinese citizen, copy of the certificate that the child’s Chinese parent/s were/was settled abroad at the time of birth must also be provided.

Q2

Short-term entry (not exceeding 180 days) to visit relatives of Chinese citizens residing in China and relatives of foreign nationals with permanent residence status in China 

(I) Invitation letter (original, fax, copy are acceptable) from a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China (they shall live in China), which must contain the following information:

——Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality, etc.;

——Information about the invitee’s visit: reason for coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;

——Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, ID number, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

 (II) Copy of the inviter’s Chinese identity certificate (such as Chinese ID card or household register; overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots can provide passport, hometown permit, Taiwan compatriot permit and proof of work or residence in China for more than 6 months), or copy of foreigner’s passport and Chinese permanent residence permit.

S1

Long-term entry (exceeding 180 days) to visit the spouse, parents, children under 18 years of age, and parents of the spouse of a foreigner staying in China for work or study

If the inviter is already working or studying in China for a long period of time:

(I) Invitation letter from the foreigner residing in China (original, fax, copy are acceptable) , which must contain the following information:

——Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality, etc.;

——Information about the invitee’s visit: reason for coming to China, proposed date of arrival, proposed place of residence, proposed duration of stay, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;

——Information of the inviter: name of the inviter, passport number, nationality, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.

(II) Copy of the inviter's passport and residence permit;

(III) Original and copy of the proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the police station (public security bureau) or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.).

If the application is made at the same time as the foreigner coming to China for work or long-term study:

(I) Copy of the application materials for work or long-term study visa;

(II) Original of the relationship certificate (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, notarized certificate of kinship, etc.) between the applicant and the applicant for work or long-term study visa;

(III) Statement of the situation issued by the relevant enterprise/institution.

If the applicant is a family member accompanying a foreign resident journalist: letter of visa notification issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

S2

Short-term entry (no more than 180 days) to visit family members (spouse, parents, parents of spouse, offspring, spouse of offspring, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren) who stay in China for work, study etc., as well as entry for other private affairs.

In case of short-term family visit, the following must be provided:

(I) Invitation letter from the foreigner residing in China (original, fax, copy are acceptable), which must contain the following information:

——Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality, etc.;

——Information about the invitee’s visit: reason for coming to China, proposed date of arrival, proposed place of residence, proposed duration of stay, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;

——Information of the inviter: name, passport number, nationality, contact number, address, signature of the inviter, etc.;

(II) Copy of the inviter’s passport and residence permit;

(III) Original and copy of the proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the police station (public security bureau) or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.).

In case of personal affairs, proof of personal affairs shall be provided upon request of the consular officer.

X1

Long-term study (exceeding 180 days) in China

(I) Original and copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting institution in China

(II) Original and copy of “Visa Application Form for Foreign Students to China” (Form JW201 or JW202)

X2

Short-term study (not exceeding 180 days) in China

Original and copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting institution in China

Z

Entry for work

One of the following documents shall be provided:

◎Copy of the Notification of Work Permit for Foreigners;

◎Copy of the Invitation Letter for Foreigners to Engage in Offshore Oil Operations issued by CNOOC;

◎Copy of the Certificate of Registration of Permanent Representative Offices of Foreign (Regional) Enterprises issued by the market supervision and management department;

◎Original and copy of the Confirmation Letter of Appointment of Staff of Foreign Cultural Center issued by the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism;

◎Copy of the Confirmation Letter of Representative Qualification issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism;

◎Copy of the business performance approval issued by the culture and tourism administrative department (copy of the Certificate of Short-term Work of Foreigners in China must also be submitted for entry for short-term business performances of less than 90 days).

F

Entry for exchanges, visits, and study tours

Letter of invitation issued by the relevant department or individual in China

G

Transit via China

Interline ticket to the destination country or region with a confirmed date and seat or letter of guarantee from a foreign shipping company

C

Crew members of international aircraft, crew members of international ships who are performing crew, aviation or shipping duties, and their accompanying family members 

Letter of guarantee issued by the foreign airline or shipping company or invitation letter issued by the relevant enterprise/institution/department in China

J1

Foreign resident journalists of Chinese news organizations (exceeding 180 days) 

Visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and official letter issued by the affiliating media of the journalist 

J2

Short-term entry of foreign journalists entering China for news coverage (not exceeding  180 days) 

Visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or the relevant department/institution and official letter issued by the affiliating media of the journalist

R

Foreign high-level talents and professionals in urgent need

Relevant materials of the competent departments of the Chinese government accepting foreign high-level talents and professionals in urgent need

D

Entry for permanent residence

Original and copy of the permanent residence status confirmation form issued by the Chinese public security authorities for foreigners