How To Get A China Visa. Just The Real Basics.
This post is part of our new Basics of China Business Law series, where we discuss, usually in a bare bones sort of way, the basics of what it takes to do business in China legally. This post focuses on the different sorts of visas one can use to get into/stay in China.
My law firm almost never involves itself in Chinese visa issues because it typically does not make sense for our clients to pay law firm rates for us to do so. Chinese visa matters are typically better handled internally or by a reputable visa assistance company. My law firm and I usually use a visa company to secure our visas to China because we find it easier to do so and because the company we use has been coming through for us for more than a decade (and not just with China, but with many other countries as well) and it definitely seems to have a very good relationship with the Chinese consulate in SFO.
China visa information will always be at least somewhat dependent on the country in which you are seeking to secure your China visa, the country of your own citizenship, and even things such as the particular Chinese consulate or embassy from which you are seeking the visa, the visa service you are using, and even general political conditions at the very moment your visa shows up for approval.
The following are the most commonly secured visas
-- The L visa is the tourist visa and it is typically issued to someone who is coming to China for tourism or to visit with friends or relatives. These are typically for 3 to 6 months.
-- The F Visa is the business visa and its length and entry limits typically track that of the L visa. They are typically issued for 6 months with a single-entry, or for 6 months or longer with multiple-entry. My goal is always to go for a multiple-entry visa for as long as possible.
-- The Z Visa is given to foreigners (and typically their accompanying family members as well) entering China to work. These visas typically are for 30 days only and require the holder to go through various residential formalities with the public security department within thirty days upon entry into China to secure a residence permit that typically lasts for 12 months.
-- The X Visa is to study in China for more than six months. If you want to study in China for less than six months.
-- The D Visa is a permanent resident visa, typically issued to those who marry a Chinese citizen.
If you have the time and the experience, it is definitely possible to get a Chinese visa on your own (I have gotten a bunch of mine at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul and never had a problem, including the time I begged them to give me one within an hour!), but generally, it is easier to have someone who does nothing but visas do it for you, especially since there are plenty of good and inexpensive such people/companies out there both within China and outside of it.
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Comments
I think you've got the X and F visas for study purposes mixed up, X is long term study (over 6 months) and F is short term study (6 months or less). X visa gets converted to a residence permit like a Z visa within a month after arrival, I had one issued for 14 months, but I think 12 month renewal is more common.
Generally D visas are tough to get, with marriage to a Chinese citizen just part of the requirements. The PSB are generally happy to issue a 1 year L visa for married partners of Chinese citizens.
Posted by: Alex | December 14, 2009 12:11 AM
I'd have to disagree with you there - an F visa is not at all like an L visa. For one, they can be renewed repeatedly, subject only to the whims of the government.
I'd also have to disagree about the D visa. If you marry a Chinese citizen, and don't have your own visa, then the government will reluctantly issue a 1-year L visa, renewable. This allows you to remain in China but does not allow you to work. The Chinese green card is issued to foreigners who invest at least $5M USD in my province. Other foreigners who have contributed to China may get one as well, but it depends on your relationships.
Visa agents can be rather shady. Ripoffs are not unheard of. I use Magic in Shanghai, he's great. If he can't get you a visa then you are well and truly stuck.
Posted by: Craig | December 14, 2009 1:06 AM
as an artist on an L and about to make and sell some work here being legal in doing that is on my mind .. all agents i have talked to here until now give me an under-the-table feeling ..
Posted by: gregorylent | December 14, 2009 1:58 AM
"-- The X Visa is to study in China for up to six months. If you want to study in China for more than six months, without having to leave the country and return, you typically will need an F visa."
Are you sure you don't have these two backwards? As far as I know, the X functions the same as the Z -- if you are studying in China for over 6 months, you get an entry visa which you must convert to a residency permit within 30 days. The F is for short-term study.
Posted by: Kaiwen | December 14, 2009 2:16 AM
Internesting post, but quite different from what I would have written from my experience as a German.
All "L" visas I had in the past were never over 30 days and the last one I got this year was exactly linked to the itinerary I had submitted, at 19 days.
The "X" visas I had in the past also were all only valid for 30 days and required me to get a residence permit after entering China, just as described for Z visa above. I do not know of any fellow students, who at the time got a longer term X visa.
A good souce for updated information in the past has been a blog written by an expat in Beijing at http://fxzl.blogspot.com/ .
Posted by: Alexander | December 14, 2009 3:35 AM
Hi,
I just sorted out a chinese visa on my own through the visa service attached to the Chinese embassy in London. I found the service to be courteous and helpful. Like most non-legal people I found navigating my way through the forms a bit like reading IKEA furniture instructions: you can do it, it just might take a couple of read throughs before putting pen to paper.
Online-wise their website beyond the in-person booking system does not work with Macs. You can't apply online unless you have access to a Windows PC.
The only divergence from what you said was that I was advised tourist visas were single entry only, I think this maybe due to the amount of time that I have left in my passport though.
Posted by: Ged Carroll | December 14, 2009 5:44 AM
@Craig | I couldn't agree with you more. Magic in SHA is the man! Customer service is his forte...he gets back to emails in like 10 minutes flat, around the clock. Love that guy.
Posted by: Adam Daniel Mezei | December 14, 2009 10:50 AM
Alex/Kaiwen,
You are right. Mea culpa. I switched around the student visas (X and F) in the post and I have gone back and corrected that. Thanks for pointing this out.
Posted by: Dan | December 14, 2009 1:49 PM
"The D Visa is a permanent resident visa, typically issued to those who marry a Chinese citizen" - ha, I wish. More accurate to say it's typically issued to senior Chinese officials' children who have taken foreign citizenship, although apparently big investors can get them too.
The spouse visa is a 1 year multi-entry L, but it gives you no rights to work, do business or pretty much anything else. The government website says you can apply for a D, but I've never heard of anyone being accepted.
Posted by: Kevin | December 15, 2009 12:09 AM
Best is to apply APEC business travel card. US citizens can do, Hong Kong residents even if foreign passport holder. The application procedure takes some time - but it is worth waiting. Link here:
http://www.businessmobility.org/
And in any case it is much cheaper than whatever any kind of L or F Visa.
Posted by: THE VISA MAN | January 15, 2010 12:31 AM
Can one work on a D visa? I've seen my wife on the last two issued 1 year L visa's.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2010 11:26 PM
This post makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the helpful information. It is not that easy to find reliable information on Chinese visas.
Posted by: Kara | March 10, 2010 12:59 AM