Migrating and applying to a new country has its challenges. Our world class team of immigration Lawyers are prepared to counsel and help you with all of your Immigration processes and proffer solutions.
Foreign nationals planning to gain access into China mainland must apply for an entry visa through the Consulate General or the Chinese Embassy. This does not apply to Macau and Hong Kong as they have their own independent border control policies. You are expected to put in your application for China Visa, 1 month before your travel date.
Hong Kong is also known as a special administrative Region (SAR) with its own entry policies in China. Over 160 countries do not require a visa to visit Hong Kong but would need one if they plan to study or work. Countries that are not part of the Hong Kong free visa will require a HK visa to gain entry.
About 66 countries are permitted to come into Macau without the use of a visa for a set period of time. A few countries are allowed to get a visa when they arrive Macau whilst other countries are obligated to apply for a Macau visa before their set travel date.
There are about 13 different types of Chinese Visas listed and explained below;
The tourist visas also known as the L visa gives you access to travel freely to different parts of China. The L visa has a single entry, double entry and multiple entry. You are allowed to stay for a period of 30-60 days each visit. The multiple entry visa duration is 10 years for US citizens.
The F visa (non-commercial visits) are for foreign applicants coming into China for study tours, lectures, investigation, cultural and scientific exchange.
The Study visa are for students coming into China for studies. If you plan on studying in China for less than 6 months you can put in your application for an X2 visa or are you are staying longer than 6 months? Then an X1 visa is required.
The Chinese transit visa is also called the G visa. This visa is issued if you are a foreigner transitioning through China for a short period of time to your final destination. Travelers seems to prefer to apply for the L (Tourist Visa) since the application procedures and cost are the same with a G visa.
The D visa also called the Chinese Green card is a type of visa for foreigners' citizens who plan to permanently reside in China.
This type of visa is required if you intend to come into China to visit your spouse, parents' in-laws, son/daughter etc. The S1 visa is a single-entry visa and you are required to apply for a resident permit within 30 days from the date of entry.
This visa type permits the holders entry into China for the period of 10 years without having to go through the whole process of re-applying for a Chinese visa every couple of months or years. if you are a citizen of Argentina, US, UK and Canada, you are eligible for this visa type.
This visa type is issued to spouses or family members of Chinese citizens or foreign citizens that are residence permit holders. the Family Visa comes in 2 forms, the Q1 long term Visa Q2 short term visa. With a Q1 visa you can stay for longer than 180 days and the Q2 visa is for less than 180 days.
This business visa is for foreigners coming to China for business purposes. If you are a foreign applicant coming into China to trade or carry out other business activities you should apply for the M visa.
A work Visa is also called a Z visa. If you are applying for a Z visa you must be sponsored by your employer/organization where you gained employment. The Z (work visa) is only valid for the period of 30 days after your arrival. it is important to obtain a temporary residence permit for the period of your contract.
The C visa or crew visa is for crew members working on board of international airlines, planes, trains, ships and vehicle drivers involved in a cross-border transportation.
The J1 visa is issued to you, if you are a resident journalist working temporarily or permanently for foreign news organization based in China.
R (Talent Visa)
This type of visa is explicitly issued by the Chinese government to highly qualified and skilled persons or specialist personnel needed urgently for the economic and social development of China.
This visa type is issued to spouses or family members of Chinese citizens or foreign citizens that are residence permit holders. the Family Visa comes in 2 forms, the Q1 long term Visa Q2 short term visa. With a Q1 visa you can stay for longer than 180 days and the Q2 visa is for less than 180 days.
Reiss Edwards are a specialist team of global immigration lawyers and solicitors on hand to help you go through the immigration processes with ease.
Although there are different requirements for each category of the Chinese visa, but a few requirements remain the same and generally apply to all visa types. They include:
Please feel free to contact us to get a bespoke list particular to your visa type and the facts of your case.
If you are applying for a Chinese visa you will need to fill out the form online. It is important that you fill out your visa form truthfully and properly to ensure your application proceeds smoothly. The form contains specific requirements you should follow.
How To Get A Visa
Note: The service processing time for China Visa is 4 days and the express service takes 2days. The express service for getting a visa is only granted if there an emergency.
The cost of a Chinese visa differs according to your nationality, number of entries required and if you want a regular or an express service.
We are a team of professional immigration solicitors, specialized in assisting clients with migrating to China for study, work, business or leisure. Our immigration specialists are happy to assist you every step of the way. Feel free to contact us today for a free assessment.
