This website features comprehensive How-to instructions for different visa types and how to get supporting documents. A list of all guides can be found in the left-hand column. For questions which are not answered in any of the posts, please Leave a message to Ask a question.
If you don't know what visa you should apply for in the first place, here's a very short guide:
You come to China as a tourist for up to three months? You should apply for a tourist or L visa. Have a look at "How to get a tourist visa" if you're staying at a hotel, and an additional peak into "How to... get a private invitation letter for a tourist (L) visa" if you're staying at a friend's or family member's house. L visa are usually issued for 30 days and may be extended in China for twice if you can prove you have sufficient funds to stay, or if you could find a visa agency to help you.
You come to China on a business trip - that is, a temporary project with a China-based company that invites you? If this company has the right to invite foreigners, they might want to have a look at "How to... get an invitation letter for a business (F) visa" and you at "How to... get a business (F) visa".
How many days you could stay with F visa?
---Normally, you could only stay for 30 days.
What should I do if I want to stay longer?
---Extend it for another 3 or 6 months either by your original Inviter;
---Or, by Visa Agency in China's Mainland. Such as ALL-ONE, can help you get "6 months or even longer" extension.
How many days you could stay with F visa?
---Normally, you could only stay for 30 days.
What should I do if I want to stay longer?
---Extend it for another 3 or 6 months either by your original Inviter;
---Or, by Visa Agency in China's Mainland. Such as ALL-ONE, can help you get "6 months or even longer" extension.
You come to China to work, be it for an internship, a long term position, a Chinese or a foreign company? The Z visa which will grant you the right to a residence permit is your friend. Getting it is a tough and long procedure, but absolutely worth the hassle. The residence permit gives you a completely legal status in China, allows you to buy a house, pass the driving license and many more benefits. Have a look at "How to... get a Z visa" to get familiar with the procedure which requires a lot of help from your employer, you undergoing a health check and, at times, a dedicated agency. Residence permits have a standard duration of ne year and can be extended pretty easily.
You come to China to study with an official university or school? They will provide you with all the documents you need to apply for a study (X) visa. Like the Z visa, it is subsequently changed into a residence permit (still time to get that Chinese driving license!).
In all of the above situations, once arrived in China, you will have to register with your local police station within 24 hours of your arrival. Don't take this responsibility lightly!
You cannot find your situation in any of the above descriptions?
Right now, these are some of the grey areas where your situation may require a longer stay in China, but you cannot get the visa which was intended for your situation.
In the past, agents were able to provide invitation letters for long term F visa, issued by no name companies, for small amounts of money. Nowadays, getting one of these precious letters is rather difficult, and even if they're issued, they are often only good for a 30 days F visa. To extend their stay in China to a maximum amount of time, many people resort to kits made of multiple extensions of visas issued in Hong Kong. The current situation is that short term F and L visas are still being issued in the Special Administrative Region, but while 30 day L visa are pretty straightforward to get (see here for details), 60 or even 90 days (be it L or F) uninterrupted stay in China are quite hard to achieve.
You cannot find your situation in any of the above descriptions?
- You work here, but your company is too small or can for other reasons not apply for a work permit / Z visa for you?
- Your internship is so short you reckon applying for a year-long Z visa is not worth the hassle?
- You're self-employed, but cannot set up your own company?
- You study, but your school cannot provide the official university documents for you to apply for an X visa?
Right now, these are some of the grey areas where your situation may require a longer stay in China, but you cannot get the visa which was intended for your situation.
In the past, agents were able to provide invitation letters for long term F visa, issued by no name companies, for small amounts of money. Nowadays, getting one of these precious letters is rather difficult, and even if they're issued, they are often only good for a 30 days F visa. To extend their stay in China to a maximum amount of time, many people resort to kits made of multiple extensions of visas issued in Hong Kong. The current situation is that short term F and L visas are still being issued in the Special Administrative Region, but while 30 day L visa are pretty straightforward to get (see here for details), 60 or even 90 days (be it L or F) uninterrupted stay in China are quite hard to achieve.
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