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Manage a Visa

Visa type, applicant category and required documents

Updated: Apr 16, 2025 www.chinaservicesinfo.com Print
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Please apply for the appropriate type of visa according to the primary purpose of the visit to China, and submit both the characterized and common documents as required in the following table.

Applicant Category

Required documents are divided into two parts. One part is called characterized documents referring to specified documents for different types of visa, while the other part is defined as common documents which are generally required for all types of visa.

Visa Type: C

Issued to:
①foreign crew members of international transportation, including aircraft, trains, and ships.
②ship crew's accompanying family members.
③motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities.

Characterized Documents

Guarantee letter from a foreign transport company or an invitation letter from a relevant organization/entity in China.

Visa Type: D

Issued to:
Issued to individuals for permanent residence in China.

Characterized Documents

Original and photocopy of Confirmation of Foreigners' Permanent Residence Status in China.

Visa Type: F

Issued to:
Issued to individuals intending to visit China for non-commercial activities, including exchanges, visits and inspections, etc., such as religious, cultural, academic exchanges and activities for public benefits.

Characterized Documents

Circumstance 1: for applicant offering an Invitation Letter (TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation:
either of the above two documents is required. Moreover, Verification Letter of Invitation should be submitted with an ordinary invitation letter from a real inviting organization/entity in China.
Please see Appendix 1 for the content requirements of an ordinary invitation letter.
Circumstance 2: for applicant unable to offer an Invitation Letter (TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation:
1. An ordinary invitation letter from a real inviting organization/entity in China.
Please see Appendix 2 for conditions in which an Invitation Letter (TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation is exempt.
Please see Appendix 1 for the content requirements of an ordinary invitation letter.
2. The applicant's personal bank statement for the latest 6 months (Closing balance should be enough to cover all expenses during the applicant's real stay period in China, no less than US $100 per day or equivalent Pakistani Rupees).
3. It is recommended that the applicant provide round trip itinerary or e-airline ticket booking information, and hotel reservation paper.
**Additional supporting documents may be required based on different specific situations.

Visa Type: J1

Issued to:
Issued to foreign journalists intending to reside in China and work for the international news agencies for more than 180 days.

Visa Type: J2

Issued to:
Issued to foreign journalists intending to visit China for a short time reporting tour (less than or equal to 180 days).

Characterized Documents

Contact the Chinese CONSULATE's Political Office in advance and follow the instruction by the relevant authorities in China.

Visa Type: Group L

Issued to:
Issued to tourists visiting China in a group of at least 5 people.

Characterized Documents

Invitation Letter for Tourist Group issued by the duly authorized tourism office in China, usually the local relevant Culture and Tourism Bureau upon the request by the local travel agency in China.

Visa Type: M

Issued to:
Issued to individuals intending to visit China for commercial and trade activities.

Characterized Documents

Circumstance 1: for applicant offering an Invitation Letter (TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation:
either of the above two documents is required. Moreover, Verification Letter of Invitation should be submitted with an ordinary invitation letter from a real inviting organization/entity in China.
Please see Appendix 1 for the content requirements of an ordinary invitation letter.

Circumstance 2: for applicant offering Canton Fair Invitation Letter or China International Import Expo Invitation Letter:
either of the above two invitation letters is required.

Circumstance 3: for  applicant unable to offer an Invitation Letter (TE), Verification Letter of Invitation, Canton Fair Invitation Letter, or China International Import Expo Invitation Letter:
1. An ordinary invitation letter from a real inviting organization/entity in China.
Please see Appendix 2 for conditions in which an Invitation Letter (TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation is exempt.
Please see Appendix 1 for the content requirements of an ordinary invitation letter.
2. The applicant’s personal bank statement for the latest 6 months (Closing balance should be enough to cover all expenses during the applicant's real stay period in China, no less than US $100 per day or equivalent Pakistani Rupees)
3. It is recommended that the applicant provide round trip itinerary or e-airline ticket booking information, and hotel reservation paper.
**Additional supporting documents may be required based on different specific situations.

Visa Type: Q1

Issued to:
①family members of Chinese citizens or foreigners eligible for Chinese permanent residence for the purpose of a long time family reunion for more than 180 days.
Here, “family members” refer to spouses, parents, spouse's parents, sons and daughters, spouses of sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, paternal and maternal grandparents, grandchildren.
②individuals intending to reside in China for the purpose of foster care, etc.

Characterized Documents

1. An invitation letter written by Chinese citizens or foreigners eligible for Chinese permanent residence.
Please see Appendix 3 for the content requirements of an invitation letter.
2. Copy of the inviting Chinese citizen's national ID card as an inviter or copy of the foreigner's passport personal information page and permanent resident ID card.
3. Original and photocopy of the family relationship certificate between the inviter and the invitee, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by the local public security bureau or police station in China, kinship notarial certificate. If the certificate is issued by the relevant Pakistani government office, it should be apostilled or attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
**For foster care, additional relevant supporting documents should be provided as required.

Visa Type: Q2

Issued to:
Issued to family members of Chinese citizens or foreigners eligible for Chinese permanent residence for the purpose of a short time relative visit (less than or equal to 180 days).

Characterized Documents

1. An invitation letter written by  Chinese citizens or foreigners eligible for Chinese permanent residence.
Please see Appendix 3 for the content requirements of an invitation letter.
2. Copy of the inviting Chinese citizen’s national ID card as an inviter or copy of the foreigner’s passport personal information page and permanent resident ID card.
3. Original and photocopy of the family relationship certificate between the inviter and the invitee, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by the local public security bureau or police station in China, kinship notarial certificate. If the certificate is issued by the relevant Pakistani government office, it should be apostilled or attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
4. Round trip itinerary or e-airline ticket booking information.

Visa Type: R

Issued to:
Issued to foreign high-level talents and urgently-needed specialized talents for China.

Characterized Documents

onfirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents issued by the certified Chinese relevant authorities.

Visa Type: S1

Issued to:
①spouses, parents, sons and daughters under the age of 18, spouse's parents intending to pay a relative visit for more than 180 days to foreigners who reside in China for the purpose of work and study, etc.
②individuals intending to reside in China for more than 180 days for other private purpose.

Characterized Documents

1. An invitation letter written by a foreigner as an inviter who resides in China for the purpose of work and study, etc.
Please see Appendix 3 for the content requirements of an invitation letter.
2. Copy of the inviter's passport personal information page and residence permit.
3. Original and photocopy of the relationship certificate between the inviter and the invitee, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship notarial certificate. If the certificate is issued by the relevant Pakistani government office, it should be apostilled or attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
**If the foreigner as an inviter applies for work visa (Z visa) or students visa (X1 visa) for the purpose of work or study in China, the visa applicant as an invitee should apply for relative-visiting visa (S1 visa). The invitee should provide, not only the necessary documents for S1 visa application, but also a copy of the inviter's Z or X1 visa application documents, original and photocopy of the kinship certificate, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship notarial certificate, etc., between the inviter and the invitee, and a statement letter written by the inviter's work or study organization/entity.
**Family members of foreign journalists residing in China should contact the Chinese Consulate's Political Office in advance and follow the instruction by the relevant authorities in China.

Visa Type: S2

Issued to:
①family members intending to pay a short time relative visit (less than or equal to 180 days) to foreigners who reside in China for the purpose of work and study, etc.
Here, “family members” refer to spouses, parents, spouse's parents, sons and daughters, spouses of sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, paternal and maternal grandparents, grandchildren.
②individuals intending to visit China for medical treatment or for accompanying the patient for medical care (less than or equal to 180 days).

Characterized Documents

An invitation letter written by a foreigner as an inviter who stays and resides in China.
Please see Appendix 3 for the content requirements of an invitation letter.
2. Copy of the inviter's passport personal information page, residence permit or valid visa.
3. Original and photocopy of the family relationship certificate between the inviter and the invitee, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certificate issued by the local public security bureau or police station in China, kinship notarial certificate, etc.. If the certificate is issued by the relevant Pakistani government office, it should be apostilled or attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
4. Round trip itinerary or e-airline ticket booking information.
**For the purpose of medical treatment or accompanying the patient for medical care in China, the relevant supporting documents should be provided as required.

Visa Type: X1

Issued to:
Issued to individuals intending to study in China for more than 180 days.

Visa Type: X2

Issued to:
Issued to individuals intending to study in China for a short time period of less than or equal to 180 days.

Characterized Documents

1. Printout of Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202) submitted online.
2. Photocopy of the admission letter from a university or school in China.
3. Evidence of scholarship issuance or a proof of financial resources amounting to US$2,500 per academic year or equivalent Pakistan Rupees. Closing balance of bank statement of the financial supporter should be enough to cover the student whole study years in China.
**If the student holding a valid study residence permit exits China and fails to return to China before the study residence permit expires, the student should provide both the original and photocopy of a formal letter written by the university or school to prove that the student is continuing the study in China.
**Individuals planning to have one year medical internship and participate the Examination for the Qualifications for Doctors in China, or intending to attend primary and secondary school in China are required to present relevant supporting documents.

Visa Type: Z

Issued to:
Issued to individuals intending to work in China.

Characterized Documents

Submit one of the following documents according to different circumstances:
1. Commercial performance: An approval letter by the relevant Culture and Tourism Bureau in China, and Approval of Short-term Employment for Foreigners working in P.R.China.
2. Notice of Foreigner's Work Permit in the People's Republic of China.
3. Letter of Invitation for Foreigners Engaged in Offshore Petroleum Operations in the People's Republic of China.
4. Registration Certificate of Resident Representative Office of Foreign (Region) Enterprise in China.
5. Confirmation letter issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China to accept  representative appointed by a foreign government culture and tourism office in China.
6. Original Foreigner's Work Permit card.
* If a foreigner enters China with a valid work visa(Z visa) and then exit China, he/she should apply for a new Z visa again. He/She needs to submit previous documents for the last Z visa application, or the original foreigner's work permit card, according to different circumstances.

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