To enter China, foreigners shall apply for visas in the provincial, autonomous region and municipalities exit and entry administration bureau and division. Checklist of documents required for application:

a. Passports: Original passport valid for at least six months from the date of application and with more than two blank visa pages

b. Applicants should submit "Application Form for Visas or Resident Permits for Foreigners" fully completed and signed with genuine information. If the applicant has a Chinese name, the Chinese name should be filled in. False or incomplete information and illegible characters may lead to refusal of a visa.

c. One fully completed visa application form in Chinese or English, attached with a recent 2-inch color photograph of the applicant

d. Applicants are also requested to submit a note or certification issued by the applicant's employer with signature from the person in charge (including applicant's certificate of identity, arrival time, purpose and residence time).

e. For applying for different kinds of visas, checklist of documents required for application:

1 Tourist Visa (L-visa)

Applicants: L-visas are issued to foreigners who come to China for sightseeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes

a. For individual tourist visa application, the applicant should provide the official letter issued by the reception organization. For applicants with no reception organization, they are required to provide a financial guarantee (credit, traveler's check, payment documents, cash card, or face fines of $100 per day) for living in China. The visa is valid in less than twice (contain) in one month.

b. Tour groups are not permitted to apply for group visas. For force majeure events, the applicant should provide the official letter issued by the reception organization. They should get a zero-entry group visa with period of validity equaling that of the original visa for only once.

c. To apply for separation from group visa, applicants should provide the official letter issued by the reception organization and get a visa valid for one month with zero entry.

2 Business Visa (F-visa)

Applications: A business visa (F-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business and exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or for short-term study or intern practice.

Additional materials: Foreigners can obtain the visa, which can be used for 0, 1 or 2 entries within six months or multiple entries within six months or one year by providing the official letter issued by the local reception organization. Applicants can apply as many times as they want. However, for each entry, the longest continuous total stay must be no more than one year from the first day they enter China.

3 Student Visa (X-visa)

a. Admission notice from the university

b. Visa Application for Study in China under seal by authorized agencies (Form JW-201 or Form JW-202)

c. Physical Examination Record for Foreigner

4 Work Visa (Z-visa)

a. The Employment Permit for Foreigners issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security or Confirmation Letter of Retaining Foreign Experts issued by the State Bureau of Foreign Experts

b. Approval document (also copy) issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of related province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the central government

c. Physical Examination Record for Foreigner is requested if the applicant stays in China for more than six months

Visa extension and change of visa type are uniformly referred to as visa application.

Regular visa processing time is normally five working days evaluated by the Bureau of Exit & Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

Applicants must pay visa application fees in accordance with the relevant regulations formulated by the Chinese government.