Brief Introduction to People's Republic of China Visa & How to Apply for Such Visa

The People's Republic of China Visa is an official authorization permitting foreigners to enter into, exit or transit the People’s Republic of China. According to foreigners’ identities, purposes of visiting China, and passport types, China’s visa authorities issue them a diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, official visa, or ordinary visa. The following is an introduction to ordinary visa and how to apply for an ordinary visa.
For ordinary visa, there are eight categories, represented by eight Chinese pinyin letters, D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1, and J-2, as visa code.D Visa: Issued to foreigners who are going to settle down in China; applicant must hold a Form for Confirmation of Settlement Identity, which can be obtained from the Entry & Exit Management Department of Public Security Bureau of the city, county where applicant is to settle down by the applicant or his/her Chinese relatives committed.
Z Visa: Issued to foreigners who are to take up a position or work in China and their accompanying family members; applicant must provide a Permit for Foreigner’s Employment in China (Employer applies to provincial and municipal labor departments for obtaining such permit) and the employer’s visa notice.
X Visa: Issued to foreigners who come to China for study or advanced studies, or internships for a period of more than six months. Applicant must provide employer/school or competent authority’s certificates, i.e. Application for Foreign Students Studying in China (Form JW201 or JW202), Admission Notice, and Foreigner Physical Examination Records.
F Visa: Issued to foreigners who are invited to China for a visit, research, lecture, business, scientific and cultural exchanges, short-term advanced studies or internships for a period of less than six months. Applicant must provide inviter’s Letter of Invitation or the authorized company’s visa notice.
L Visa: Issued to those who enter China for touring, family visiting or other private affairs; for the entry into China for touring, applicant must provide a certificate proving that he/she has enough funds. If necessary, he/she must also be required to show an air/bus/ship ticket by which he/she heads for a country (region) after leaving China. For the entry into China for visiting a relative, sometimes applicant is required to provide his/her relative’s Letter of Invitation.
G Visa: Issued to those who transit China. Applicant must show a valid visa and round-trip ticket by which he/she heads for a country (region).
C Visa: Issued to crew members on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and their accompanying family members. Applicant should provide relevant certificates according to the parties’ agreement or Chinese party’s regulations.
J-1 Visa: issued to foreign journalists who are posted to China for a long period.
J-2 Visa: issued to foreign journalists who are on temporary assignment in China. J-1 & J-2 visa applicants must provide certificates of competent authority of his/her home country.
In addition to the abovementioned application documents, applicant must answer relevant questions and handle the following procedures (unless otherwise specified in the agreement):
Provide a valid passport or a certificate which can take the place of a passport; Fill in the Application Form and provide a recent 2-inch photo (full face without hat); and Pay visa fee.
Visa authorities refer to embassies and consulate generals of the People’s Republic of China visa office in a foreign country, Office of the Commissioner in Hong Kong SAR, or other institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreigners who need to enter China or transit China should apply for a visa to the above visa authorities. For detailed procedures please refer to the nearest visa authority.

People's Republic of China Passport and Other Travel Documents

I. Passport Types, Objects and Issuing Authorities
(1) Types
People's Republic of China Passport is a document issued to Chinese citizens by the Chinese Government to prove their nationality and identity when they go into or leave the country, and travel or live abroad. There are several types of passports, i.e. diplomatic passport, service passport, ordinary passport, and SAR passport. Service passport includes service passport and public ordinary passport while SAR passport includes Hong Kong SAR passport and Macao SAR passport. Diplomatic passport, service passport, and public ordinary passport are collectively called Passport for Public Affairs.
Maximum period of validity of diplomatic and service passports is 5 years while that of ordinary passport is 10 years. Upon expiration new passport will be issued. Usually, period of validity of Hong Kong SAR passport is 10 years while those issued to children under 16 years old only have a period of validity of 5 years. Period of validity of Macao SAR passport is 10 years while those issued to children under 18 years old only have a period of validity of 5 years.
(2) Objects
Diplomatic passport is mainly issued to senior Party, Government, and Military officials, main leaders of NPC, CPPCC, and democratic parties, diplomatic officers, consular officers and their spouses, minor children and diplomatic couriers, etc.
Service passport is mainly issued to governmental officials whose professional title is above deputy director, personnel who work abroad for diplomatic, consular institutions, and UN systems and special institutions and their spouse and minor children, etc.
Public ordinary passport is mainly issued to governmental officials whose professional titles are below deputy director and personnel of state-owned enterprises and public institutions.
Ordinary passport is mainly issued to Chinese citizens who need to go abroad for personal reasons, such as settlement, visiting relatives and friends, inheritance of fortune, study, employment, and tourism, etc.
Hong Kong SAR passport is issued to Chinese citizens who hold a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Macao SAR passport is issued to Chinese citizens who hold a Macao permanent identity card.
(3) Issuing Authorities
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for issuing diplomatic passport, service passport, and public ordinary passport and handling all procedures for the above passports for public affairs. Since the use of new-version passports on May 1, 2002, diplomatic passport has been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has authorized Foreign Affairs Offices of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government and Foreign Affairs Offices of cities specifically designated in the state plan, special economic zones, and coastal opened cities to be responsible for issuing service passport and public ordinary passport and handling all procedures for the above passports for public affairs. Since the use of new-version passports, Foreign Affairs Offices of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government are responsible for applying to Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs for issuing diplomatic passports. Currently there are 60 authorities, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which can issue a passport for public affairs.
The Ministry of Public Security has authorized to local public security authorities to be responsible for issuing ordinary passports and handling all procedures for ordinary passports. According to the Basic Laws of the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR, the Central Government has authorized Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR governments to issue Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports as per laws.
Embassies of the People’s Republic of China in foreign countries are responsible for issuing service passport, public ordinary passport and ordinary passport and handling all procedures for the above passports as well as handling affairs relating Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports and other travel documents. Consulate generals and consulates of the People’s Republic of China in foreign countries are responsible for issuing public ordinary passport and ordinary passport and handling all procedures for the above passports as well as handling affairs relating Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports and other travel documents.
Offices of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and Macao are responsible for issuing service passport, public ordinary passport and ordinary passport and handling all procedures for the above passports.

II. Other Travel Documents of the People’s Republic of China
(1) People’s Republic of China Travel Document
People’s Republic of China Travel Document is an international travel document that can replace a passport. It is issued to the following persons by diplomatic, consular institutions of the People’s Republic of China in foreign countries as well as other institutions abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China:
1. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots who do not hold a pass for Hong Kong and Macao residents to travel to and from inland China or a pass for Taiwanese residents to travel to and from Mainland China;
2. Taiwan compatriots who hold a Taiwanese identity card and cannot apply for an alien visa; and
3. Chinese citizens who fail to apply for a passport due to certain restrictions, e.g. time inadequacy.
(2) People’s Republic of China Seafarer's Identity Certificate
The Seafarer's Identity Certificate is issued by the Maritime Safety Administration under Ministry of Communications and its authorized maritime affairs institutions to Chinese seafarers who need to go abroad to complete a seafaring mission. Currently, some Chinese seafarers only hold a Seafarer's Identity Certificate when they go abroad. Other seafarers must apply for a passport if they need to go abroad.
(3) Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (HKDI)
HKDI is issued by Hong Kong SAR Government to Hong Kong citizens who fails to be issued a Hong Kong SAR passport or other countries (regions)’ travel documents.
(4) Hong Kong Seafarer's Identity Certificate
The Hong Kong Seafarer's Identity Certificate is issued to Hong Kong residents who hold an Employment Registration Book issued by Marine Department of Hong Kong SAR Government.
(5) Macao SAR Travel Document
Macao SAR Travel Document is issued by Macao SAR Government to Macao residents who fail to be issued a Macao SAR passport (including foreigners).