What do you need before your travel to China?

All travelers to China are required to hold a valid visa. If travel in group, the visa will be kept by the accompanying guide and for individual traveler, visa, which is insert into the passport, should be kept by himself.

Passports are also needed, as it will be the prime means of identification. You will have to show them when you cash travelers checks, make plane or train reservations, exchange money or establish the holder's identity.

A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa

Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities to those foreigners who want to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. According to the applicants' identity, visiting purpose and passport type, the Chinese visa falls into four categories, namely, diplomatic, courtesy, service and ordinary visas.

The ordinary visa consists of nine sub-categories, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters F, L, Z, X, C, J-1, J-2, G, and D.

Visit / Business Visa (F): Issued to those foreigners who are invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and cultural exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of less than six months. An invitation letter offered by the related Chinese organizations or companies, or an official visa notice correspondence from Chinese authorized organizations is required.

Please download the Invitation Letter,and then, please fill in the blank, and fax the Invitation Letter to Shanghai CG Exhibition Services Co., Ltd. at +86 21 61294036, for the atten of Mr.Jiangkun.

Tourism Visa (L): Issued to those who enter China temporarily for touring, family visiting or other personal affairs (multiple-entry is not granted for this category).

Working Visa (Z): Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.

Study / Student Visa (X): Issued to those who come to China for study or intern practice for a period of six months or above.

Crewmember Visa (C): Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and their accompanying family members.

Journalist Visa (J-1): This visa is for journalists who are posted to China for at least one year.

Journalist Visa (J-2): Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview mission in China.

Transit Visa (G): Issued to those who transit through China.

Residence Visa (D): Issued to people who are going to live in China permanently.

The Chinese visa authorities overseas include Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, and the consular department of the office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa. For further information, please consult the nearest Chinese visa authorities.

Detailed information of Chinese visa

Visa Categories	Entries of Visas	Validity	Duration of Stay
Journalist Visa (J-1)	Single	3 months	/
Journalist Visa (J-2)	Single	/	/
Study / Student Visa (X)	Single	3 months	/
Residence Visa (D)	Single	3 months	/
Tourist Visa (L)	Single / Double	3 months	1-60 days
Crewmember Visa (C)	Single / Double	3 months	1- 30 days
Transit Visa (G)	Single / Double	3 months	7 days
Visit / Business Visa (F)	Single/Double /Multiple	3 months 6 / 12 months	1-60 days

Basic Requirements for Applying for a Chinese Visa

When applying for a visa, foreigners are required to present relevant documents and go through the following formalities:

----Your original valid passport with at least 2 blank visa pages and six months validity left before expiration.

----One fully completed visa application form with your passport photo attached

----Sometimes, documents, which explain and prove your reason to enter China, are needed for visa application

All the incomplete and false information in the visa application form would lead to the failure of application.

And all the consequences arising there from shall be born by the applicant himself.