Visa FAQ

 

What is the type of my visa ?
What's does it mean by ‘Entry(ies)?
How long does a Chinese visa valid?
What is the difference between a Chinese tourist and business visa?
I am going to mainland China, then to Hong Kong and back to mainland China. Does this mean I must have a double-entry visa?
I travel to China frequently. How do I obtain a multiple entry visa?
What can I do if I hold a tourist (L) visa and want to stay longer in China?
I am on a tourist visa (or a business visa) in China, my company wants to get me a work visa, is it possible to get the work visa without the need of going outside of China.
 I have a double/multi-entry Visa, but have 30 days limit for each stay. How can I remove it?
How can I get the registration form of temporary  residence ,

in order to apply for visas or residence permits in Beijing?
 

  
What is the type of my visa ?
A: Please look at your current visa; find the Capital Letter on the top:
L= Tourist Visa; F= Business Visa; Z=Working Visa; X= Student Visa.
In Chinese laws, if you hold an F visa, you are not allowed to get income payment here, that means, if you have signed the contract with the company and will start your full-time job here in Shanghai, it's better for you to ask for the working(Z) visa and residence permit from your company. Otherwise, the government may fine you and your company because of the illegal employment. if your company doesn't know how to apply the working visa for you. We can give them.Please look at your current visa and find the Capital Letter on the top

What does it mean by ‘Entry(ies)?
How many times you can enter China during the visa period. Commonly, there are 4 kinds of Entry:
00= Zero; 01= Single; 02= Double; M = Multiple. Zero entry is actually kind of extension of your stay in China.

How long is a China visa valid?
A Single entry China visa is good for 90 days from issuance. Within 90 days, you can enter China. And from the date of your entry, you can stay in China for the granted stay days (the duration period is written in the visa label).
A Multiple entry China visa is good for 6 or 12 months from issuance. Within 180 or 360 days you can enter China. And from the date of your entry, you can stay in China for 360 days 

What is the difference between a Chinese tourist and business visa?
Chinese visas are issued according to the purpose of the trip; either tourism or business activities. In general, "tourist" visas are issued specifically for the purpose of travel for pleasure, while a "business" visa generally permits a traveler to engage in normal business-related activities (sales meetings, visiting a factory, negotiating agreements, etc.)

I am going to mainland China, then to Hong Kong and back to mainland China. Does this mean I must have a double-entry visa?
Yes . Double-entry visa means you can enter into mainland of China twice within 90 days. Since you are going to the mainland of China twice, you must have a double-entry visa. Although being part of China, Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region.

 

 

I travel to China frequently. How do I obtain a multiple entry visa?
There are two ways to get a multiple entry F visa:
- To get it from overseas Chinese consulates or at visa office in Hong Kong, you'll need to ask your business partners in China to contact the local government office to issue an invitation. The invitation (letter) has to be issued by the authorized Chinese goverment departments or Chinese organizations.
- To get it from local Public Secruity Bureaus in China, you need to be sponsored by a Chinese organization

What can I do if I hold a tourist (L) visa and want to stay longer in China?
L visa can be extended once or twice. L visa can also be converted to a 3-month Business (F) visa. After 3 months, you can extend for another 3 months, the extension time is not limited, but the maximum  stay in China without leaving is 1 year.

I am on a tourist visa (or a business visa) in China, my company wants to get me a work visa, is it possible to get the work visa without going outside of China?
In some cases, it's possible. Please contact us for details.

I have a double/multi-entry Visa, but have 30 days limit for each stay. How can I remove it?
Double or multiple entry visas (either an L or F) issued by overseas Chinese consulates or Hongkong visa office usually have a limit of 30 days on the duration of each stay in China. The limit CAN NOT be simply removed in China. If you want to stay longer than 30 days, you have to apply for a new F visa at local PSB, and your current visa will be revoked at the same time.

Be discreet when you apply for double/mutiple entry visas outside China
how can I get the registration form of temporary  residence ,

in order to apply for visas or residence permits in Beijing?
When applying for visas or residence permits in Beijing, you will be asked to provide ?residence registration certificate?as one of the required documents. Where and how to get the ?residence registration certificate? depends on your current residence:

- If it is a legitimate hotel as well as registered with local police stations, you can ask the hotel to issue the certificate.
- If it is an apartment or house you rent and owned by Chinese individuals, you should ask the owner to go to the local police station to get the certificate. Documents required by the police: A) Copy of property ownership certificate; B) Owner’s “Hukou?and ID; C) your passport.
- If it is an apartment or house you bought, you should go to the local police station with the documents: A) Copy of property ownership certificate, B) your passport.
- If it is an apartment or house you rent and owned by Chinese organizations (except for schools), you should ask the organization to issue a letter, then take this letter and your passport and go to the local police station to get the residence certificate.
- If it is a school's apartment ( on campus ), you should ask the school to issue the certificate.