You must apply for a new visa if your current one has expired or the number of entries is insufficient.
Types of Chinese Visas
Diplomatic, courtesy, service, and regular visas are the four types of Chinese visas. Ordinary visas are classified into the following groups:
Tourist Visa (L Visa)
This is granted to a foreign national visiting China for a short time for tourism, family visits, or other personal reasons.
Business Visa (F Visa)
This is granted to a foreign national who is invited to China for a visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the sectors of science, technology, or culture, advanced study, or internship for no more than 6 months.
Student Visa (X Visa)
This is given to a foreign national who comes to China for more than 6 months to study, advance study, or intern.
Work Visa (Z Visa)
This is given to a foreign person who is visiting China for commercial or academic purposes, as well as his or her spouse and minor children.
Crew Visa (C visa)
This is granted to a crew member of an international railroad, plane, or vessel who is a foreign citizen who comes to China for business.
Journalist Visas (J-1, J-2)
A J-1 Visa is granted to a resident foreign journalist in China, as well as his or her spouse and minor children. A J-2 Visa is granted to a foreign journalist visiting China for a limited time.
Transit visa (G Visa)
This is provided to a foreign citizen who is transiting through China on their way to a third nation or region and will spend more than 24 hours at a Chinese airport or will need to depart the airport.
A Permanent Resident Visa (D Visa)
This is given to a foreign national who has been granted permission to live in China continuously. Visas to China often take up to four business days to process. You can pick up your China visa on the fourth working day after you submit your application.
If you submit your application on Monday, for example, you can normally pick up your visa on Thursday. However, third-day rush and second-day express services are available, but they must be approved beforehand.
There would be an additional hurry or expedited service cost. On your pick-up slip, the exact pickup date will be written. Some applications may take longer than four working days to process depending on the circumstances. In this scenario, no pickup date is indicated on the pickup slip, and you will be notified immediately or after your application has been submitted.
Price of Chinese visa based on entry
- The cost of a single entry visa is $140 for Americans and $30 for non-Americans.
- The cost of a two-entry visa is $140 for Americans and $45 for non-Americans.
- Multiple Entry Visa for 6 Months: For Americans, this costs $140 and for non-Americans, it costs $60.
- For 12 months or more, a multiple entry visa costs $140 for Americans and $90 for non-Americans.
Due to reciprocal agreements, visa fees for certain non-American applicants may differ from those listed above. Getting the visa on the third day costs an additional charge of $25 and $37 for urgent service on the second working day. The sole documentation that you can collect for your visa is the pickup slip. When the pickup slip is misplaced, the applicant should assume full responsibility and pick up the visa themselves by producing a valid photo ID.
The applicant or someone else having the original pickup slip can pick up the visa. There is no mail-back service for visa applicants. The applicant must pick up the visa on the designated pickup date on the pickup slip. If you are unable to pick up on that date, you may do so within one week. Your visa will be revoked otherwise.
Credit cards (Visa or MasterCard only), money orders, and cashier’s checks are accepted as forms of payment. We do not accept cash, personal checks, or online payments. Make sure your check/money order is written with the exact and proper amount. An incorrect check will not be accepted. Once your application is submitted, you must pay the visa fee, which is non-refundable even if you do not intend to visit China with it.
The passport and visa cannot be picked up until the visa cost has been paid in full. If you refuse to pay the cost or pay late, your visa will be canceled, and this will have a significant impact on your future visa applications.