Questions fréquentes
Can I work in China on a tourist visa?
No. Working in China without a work permit and work visa (Z visa) is illegal and can result in fines, detention, and deportation. "Working remotely for a foreign company" is a gray area that varies by enforcement.
Can I enter China without a visa if I'm just transiting?
Yes, under specific conditions — see the 240-hour transit visa-free section above. Conditions must be met exactly.
My visa was refused. Why?
Common reasons: incomplete application or documentation, insufficient bank balance, prior visa violations or overstays, security concerns (certain professions or countries), and inconsistencies in your application. If refused, you can reapply after addressing the issues. There's generally no mandatory waiting period.
Do I need a visa to enter Hong Kong?
No — Hong Kong has a separate immigration system from mainland China. Most nationalities enter Hong Kong visa-free for 30–90 days. Your China visa does NOT cover Hong Kong and vice versa.
Can I apply for a China visa in a third country?
Yes — but many Chinese embassies prefer to process applications from residents of their country. You may need to show proof of legal residence in the country where you're applying. Hong Kong CVASCs typically accept applications regardless of residency.
What is the China Green Card (永久居留证)?
China's permanent residence card, available to high-level talents, investors, and those who have lived in China on residence permits for a consecutive period. The requirements are stringent — this is not a common path for most expats.
What is the China K visa?
The K visa is a new Chinese visa category created for young foreign science and technology talents, added by State Council Decree No. 814 and in force since October 1, 2025. It targets young STEM graduates and researchers rather than sponsored employees, and official statements say it will offer more convenience in entries, duration of stay, and validity than the existing 12 ordinary visa categories.
Who qualifies for the China K visa?
Per the official interpretation: young foreign science and technology talents who graduated with a bachelor's degree or above in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from well-known universities or research institutions in China or abroad, or who work in related education or research at such institutions. No Chinese employer or inviter is required. The official texts do not quantify an age range for "young," and the recognition standards for "well-known" institutions have not been published yet — details await official implementation rules.
Is the China K visa available now?
Yes, the category is in force (since October 1, 2025), and K visas are issued by Chinese embassies, consulates, and other overseas missions. However, the detailed application requirements are still pending official publication — specific conditions and document lists are to be published by each Chinese embassy or consulate, so check the official website of the Chinese embassy in your country for the current state.
Quick Summary: China offers 12+ visa categories. Most visitors use tourist (L), business (M), work (Z), or student (X) visas. As of 2026, China’s unilateral visa-free entry covers 50 nationalities (30 days each, most windows running through Dec 31, 2026) and 240-hour transit visa-free covers 57 nationalities. Always verify current requirements at the Chinese embassy for your country — policies change frequently.
Do You Need a Visa?
Start here. Many travelers in 2026 do not need a visa for short visits.
Visa-Free Entry (No Visa Required)
China has significantly expanded visa-free entry in 2024–2026. As of September 2026:
30-day visa-free (unilateral, 50 countries): Most European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, and ~30 more, including the UK and Canada — both added February 2026), Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of these windows currently run through December 31, 2026 (Brunei open-ended, Russia through 2027) — see the full 50-country list.
30-day visa-free (mutual agreements): Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, and a few others run equivalent 30-day visa-free arrangements under bilateral agreements.
Note: Visa-free entry is typically for tourism, business meetings, and transit purposes. It does not allow you to work or study.
Always verify: This list is updated frequently. Check with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country before booking.
240-Hour Transit Visa-Free (TWOV)
Citizens of 57 countries (including USA, Canada, UK, and most EU countries) can stay in China for up to 10 days without a visa when transiting, under specific conditions:
- Entry/exit must be through designated ports (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi’an, and others)
- You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country
- You must stay within the permitted areas — 24 provincial-level regions, and you can travel across provinces inside them (enter at Chengdu, add Chongqing or Xi’an; details in the 240-hour transit hub)
Example: Flying Tokyo → Shanghai → London: You could spend up to 10 days in Shanghai without a visa.
Note that these rules have shifted repeatedly — nationality lists, duration (now 240 hours for 57 nationalities), and designated areas all changed with the 2024–2026 expansions. Run a 30-second eligibility check against the current rules before you build an itinerary around transit.
China Visa Categories
Not sure what the sticker in your passport actually says? See the official sample images of every Chinese entry-exit document — visa sticker, residence permit, travel permits — in our China entry-exit documents guide.
L Visa — Tourist (旅游签证)
For: Tourism, visiting friends and family, leisure travel
Duration: Usually granted as single-entry 30-day or double-entry 60-day; multi-entry options available
Validity: 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year from issue date (not how long you can stay — that’s the duration of each stay)
Requirements:
- Completed visa application form
- Passport photo
- Copy of passport (bio page)
- Flight itinerary (round-trip or onward)
- Hotel booking confirmation or invitation letter
- Bank statements showing sufficient funds
Processing time: 4–7 business days; express 1–3 days
Where to apply: Chinese embassy or consulate in your country; Chinese Visa Application Service Centers (CVASC)
M Visa — Business (商务签证)
For: Business meetings, trade negotiations, attending conferences, market research
Note: Does NOT permit actual employment in China.
Duration: Single, double, or multiple entry; stay duration typically 30–60 days per entry
Requirements:
- Invitation letter from a Chinese company (on company letterhead, with company stamp)
- Business registration documents of the inviting company
- Your company’s business registration (sometimes)
Who issues: The Chinese partner company initiates the invitation process.
Z Visa — Work (工作签证)
For: Foreigners legally employed in China
This is the visa you need if you are working in China, paid a salary, and present in China.
How it works:
- Your employer in China applies for a Work Permit (工作许可证) on your behalf
- With the Work Permit, the employer provides you a visa notification letter (Z类签证通知书)
- You apply for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy with this letter
- After arriving in China, convert the Z visa to a Residence Permit (居留许可) within 30 days
Source check: this employer-sponsored flow (work permit → notification letter → Z visa → residence permit within 30 days) matches the official Welcome to China 2025 guide’s Work Permit chapter, which also confirms a Notification Letter path for short-term assignments of up to 90 days. Verified against the official English edition, 2026-09-06.
Requirements (for Z visa application):
- Work Permit Notification (from employer)
- Health certificate (from a designated hospital in your country)
- No criminal record certificate (from your country)
- Degree certificate (authenticated)
- Professional certifications (if applicable)
Duration: Z visa is typically a single-entry visa valid for 30 days — just enough to enter China and apply for the Residence Permit
Residence Permit: After arrival, your employer’s HR handles the Residence Permit application. This is the actual long-term document allowing you to live and work in China.
The work permit itself has its own chain — notification letter, A/B/C talent classes, 15-day and 30-day post-entry deadlines. Our China work permit guide walks through it step by step; this page stays on the visa side. For what happens on the ground after you land — permit filing, residence permit, salary card — your first month working in China, week by week maps the arrival-to-onboarding sequence.
K Visa — Young STEM Talent
China’s newest visa category: the K visa, created in 2025 for young foreign science and technology (STEM) talent.
What it is
The K visa is a regular Chinese visa “issued to foreign young science and technology talents entering China,” added to the visa category list by the 2025 revision of the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners. Per the official interpretation, eligible applicants are young foreign science and technology talents who either:
- Graduated with a bachelor’s degree or above in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from well-known universities or research institutions in China or abroad, or
- Are engaged in related education or research work at such institutions
Note: official texts do not quantify an age range for “young,” and the recognition standards for “well-known universities or research institutions” have not been published yet — these details await official implementation rules.
Status
In force since October 1, 2025 (State Council Decree No. 814, published August 14, 2025). Official statements say the K visa will provide “more convenience in entries, duration of stay, and validity” compared with the existing 12 ordinary visa categories — directional wording only; no specific entry-count or validity figures have been published at the central level. Holders may engage in exchanges in fields such as education, science and technology, and culture, as well as entrepreneurial and business activities.
How it differs from the Z visa
The Z visa is for foreigners employed in China — it requires a Chinese employer to secure a Work Permit and a visa notification letter first. The K visa has “specific requirements only for age and educational background or work experience” and does not require a Chinese employer or inviter, per the official Q&A — a self-standing path for young STEM talent.
How to apply
K visas are issued abroad by Chinese embassies, consulates, and other overseas missions. Applicants must meet the conditions set by the competent Chinese authorities and submit the corresponding supporting documents — with each embassy publishing its own list. As of September 2026, the detailed application requirements (document checklists and supporting measures) are still pending official publication — check the official website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country for the current state before applying.
Source: State Council — Decision on Amending the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 814), published 2025-08-14. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202508/content_7036507.htm Source: State Council — Q&A by the heads of four departments on the amended regulations, published 2025-08-15. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202508/content_7036550.htm Last verified: 2026-09-08
X Visa — Student (学生签证)
For: Foreigners studying at Chinese schools, universities, or language programs
X1 Visa: For studies lasting more than 180 days (long-term) X2 Visa: For studies lasting 180 days or less (short-term)
How it works:
- Apply to and be accepted by a Chinese educational institution
- Institution issues a JW201 or JW202 form (admission notice)
- Apply for X visa at Chinese embassy with this documentation
- X1 holders must apply for a Residence Permit within 30 days of arrival
Requirements:
- Admission notice from Chinese institution
- JW201/JW202 form
- Health certificate (for X1/long-term)
- Degree certificates from previous education
Wondering whether an X visa lets you earn anything while you study? It can — but only inside narrow, school-approved channels; the part-time work rules for international students in China lay out the two lawful doors and the penalties outside them.
Q Visa — Family Reunion
For: Family members visiting or joining Chinese citizens or foreigners with permanent residence
Q1: For spouses, minor children, and parents of Chinese citizens or permanent residents — for stays exceeding 180 days Q2: For relatives visiting Chinese citizens — stays under 180 days
S Visa — Family of Foreigners Working/Studying in China
For: Spouses, minor children, parents, and parents-in-law of foreigners legally working or studying in China
S1: Stay exceeding 180 days → convert to Residence Permit S2: Visit lasting 180 days or less
This is the visa a family member would use to join someone with a Z visa or on a work Residence Permit.
Other Visa Types
| Visa | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| C | Crew | Aircraft and ship crew |
| D | Permanent Residence | Chinese Green Card equivalent — see the full eligibility guide |
| F | Exchange/Visit | Cultural exchange, academic visits |
| G | Transit | Short layover (not TWOV) |
| J | Journalist | Foreign media correspondents |
| R | Talent | High-level talents and urgently needed personnel |
Visa Application: Step by Step
Where to Apply
In your home country:
- Chinese Embassy or Consulate — apply in person or by mail
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) — many countries have CVASCs in major cities, which accept applications on behalf of the embassy
If already in Asia:
- Hong Kong: Multiple CVASC locations, processing takes 3–5 business days
- Macau: Chinese Consulate handles applications
- Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo: Chinese embassy or CVASC
Application Form
Fill out the online application at the China Online Visa Application System (COVA): visaforchina.cn
The form covers:
- Personal details
- Travel history (usually 5 years)
- Employment details
- Itinerary details (approximate dates, accommodation)
- Emergency contact
Common mistakes:
- Itinerary dates that don’t match your flight bookings
- Missing hotel booking confirmations
- Incomplete travel history
- Wrong passport number
Required Documents (Tourist/L Visa — Standard)
- Completed application form (printed from visaforchina.cn)
- Passport (original) — valid for 6+ months, 2 blank pages
- Copy of passport bio page
- 1 passport photo (white background, 33mm × 48mm)
- Round-trip flight itinerary or booking confirmation
- Hotel booking confirmation for all nights
- Bank statements (3 months minimum, showing sufficient funds — typically $50+/day as a guideline)
- Invitation letter (if staying with someone)
For US Citizens: Additional requirement — previous China visa copies if applicable (US-China relations have specific requirements for US applicants)
Processing Times and Fees
| Service | Time | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | 4–7 business days | $30–90 (varies by country) |
| Express | 1–3 business days | $50–120 |
| Same-day | Same day (limited) | $100–150 |
Fees vary significantly by your nationality and the processing location. US citizens typically pay higher fees due to reciprocal fee policies.
Visa Validity vs. Duration of Stay
Common confusion: The visa validity and the duration of stay are different.
Validity period: How long after the visa is issued you can use it to enter China.
- “3 months” validity: You must enter China within 3 months of the visa issue date.
Duration of stay: How long you can stay inside China per entry.
- “30 days” duration: After entering China, you have 30 days before you must leave (or extend/change status).
Example: A 3-month validity, single-entry, 30-day stay visa issued April 1:
- You can enter China any time between April 1 and July 1
- Once you enter, you have 30 days to leave
- After you exit, the visa is used up (single-entry)
Extending Your Stay in China
Visa Extension
If you’re on a tourist or short-stay visa and want more time:
Where: Entry-Exit Administration Bureau (出入境管理局) in your city — typically 1–2 extensions of 30 days possible
Requirements:
- Valid passport
- Current visa
- Valid reason (tourism, medical, etc.)
- Sometimes: hotel booking for extended stay
How long: Extensions typically granted for 30 days; second extension may be harder to obtain
Cost: Approximately ¥160–500 ($22–70) depending on extension type
See full guide: China Visa Extension, Change & Reissuance — the official NIA rules for all ten visa categories: who can extend, documents per category, and the extension caps
Visa Run (Border Exit and Reentry)
Traveling to Hong Kong, Macau, or a neighboring country and returning resets your stay duration — but not for the same visa if it was single-entry. You’d need a double or multiple-entry visa.
Note: Frequent visa runs (more than 2–3) may attract scrutiny at immigration. If you’re staying long-term, the proper route is a residence permit.
Residence Permit (居留许可)
For foreigners staying in China legally for more than 180 days (work, study, family), the residence permit is the key document — not the visa.
Types:
- Work-type Residence Permit: For Z visa holders — your HR department manages this process
- Study-type: For X1 visa holders — your school manages this
- Family-type: For S1 or Q1 holders
Validity: Typically 1–3 years, renewable
What it gives you: Right to stay in China, may allow multiple entry without additional visas, required to open bank accounts, register for services
See full guide:China Residence Permit Guide for Foreigners
Related Guides
- China Residence Permit Guide — Converting your visa to long-term residence
- First Week in China Checklist — What to do after arriving
- Police Registration in Wuhan — Required for all foreigners staying overnight
- Opening a Bank Account in China — Documents needed after arrival
- India to China Entry Guide — Entry rules for India citizens
- Singapore to Mainland China Entry Guide — Visa-free entry for Singapore citizens
- China Entry Guide for UK Citizens — Visa and flights from the UK
- China Entry Guide for US Citizens — Visa and flights from the US
Disclaimer: Visa regulations change frequently. This guide reflects the situation as of April 2026. Always verify current requirements at the official Chinese embassy website for your country before applying.