Information on Chinese Visa Application
In accordance with the provisions of Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of
the Entry and Exit of Aliens, aliens shall apply for visas for entry into China from
Chinese diplomatic missions, consular posts or other resident agencies abroad authorized
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To apply for a Chinese visa, applicant can submit his application either by personal appearance
at visa office or by mail. If you choose to mail in your visa application, besides reading the
following requirements, please also read instructions for application by mail.
1. Basic requirements for applying for a Chinese visa of all categories
---- Original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages and valid for more than 6 months from the
date of submitting application.
---- Each applicant one fully completed visa application form with one passport photo attached.
If the applicant fails to provide with true and complete information in the visa application form,
his visa application may be declined. All the consequences arising therefrom shall be born by the applicant himself.
2. Visa category and relevant supporting documents required
(1) Business visa(Category F visa)
---- Invitation from China and a cover letter from the applicant's company or employer.
---- For those who apply for a multiple-entry F visa, an official visa notification form issued by relevant authorized Chinese government organization or company shall be presented.
(2) Tourism visa(Category L visa)
---- Xerox copy of the travel itinerary and airline ticket. For those who wish to travel to Tibet, please contact the Tourism Administration Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region (Tel: ++86-891-6834313, Fax:++86-891-8634632) to obtain an approval before applying for a visa.
(3) Student visa(Category X visa / Category F visa)
---- For those who will study in China for less than 6 months, an official visa notification form from the education administration department of the local government where the host institute/university locates shall be presented. Category F will be issued to these students.
---- For those who will study in China for more than 6 months, the following documents shall be presented: I. JW201 Form / JW202 Form (Visa Application for Foreigners Wishing to Study in China); II. admission notice of the host institute/university; III. physical examination record. Category X visa will be issued to these students.
(4) Employment visa(Category Z visa)
---- For foreign professional technical and managerial personnel employed directly by the Chinese government or those with senior technical titles or credentials of special skills recognized by their home or international technical authorities or professional associations to be employed by Chinese government organs and institutions, the following documents shall be presented: I. Foreign Expert Certificate issued by Bureau of Foreign Expert Affairs of P.R.C; II. official visa notification form; III. physical examination record.
---- For foreign workers with special skills who work in offshore petroleum operations without the need to go ashore for employment, the following documents shall be presented: I. Work Permit for Foreign Personnel Engaged in the Offshore Petroleum Operations in the People's Republic of China; II. official visa notification form; III. physical examination record.
---- For foreign nationals other than the above 2 categories, the following documents shall be presented for applying for a Z visa: I. People's Republic of China Employment License for Foreigners issued by Ministry of Labor and Social Security of P.R.C; II. official visa notification form; III. physical examination record.
(5) Transit visa (Category G visa)
---- Visa or invitation of the destination nation/region, Xerox copy of airline ticket.
(6) Journalist Visa (Category J-1/J-2 visa)
---- Please contact the Press Section directly at 713-5240171 for J-1/J-2 visa application.
(7) Resident visa (Category D visa)
---- For those who wish to apply for residency in China, the approval for residency issued by the public security bureau of the local government where the applicants wish to reside and an official visa notification form shall be presented.
(8) Group visa
A tourist group of seven or more can apply for a group visa if they plan to enter and exit China together. The following documents shall be presented: I. visa notification form from an authorized Chinese travel agency; II. original passports and photocopy of the bio-data page of the passports and related amendments; III. completed List of Visitors Group in triplicate.
3. Visa application of foreign-born children of Chinese origin
Please read the relevant Chinese version of this information.
4. Visa application with Permit To Reenter The United States
---- Chinese citizens do not need a visa to enter China if they have a valid Chinese passport or travel permit.
The Chinese Consulate can not issue Chinese visas on Reentry Permit hold by Chinese citizens.
---- Foreign nationals other than Chinese citizens using Permit To Reenter The United States for travelling to China must obtain a Chinese visa. The requirements and visa fees are the same as for U.S. citizens.
5. Information on travelling to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
---- U.S. citizens with a valid U.S. passport enjoy visa exemption for traveling to HKSAR if
they visit Hong Kong for business or tourism purpose and stay in Hong Kong for less than 90 days. Otherwise, they must obtain a visa for travelling to Hong Kong.
---- For information on Chinese citizens travelling to Hong Kong, please read the relevant Chinese version of this information.
---- Those who travel to Hong Kong with Permit To Reenter the United States must obtain a visa.
---- All applicants for a visa to Hong Kong shall provide: I. the original passport/travel
document, i.e. Permit To Reenter The United States; II. each applicant one fully completed
Hong Kong visa application form; III. each applicant one passport photo; IV. Document proving
the present identification of the applicant in U.S., for example: Resident Alien Card, Student
ID, I-94 Departure Record, etc(original document or notarized copy).
6. Information on travelling to Macau Special Administrative Region
Citizens of the following countries enjoy visa exemption for travelling to Macau: Portugal, United States, United Kingdom, Korea(Republic of), Canada, Philippines, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, Ireland, South Africa, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Swiss, Uruguay, Poland, Czech, Singapore, Estonia.
7. Visa validation and duration of stay
The validation of a Chinese visa designates the period it may be used for entry into China,
not how long a visitor may stay. It appears on a Chinese visa as ENTER BEFORE. The duration
of stay of a Chinese visa designates the period a visitor can stay in China after his entry.
It appears on a Chinese visa as DAYS FOR EACH STAY. Usually, a single-entry Chinese visa is
valid for 3 months from the date of issuance with a duration of stay of 30 days. After
entering China, if necessary, extension of duration of stay can be applied for at the local
public security bureau.
8. Visa fee and processing time
For U.S. Citizens and other foreign nationals who apply for a Chinese visa at the embassy or consulate of China in United States.
Single entry $30 Multiple(6 months) $60
Double entry $45 Multiple(12 months) $90
Visa for Hong Kong $30
Group visa:$24/person.
Normal processing time of visa application is 3 working days.
Expedited service can be arranged.
24-hour rush $30.00/visa
48-hour rush $20.00/visa
If you apply by mail, $5 handlling fee is charged per package,
which is in addition to visa fees and rush fees. Please also
prepare a self addressed pre-paid return envelope.
.
Visa fee and rush fee can only be paid by cash, Money Order, Company Check or Cashier's Check made payable to Consulate General of P.R.C in Houston. All the other means of payment are not accepted.
9. The validation, duration of stay and number of entries of a Chinese visa are at the discretion of consular officer. Their decisions are based strictly on laws and regulations of China. Consular officers have the authority to refuse any applications inconsistent with Chinese laws and regulations and are entitled to change or revoke issued visas without disclosure of the reasons.
Instructions For Application By Mail
- Before submitting your application by mail, carefully read the relevant instructions.
- A self-addressed return envelope with sufficient postage pre-paid by the applicants is required for all mail-in applications. For a fast and securied return delivery, Express Mail, Fedex, UPS, DHL or Airborne is suggested. Certified mail, Registered mail and meter stamp are not accepted.
- Besides fees for relevant applications, another $5 mail handling fee is charged for each package.
- Applications of visa and document authenticaiton must be submitted by separate package. Passports or documents for authentication in one package can not exceed 10 and 20 respectively.
- Only cash, money order, company check and cashier's check are accepted and they must be made payable to Consulate General of PRC in Houston.
- Only regular processing or 24-hour rush service can be arranged for all mail-in applications. Once accepted, please refrain from making any changes.
- If the package does not include all the required documents, it will be returned at the discretion of the consular officers.
- If a rush service is not requested, please refrain from inquiries about the status of processing within 10 days after the documents arrive at our office;
- The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Houston assumes no responsibility for the loss, damage, postpone, mishandling of your passport or other documents in the delivery process.
