China Visa

Visa Overview

"All Chinese visa types explained for UK travellers"

Visas for China — Which Visa Type Do You Need?

1a Visa Consulting Limited

For some passport holders, short visa-free stays can be possible for specific purposes and limited durations. For longer stays, multiple entries, work, study, media assignments, or any purpose outside those exemptions, a visa application remains required and is usually the safer route for travel certainty.

Tourist Visa (L-Visa): For tourism (usually 1 × 60 days or 2 × 30 days). Requires flight and hotel booking confirmations.
Visitor Visa (L-Visa): For visiting friends or distant relatives (up to 180 days depending on invitation). Requires private invitation and host documentation.
Family Visa (Q1 / Q2): For visiting Chinese-national relatives. Requires private invitation and proof of kinship (birth/marriage certificates). Q1 is typically converted into a residence permit after arrival.
Family Visa (S1 / S2): For visiting foreign relatives legally residing in China for work or study. Requires private invitation and proof of kinship. S1 is typically converted into a residence permit after arrival.
Business Visa (M-Visa): For stays up to 180 days. Requires business invitation from a Chinese company.
Academic Visa (F-Visa): For non-commercial purposes (science, culture, sports). Requires invitation from the organiser.
Work Visa (Z-Visa): For employment stays. Requires work permit or work authorisation documents. After arrival, it is normally converted into a residence permit.
Short-Term Student Visa (X2-Visa): For studies up to 180 days. Requires admission letter (copy).
Long-Term Student Visa (X1-Visa): For long study stays. Requires admission letter and original study support form (JW-series where applicable). Converted to a residence permit after arrival.
Journalist Visa (J1 / J2): For reporting. Requires official invitation from the local press office.
Crew Visa (C-Visa): For airline or shipping crew. Requires declaration from the carrier company.
Transit (visa-free / G-visa context): Visa-free transit can apply in designated cities under strict third-country routing rules. If conditions are not fully met, a transit visa route should be used.

Fingerprint policy note: single- and double-entry categories may be temporarily exempt depending on current regulation, while multiple-entry cases generally still require biometric submission.

We are happy to send you a template for a formally correct invitation: order a template for an invitation

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