Types of Visa:

The People's Republic of China has 8 different types of visas to allow foreigners to enter its country. They are known by letters, and they are : C, D, F, G, J-1, J-2, L, X and Z. For our purposes at this Site, we will fully explain the tourist visa, touch briefly on the residence visa, the business and the work/employment visas.
But first, an explanation of visas available: * "C" Crewmembers' Visa: Issued to crewmembers to perform duties on board an international train, airliner or other vessel, and their accompanying family members.
* "D" Resident Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to reside permanently in China.
* "F" Business Visa: Issued to an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or Intern practice for a period of no more than six months.
* "G" Transit Visa : Issued to an alien who transits through China.
* "J-1" Correspondat Visa: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.
* "J-2" Correspondat Visa: Issued to foreign correspondents who make short trips to China on reporting tasks.
* "L" Tourist/Family visit Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing, family visiting or other private purpose.
* "X" Student Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period more than six months.
* "Z" Work/Employment Visaem: Issued to an alien who comes to China for a post or employment, and his/her accompanying family members.

Tourist / Family Visit (L) Visa:
"L" Visa is issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing, family visiting or other private purposes.
Documents to be included with application:
1. Your valid & actual passport. The passport must have at least six (6) months validity left before expiration and at least one blank page (other than pages 22, 23 and 24) left in it.
2. One completed Visa Application Form with one passport type photo 2" x 2" (black & white or color is acceptable).
3. An applicant born in China who applies for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport is required to submit his /her Chinese passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa.
4. Copy of itinerary and hotel reservation.
5.- Pay the required fee for the visa.
Multiple Entry Tourism Visas
Multiple entry tourism visa allows the visa holder to enter China as many times as necessary within the valid dates. For example, one year multiple entry visa allows the visa holder to continuously entering & exit China in the next 12 months after the visa issue date. We highly recommend our customers apply for the 12 month’s multiple entry visa, since the Visa Application Fee are the same. Due to the Olympic Games, China will only grant a one year multiple entry visa for a first timer, a two year multiple entry visas will also be granted if you had one previously. Single entry visa within 6 months will only be granted if your passport has between 6 and 9 months to expiration date.
Additional information for US citizens:
Usually, the validity of a Single Entry or Double Entry (L) visa is 180 days from the date of issue, which means the holder of the visa shall enter into China no later than 180 days from the date of issue once for Single Entry/ twice for Double Entry, otherwise the visa is expired and is null and void. The duration of stay of a (L) visa is 30 days, which means the holder of the visa may be stay in China for up to 30 days from the date of entry. Also 60 days and 90 days stays are avaoilable, during Olympic Games the 90 day stay was not being granted. Any person suffering from a mental disorder, leprosy, AIDS, venereal diseases, contagious tuberculosis or other such infectious diseases shall not be permitted to enter China. The Validity, Duration of Stay, and Number of Entries of the visa is issued at the discretion of the Consular Officers, whose decisions are based on the laws and regulations of China. The Consular Officers have the authority to refuse any visa applications inconsistent with Chinese laws and regulations, or revoke issued visas.
To obtain a visa, you must either apply in person at the appropiate location, depending where you live in the USA as indicated below, or use the services of a visa agent. There are a few available in USA, their fee runs about $ 30 USD, takes about 4 days + shipping time for standard service, and also an expedite service is available at a higher fee. All visas into China, for US Citizens, are subject to a $ 130 US fee at the present time.
If you are a resident of Washington DC, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North & South Carolina, North & South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, you must deal with The Chinese Embassy located at 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20007, Tel: ( 2 0 2 ) 3 3 8 - 6 6 8 8, Fax: ( 2 0 2 ) 5 8 8 - 9 7 6 0.
If you reside in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island or Vermont, you must deal directly with The Chinese Consulate in New York, located at 520 12th Ave., New York,NY 10036, telephone 212 244 9456.
If you reside in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri or Wisconsin, then you must deal directly with The Chinese Consulate in Chicago, located at Consulate: 100 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610, USA, Tel: 312-803-0095, Fax: 312-803-0110. Visa Office: 1 East Erie Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Tel: 312-573-3070/3071, Fax: 312-803-0122.
If you reside in Alaska, Northern California, Nevada, Oregon or Washington State, then you must contact The Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, located at 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.
If you reside in Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, New Mexico or Pacific Islands, then you must contact The Chinese Consulate at Los Angeles, located at 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020. The Passport & Visa Office is located at 3rd Floor, 500 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020.
If you reside at Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas or Puerto Rico, you must deal with the Chinese Consulate in Houston, located at 3417 Montrose Boulevard,Houston,Texas 77006. Phone:7135201462, Fax:7135213064.

D, (or Resident's visa), Foreigners who want to apply for permanent residence in China should obey Chinese laws, be healthy and have no criminal records. At same time, they should act in accordance with one of the conditions below: Please, right from the begining, do not be confused between the Resident's Visa (for which you must apply at an Embassy overseas, or in some cases inside China), and the Resident's Permit (you must apply at the local PBS where you live in China).
Requirements:
First, the applicant must have invested in China directly, have steady investment condition and good revenue record for more than 3 years.
Second, the applicants must be employed continually as/or above the assistant general manager or factory director level, have the high title of or above the associate professor or assistant researcher, or have enjoy the equal treatment in China for more than 4 years, during which the applicants have been living in China adding up to no less than 3 years and have good revenue records.
Third, the applicants have great and outstanding contributions to China or meet the special requirements of Chinese government.
Fourth, the spouse and unmarried children younger than 18, of the applicants referred in the first, second and third item of this article above, can apply.
Fifth, the spouse of Chinese citizens or the aliens who have got the qualification of permanent resident in China, has lasted the marriage for more than 5 years, lived in china for more than 9 months every year and have steady living guarantee and residence.
Sixth, the unmarried children younger than 18, go and seek refuge with parents.
Seventh, the applicants who have no direct relatives abroad, go and seek refuge with the domestic direct relatives, over sixty years old, living in China for no less than 9 months every year and having steady living guarantee and residence.
Residence Visas are issued to foreign citizens who have obtained permit to reside permanently in China. The specific requirements for a residence visa are as follows:

a. A "Permanent Residence Confirmation Form" (also called Resident Permit)is required. The applicant must apply to obtain this form in person or through his designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of Public Security Bureau (PBS) in the city or the county where the applicant intends to reside.
b. Residence visas are valid for 3 months for single entry, and no duration of stay is specified. Applicants must apply for residence permit from a local Public Security Bureau within 30 days after entering China.
c. Must fill an application form for the Visa (Q-1) available at htt://www.oasischinavisa.com/forms?China_Visa_Application_Form.pdf, accompanied by a 2"x 2" passport type photo (black & white or color).
d.- Pay the $ 130 USD fee for processing it.
e.- Your passport, showing more than 6 months validity.
f.- A Physical Examination Certificate for Foreign Citizen.
You can apply in person at the Embassy or Consulate serving your residence location, or use a visa agent to represent you. No applications are accepted by mail.

Business Visa (F) :
It is basically very similar to the Tourist Visa, the only exception is the requirement of a Letter of Invitation for the University, business, factory, etc who is asking you to go for the visa to be granted. Remember this Visa will not give you authorization to be employed by, and be paid, in China by Chinese nationals.
Work/Employment Visa (Z):
There are two ways to do this, either enter China with a tourist visa, locate a job and the employer will get the visa for you, or if you already have a job before entering China, get the Work Visa then. Documents needed to be included with the application:
1. Your valid & actual passport. The passport must have at least six (6) months validity left before expiration and at least one blank page left in it.
2. One completed Visa Application Form (Q1) with one passport photo (black & white or color are all acceptable).
3. A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit, and a Work Permit for Aliens issued by the Chinese Labor Ministry/Foreign Expert's License issued by the Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau. A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit or proof of kinship, e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc, is required for the accompanying family members and possibly a medical may be required.
Once in China, you must also get the Resident Permit from the local PBS office.

Visa Application for download:

Just click here and save it to your computer. It's in PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat to open it.