1.General Provisions

A  visa is a travel document issued by authorized government agencies to  foreign citizens applying to enter, exit from or transit through the  host country's territory based on the host country's laws and  regulations.

In  accordance with international law and practice, any sovereign state is  entitled to decide on whether or not to allow a foreign citizen to enter  or exit from its territory, and whether to issue a visa, decline a visa  application or to cancel an issued visa in accordance with its national  laws.

In  accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, consular officers will  decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration  of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the  applicant. Consular officers reserve the right to decline a visa  application or revoke an issued visa.

2.Visa-issuing Authorities

Embassies  and consulates of the People’s Republic of China and other institutions  stationed abroad entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be  responsible for issuance of entry visas to foreigners.

Eligible applicants for Article 20 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China，may  apply for port visas with the visa-issuing authorities entrusted by the  Ministry of Public Security at the ports which are approved to issue  port visas by the State Council.

3.Visa Categories

Chinese  Visas are categorized as diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, official visa  and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are subdivided :

• Visa Categories	Description of Visa
  C	Issued  to foreign crew members of means of international transportation,  including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged  in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family  members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships.
  D	Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently.
  F	Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours andother activities.
  G	Issued to those who intend to transit through China.
  J1	Issued  to resident foreign journalists of foreign newsorganizations stationed  in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
  J2	Issued  to foreign journalists who intend to go to China forshort-term news  coverage.The intended duration of stayin China is no more than 180 days.
  L	Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist.
  M	Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.
  Q1	Issued  to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or off oreigners  with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family  reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose offoster  care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. "Family  members" refers to spouses, parents, sons,daughters, spouses of sons or  daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters  and parents-in-law.
  Q2	Issued  to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens  residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The  intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
  R	Issued to those who are high-level talentsor whose skills are urgently needed in China.
  S1	Issued  to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or  studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents,sons or daughters  under the age of 18 or parents-in-law,or to those who intend to go to  Chinafor other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China  exceeds 180days.
  S2	Issued  to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners  working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for  other private matters.The intended duration of stay in China is no more  than 180 days. "Family  members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons  or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters  and parents-in-law.
  X1	Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.
  X2	Issued to those who intendto study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
  Z	Issued to those who intend to work in China.

4.Visa Validity

Visa  Validity ("Enter Before") means that the visa is valid, or can be used  for entering into China from the date of issue to the "Enter Before"  (Beijing Time) date indicated on the visa . If a visa has unused  entries, the bearer can enter China by 24:00 o’clock (Beijing Time) of  the expiration date.

5.Visa Entries

"Visa Entries" refers to the number of times the bearer is permitted to enter China during the validity of a visa.

A  visa becomes invalid if there are no entries left, or there are entries  left but the visa validity expires. If a visa becomes invalid, its  bearer must apply for a new visa before entering China. Traveling with  an invalid visa to China will result in refusal of entry.

6.Duration of Each Stay

"Duration  of Each Stay" refers to the maximum number of days the visa bearer is  permitted to stay in China each time, which is calculated from the  second day of entry into China.

7.Residence of Foreigners

Holders  of Z, X1, D, J1, Q1, S1 Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of  their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security  organs under local people’s governments at or above the county level in  the proposed places of residence for foreigner’s residence permits.

Members  of foreign diplomatic or consular missions in China must apply for a  residence permit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or local foreign  affairs departments within 30 days of entry into China.