What Is a China Visa?
A China visa is a visa issued by the competent Chinese authority to foreign nationals who wish to enter China for purposes such as tourism, business, commercial activities, family visit, study, work, transit or other suitable purposes.
Depending on the travel purpose, the applicant must apply for the corresponding visa category. Choosing the wrong visa type may cause the application to be inconsistent with the entry purpose, require additional documents or affect the review process.
For Vietnamese citizens and foreigners legally residing in Vietnam, China visa applications are generally submitted through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or according to the guidance of the Chinese diplomatic mission at the relevant time.
Common Types of China Visas
China has various visa categories classified by entry purpose. Below are some common China visa types:
| Visa symbol | Main purpose |
| L | Tourism |
| M | Commercial and business activities |
| F | Exchanges, visits, study tours, research or suitable non-commercial activities |
| Q1 | Long-term family reunion with Chinese citizens or foreigners with permanent residence status in China |
| Q2 | Short-term family visit for relatives of Chinese citizens or foreigners with permanent residence status in China |
| S1 | Long-term family visit for relatives of foreigners working, studying or staying in China, or other suitable long-term private affairs |
| S2 | Short-term family visit for relatives of foreigners staying in China, or other suitable short-term private affairs |
| Z | Work in China |
| X1 | Long-term study, usually over 180 days |
| X2 | Short-term study, usually not more than 180 days |
| G | Transit |
| C | Crew members and international transport personnel |
| J1 | Foreign resident journalists in China |
| J2 | Foreign journalists visiting China for short-term reporting |
| D | Permanent residence |
| R | High-level talents or specialists recognized by China |
The above list is for reference based on common visa groups. The suitable visa type should be determined based on travel purpose, invitation letter, personal dossier, expected stay duration and requirements of the reviewing authority at the time of submission.
What Documents Are Required for a China Visa Application?
China visa documents vary depending on visa type, travel purpose, nationality, residence location, visa history and requirements at the time of submission. For tourist, business, commercial or family visit visas, applicants generally need to prepare the following document groups:
Personal Documents
- Original passport with suitable validity, generally at least 06 months remaining and blank visa pages;
- Previous passport if it contains China visas or relevant travel history;
- Completed China visa application form as required;
- China visa photo meeting the required specifications, usually a color front-facing photo with white background and no hat;
- Citizen ID card or other identity documents if needed for cross-checking;
- Residence information confirmation or documents proving lawful residence if required;
- Documents proving lawful residence in Vietnam if the applicant is not a Vietnamese citizen.
Travel Documents
Depending on the visa purpose, applicants may need to prepare:
- Intended itinerary in China;
- Flight or transportation information;
- Intended accommodation information;
- Hotel booking confirmation if traveling independently;
- Invitation letter if traveling for business, commercial activities, family visit, exchange or event attendance;
- Documents proving travel purpose;
- Documents proving relationship with the inviter if visiting family.
Applicants should be cautious about purchasing non-refundable flight tickets or hotel bookings before obtaining the visa result. In many cases, booking information or intended itinerary may be used to support the travel plan, but purchased tickets or hotel bookings should not be considered a guarantee of visa approval.
Invitation Letter if Required
For certain visa types such as business, commercial, family visit, exchange or some tourist cases with an inviter in China, an invitation letter may be an important document.
The invitation letter should generally include:
- Information of the invitee: full name, gender, date of birth, nationality and passport number;
- Trip information: entry purpose, arrival date, departure date, intended locations, itinerary or work arrangement;
- Information of the inviter or inviting entity in China: full name/entity name, address, phone number and contact information;
- Relationship between inviter and invitee if applying for family visit;
- Signature of the inviter or representative of the inviting entity;
- Company seal if the invitation letter is issued by a company/organization and required.
Documents by Common China Visa Types
Depending on the visa category, in addition to basic documents, applicants should prepare supporting documents proving the suitable entry purpose.
China Tourist Visa, L Category
Common documents include:
- Passport;
- Visa application form;
- Photo meeting requirements;
- Residence documents if required;
- Intended travel itinerary;
- Flight or transportation information;
- Accommodation information or hotel booking;
- Financial, employment or Vietnam-tie documents if required.
China Business Visa, M Category
Common documents include:
- Basic personal documents;
- Invitation letter from a company, partner or organization in China;
- Information of the inviting enterprise;
- Working schedule, meetings or commercial activities;
- Applicant’s employment documents in Vietnam;
- Vietnamese enterprise documents if the applicant travels on behalf of a company.
China Exchange, Visit or Study Tour Visa, F Category
Common documents include:
- Basic personal documents;
- Invitation letter from an entity in China;
- Program details for exchange, visit, research or non-commercial activities;
- Documents proving participation purpose if available.
China Family Visit Visa, Q or S Category
Common documents include:
- Basic personal documents;
- Invitation letter from the family member in China;
- Documents proving family relationship;
- Identity or residence documents of the inviter in China;
- Intended itinerary and accommodation information;
- Additional documents depending on Q1, Q2, S1 or S2 category if required.
China Work Visa, Z Category
China work visa applications generally require more careful preparation because they relate to lawful employment in China. Depending on the case, documents may include:
- Basic personal documents;
- Work permit or work approval documents in China;
- Invitation letter or notice from the employer in China;
- Documents proving qualifications, degree, experience or other related materials if required;
- Other documents according to the competent authority’s guidance.
China Student Visa, X1 or X2 Category
Common documents include:
- Basic personal documents;
- Admission letter or acceptance notice from an educational institution in China;
- Forms or documents related to study in China if required;
- Academic, financial or additional documents depending on the case.
China Visa Application Process
The China visa application process may change from time to time and by application type. In general, applicants need to follow the basic steps below:
- Step 1: Identify the Suitable Visa Category. Applicants should identify whether the entry purpose is tourism, business, commercial activities, family visit, study, work or another purpose to select the correct visa category.
- Step 2: Prepare the Documents. Documents must be prepared according to the visa category. Information in the passport, visa application form, invitation letter, itinerary, accommodation details and supporting documents must be consistent.
- Step 3: Complete the Visa Application Form and Make an Appointment if Required. Applicants complete the visa application form through the applicable system or form. Depending on the submission location and rules at the time of application, an appointment may be required before submission.
- Step 4: Submit the Application at the Visa Center or Competent Authority. Applicants submit documents at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or the instructed authority. Depending on the case, applicants may be required to provide biometric information, submit additional documents or attend an interview.
- Step 5: Track the Application and Collect the Result. After submission, the applicant tracks the processing status according to the receipt or guidance from the Center. When the result is available, the applicant collects the passport and checks the visa information if granted.
Is an Interview Required for a China Visa?
Not every China visa application requires an interview. However, the consular officer may request additional documents, explanations or an interview if necessary.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that using a service means an interview will definitely not be required. Whether an interview is required depends on the visa type, actual dossier and requirements of the competent authority.
Where to Submit a China Visa Application?
In Vietnam, China visa applications are generally submitted at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or according to the guidance of the Chinese diplomatic mission. The specific submission location depends on residence area, passport type, visa category and regulations at the time of application.
Common receiving locations include:
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Hanoi;
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Ho Chi Minh City;
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Da Nang;
- Chinese diplomatic missions in cases under their direct receiving authority.
Applicants should check current address, working hours, phone number, email and submission method through the official system before submission, as such information may change from time to time.
China Visa Fees
China visa costs should be distinguished between the visa fee and the service fee of the Visa Application Service Center.
In general, applicants may need to pay:
- Service fee of the Visa Application Service Center, generally collected in VND at submission;
- Visa fee collected on behalf of the Chinese diplomatic mission, generally paid in USD upon collection;
- Express or urgent service fee if the application is accepted under the corresponding service and approved by the competent authority;
- Other costs such as translation, notarization/certification, consular legalization if any, delivery, travel or consulting service fees.
For Vietnamese citizens, common reference visa fees include:
| Visa type | Reference visa fee |
| Single-entry visa | USD 45 |
| Double-entry visa | USD 68 |
| Multiple-entry visa, valid for 06 months | USD 90 |
| Multiple-entry visa, valid for 01 year | USD 135 |
Actual fees may vary depending on nationality, visa type granted, number of entries, processing option and announcements from the receiving authority at the time of submission. Therefore, clients should check the current fee schedule before proceeding.
How Long Does a China Visa Application Take?
China visa processing time should not be understood as a fixed period for all applications. According to consular reference information, regular processing may take several business days after a valid application is accepted. Express or urgent services may be considered in suitable cases but do not apply to every application and require approval from the competent authority.
In practice, the total timeline may depend on:
- Visa type;
- Dossier status;
- Applicant’s nationality;
- Submission location;
- Appointment availability;
- Biometric requirements if any;
- Additional document or interview requests;
- Peak travel periods, holidays or closure schedules of the Center/consular authority.
Nhị Gia will advise the estimated timeline after reviewing the client’s specific needs, visa type and dossier status.
How Long Is a China Visa Valid?
China visa validity depends on visa category, entry purpose, reviewed dossier, number of entries and decision of the competent authority. A visa may be granted for single, double or multiple entries with different validity periods depending on the application.
It is important to distinguish among:
- Visa validity: the period during which the visa can be used for entry;
- Number of entries: single, double or multiple entries;
- Duration of stay per entry: the number of days permitted to stay in China after each entry.
Applicants should not assume that they may stay in China for the full visa validity period. When using the visa, they should carefully check visa validity, number of entries and permitted duration of stay stated on the visa.
Is It Difficult to Apply for a China Visa?
Applying for a China visa may be simple or complicated depending on visa category, travel purpose, personal dossier, immigration history, invitation letter, residence location and requirements at the time of submission.
Factors that may require more careful preparation include:
- Travel purpose is unclear;
- Information in the application form, passport, invitation letter and itinerary is inconsistent;
- Documents proving entry purpose are incomplete;
- Invitation letter does not contain required information or is incomplete;
- Applicant has previous visa refusal or overstay history;
- Documents require translation, notarization/certification or consular legalization;
- Applicant is a foreigner residing in Vietnam and needs to prove lawful residence status;
- Reviewing authority requests additional documents or an interview.
Therefore, before submission, applicants should check the correct visa type, dossier conditions and latest requirements to reduce errors.
Common Mistakes When Applying for a China Visa
Common mistakes when preparing China visa applications include:
- Choosing the wrong visa category for the travel purpose;
- Declared information in the visa application form is inconsistent with passport or related documents;
- Photo does not meet requirements;
- Passport does not have sufficient validity or blank pages;
- Itinerary, accommodation or travel information is unclear;
- Invitation letter lacks required information on inviter, invitee, itinerary or signature/seal;
- Family relationship documents are not valid;
- Foreign-issued documents are not legalized, translated or notarized/certified as required;
- Appointment availability, holiday schedule or receiving hours are not checked;
- No plan is prepared in case additional documents are requested.
These mistakes may delay processing, require supplementation or affect the travel plan to China.
China Visa Consulting Service by Nhị Gia
China visa applications must be prepared with the correct visa category, entry purpose and required documents for each case. If the dossier lacks information, the invitation letter is unsuitable, the itinerary is unclear or documents are inconsistent, the review process may take longer or require supplementation.
With experience in outbound visas, Vietnam visas, work permits, temporary residence cards, entry approvals and legal dossiers for individuals and enterprises, Nhị Gia supports clients in preparing China visa applications based on each specific case.
Nhị Gia supports clients with:
- Advising on the suitable China visa category based on travel purpose;
- Reviewing personal, employment, financial, travel history and residence status documents;
- Guiding preparation of documents proving entry purpose;
- Guiding preparation of invitation letter, itinerary, accommodation information or family documents if needed;
- Checking information consistency across the dossier;
- Supporting completion of the visa application form based on information provided by the client;
- Guiding appointment booking, submission and result tracking;
- Advising on handling previously refused applications or additional document requests;
- Advising on translation, notarization/certification and consular legalization if the dossier involves foreign-issued documents;
- Maintaining confidentiality of personal information and client dossiers.
Nhị Gia does not guarantee visa results, as the decision to issue or refuse a visa belongs to the competent Chinese consular authority. However, identifying the correct visa type, preparing a clear dossier and reviewing information consistency from the beginning can help clients be more proactive during the procedure.
Nhị Gia Support Process for China Visa Applications
The support process at Nhị Gia focuses on reviewing the dossier first, advising on a suitable approach and helping clients prepare information based on each specific case.
- Step 1: Information Collection. Nhị Gia collects information about travel purpose, intended travel time, requested visa category, personal status, employment, finances, travel history and inviter or inviting organization in China if any.
- Step 2: Visa Category and Dossier Direction Consultation. Nhị Gia advises on the suitable visa category, document groups to prepare and key points to note based on the client’s actual profile.
- Step 3: Document Preparation Guidance and Dossier Completion. Nhị Gia guides clients in preparing documents, invitation letters, itinerary, supporting documents and related materials. The dossier is reviewed to reduce errors in information, entry purpose and document requirements.
- Step 4: Submission Support and Result Tracking. Nhị Gia supports clients in carrying out submission steps through the suitable method, tracking results and handling additional requests from the receiving authority if any.
- Step 5: Result Delivery and Visa Information Check. After the result is available, Nhị Gia delivers the passport according to the service agreement and guides clients in checking visa information if granted, including full name, passport number, visa category, number of entries, visa validity and duration of stay.
If you need to apply for a China visa for tourism, business, commercial activities, family visit, study, work or transit, the suitable visa category, dossier conditions and travel plan should be reviewed before submission.
Please contact Hotline 1900 6654 or email info@nhigia.vn for case-specific consultation from Nhị Gia’s specialists.
