Comments

1. Hello
   i have an Indian Passport which expires on 24th June 2011.
   And i want to visit China, Shanghai from 21st December 2010 from 2nd January 2011 to meet my family friend and i have been to China earlier also. Will i be able to get Tourist VISA for CHINA?
   regards
   Manmeet Singh

   By Manmeet Singh October 08,2010 07:44 PM

2. Hi Manmeet

   I believe you need to have at 6 month's validity on your passport to apply for a tourist visa but I'm not sure if that runs to the day of departure or day of return.

   You'll have to get in touch with your local Chinese embassy to confirm as it looks like you will be cutting it quite fine: http://www.chinaembassy.org.in

   By Aimee Groom October 09,2010 09:26 AM

3. you can apply a tourist visa for 60 days.

   By china-visa December 16,2010 07:44 PM

4. As we understand it, within China you can apply for 2 consecutive 30 day tourist visas and in Hong Kong it's also restricted to 30 days... if you are applying from your home country then different regulations apply and people need to check in with a local visa agent or their local Chinese embassy for details.
   Check here for our December 2010 Visa Update

   By Aimee Groom December 17,2010 09:27 AM

5. Pls iam a nigerian married to chinese, i was going out of china, while my visa was remaining one day, along the line the airline got problem, they gave us another flight for the next day, i went to imigration with my wife and gave them the report, they took my passport and gave issue me another visa to live in ten days, i came back to nigeria to apply for another visa, they refuse me visa, i have not stayed over stay their before, if not because of one day airline delay, of which my wife wrote letter of appology which i took to the embassy, what did they want my wife to do, if they refuse me visa, i need a suggestion thanks, you can reply via my mail box
   Thanks for ur copration
   Chidi

   By chidi December 31,2010 05:44 PM

6. From January 1st, 2011, all applications for Business (F) or Working (Z) visas to China should be supported by the "Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit" or "Confirmation Letter of Invitation" instead of the "Visa Notification Form". The "Visa Notification Form" will be void by December 31st, 2010. For more details, please contact inviters in China.

   Are you looking for a 100% result oriented visa service, along with complete personalized solution for you visa.

   We provide customized consulting solutions for China Visa. All china visa L,F,Z,X and residence work permit in Shenzhen. dragon@chinavisa.in

   By Dragon January 24,2011 01:33 PM

7. My flatmate just extended his 120 visa for the second time at the EEB in Pudong! No problems reported! He's on a GB passport.

   By hjt84 January 25,2011 06:58 PM

8. That's good to know - was it an L or F visa? For anyone else looking to extend their visa in Shanghai, you might want to check out the new English language online service recently launched by the Shanghai Entry-Exit Bureau where you can download forms, submit an online application, check the status and take an appointment... looking at it, it doesn't look terribly user friendly so if anyone does go ahead and test out the system, we'd really love to hear how you get on.

   By Aimee Groom January 26,2011 10:38 AM

9. Can a company cancel your Z visa after you've left (quit)? I was of the understanding that only I could do this but someone told me different. I was told that the company needs your passport to get stamped by the PSB and without the passport the PSB will not cancel the visa. Is this correct?

   By popeye January 30,2011 07:54 PM

10. Hi Popeye. When you start working for a company on a Z visa, that Z visa is transformed into two separate things, a residence permit and a work permit. Your ex-employer can (and will) cancel the work permit and must give you an official release letter that states you no longer work there. If you are going on to another job, you will need this letter in order for the new company to get a new work permit for you. However, in order to cancel your residence permit, your ex-company needs to have your passport in their possession and in my experience, few companies go to this length unless you have left on particularly bad terms. You can stay in China on the residence permit until it expires and it's then relatively easy for your new company to renew it. This is ideal as it means you won't have to go through the process from scratch (medical checks etc).

    If there is bad blood and your ex-employer refuses to hand over the release letter without canceling the residence permit, then the best course of action is probably to agree to get the letter from them first and accompany them to the PSB with your passport. The PSB will cancel your residence passport but can give a 30-day tourist (L) visa which will buy you some time while you figure out your plans.

    By Aimee Groom January 31,2011 09:50 AM

11. Dear sir/madam,please kindly excuse me to explain my visa problem to you.i have married a chinese national for 5 years now and we have a child who is 4years now.but since i got married till now the shijiazhuang-hebei immigration still gives me 3 months L VISA zero entery and i want to know why?i asked them why,them why cos i read it from the net that their is a new poliecy i can apply for one year resident permit then why are they still doing that i wanna know.thank you.

    By Joseph February 18,2011 11:24 AM

12. Dear sir/madam,please kindly excuse me to explain my visa problem to you.i have married a chinese national for 5 years now and we have a duagther who is 4 years old,but since i got married till now the shijiazhuang-hebei immigration still gives me 3 months L VISA zero entry and i want to know why?i asked them why ,and they told me their's no reason for that ,so i wanna know why?And i read it from the internet that their is a new policy which says that i can apply for one year resident permit then why are they treating me this way, doing that i wanna know.thank you for you kind co operation.

    By JOSEPH February 19,2011 05:06 PM

13. hi my visa is L Yemen passport and i had F and L visa before and i want to extend for more time can i do that ?

    By maher March 27,2011 04:25 PM

14. i hold Yemen passport and i want to get new visa to china since i want to visit Hongkong
    so can i get chines visa from honkong ? or from macao ? coz am right now waiting for invitaion to travel to Mongolia
    thanks

    By maher March 27,2011 04:29 PM

15. hi, iam from guinea with a work visa living in china and i want to go to malaysia for a visit, can i change my work visa to a business visa in malaysia

    By ourmala April 22,2011 03:15 AM

16. Hi Ourmala, if you've got a China work visa I'd say you are better off keeping hold of your residents permit (RP) than changing it to an F visa (if you are no longer employed, your company will prob cancel the work permit part), it depends on what you're plans are when you return to China. If you get a new job it will be easier for your new employer to get a new work permit if you already have your RP, otherwise they, and you, have to go through the whole process again from scratch. Plus you can enter and leave the country as you please. If it's about to expire, then you probably can apply for a new one, you'll have to contact the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to find out the details.

    By Aimee Groom April 22,2011 10:20 AM

17. hello.i just want to ask if my brother can be dependent of my visa.hope you can send me an answer with this matter.thanks a lot.

    By chenricker April 25,2011 10:15 AM

18. If you have a working visa (Z) with resident's permit then yes, you can apply for a dependent visa for immediate family (you'll need to supply birth certificate etc as proof of relationship. They will only get a resident's permit though which means they can live here but not work... if they find an employer whilst in China it's a relatively simple process for them to get a work permit at a later stage.

    By Aimee Groom April 25,2011 10:46 AM

19. hello.i want to see what u can do for my help me because the embassy here in NIGERA LAGOS them refued me visa,calaiming that i have bee overtayed before in {2008 YES}after i get new passport with visa that same 2008 them i entery and got married with a chinese national for over 2 years after som time i wat to immigration to apply new permit again in 2011 them sow my pic in their system b/f 2008 and told me that i have bee overtayed and requested to leave china within ten days, i need ur help

    By jojoking April 26,2011 11:17 PM

20. Hi Jojoking - sorry to hear about your situation but I don't think we can really advise here. I'm not familiar with the regulations for Nigerian passports or the policy on overstayed visas. Maybe you can go to Hong Kong to apply or perhaps contact a good visa agent - even though you'll pay over the odds, you may benefit from their good guanxi. Good luck!

    By Aimee Groom April 27,2011 09:48 AM

21. hi this is sam, i am overstayed in china for almost 1 years and half.for second time.because i never leave china after the 10 days temporarily extension.and i want to get a new visa here and i am willing to pay how much the all cost for my overstayed here as long as i can get a new visa and what the requirements..

    By samantha1027 May 06,2011 10:36 PM

22. im currently on a tourist visa in china which is valid until the 22nd of May,but i have exceeded the 30 days i am meant to stay on each stay,i wish to leave on the 10th and already have a confirmed ticket back to my country but do not have a large amount of funds,i do not know how to go about leaving the country or clearing this so i do not face problems at the airport,im a 20 year old african girl please i do not know what to do

    By confused May 07,2011 01:50 AM

23. Hi,

    I want to confirm if a person from Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)state of India can get business visa for China as on date.

    Regards,

    By Raj May 22,2011 10:41 PM

24. There have certainly been hints that the practice of stapling China visas might be scrapped but I can't find anything concrete. You'll have to contact with the Chinese embassy directly to find out for sure.

    By Aimee Groom May 23,2011 09:58 AM

25. hi sir i am from pakistan i says u everything is truely sir in 10 april 2002 i was come in china i was have f visa got from pakistan after 25 days i was go in hong kong for extend my chinease visa and sometime go to macu entry and take more chine visa as same doing i year jan 22 2003 i was back my country with chinease girl she were marry with me in pakistan 30 july iwas come back in china an take money from here an do busnease my wife she is very cleaver or i am foll i say she please extend my visa we go chineae office but she says its ok dont woory about your visa i got it some mounth later an i trust her we buy home in gunzhou every thing is perfect an i forget every thing about chineae law i was fool sir realy i was fool 22 august 2007 police arested me at my home my wife she was not at home i was call her she said u dont worry i do something but chineaser police they cheak my passport my passport is expired visa also expired they toke me in jail i palanty 5000 and my ticket money after 2 mounth they send me in my country pakistan i make new passport i go chineae ambasy they dont give me visa they says they cant give me visa becuse i break chinease law just listiean my wife sir now is 3 and half year in gone can i will take visa or not howmany years i have more punisment pl z must told me i am very worried about my busnease and home in china plz sir u give me sugeation what i can do

    By ii_boby.butt_ii May 27,2011 07:36 PM

26. Hi,

    I am a full-time English teacher working at a college in Suzhou. The college have told me new regulations mean that the local Exit & Entry Bureau cannot extend my Z visa because I am over 60 - I will be 63 next month. My wife also works at the college as a part-time English teacher, and will be 60 in December.

    We are returning home to the UK in July and will return to Suzhou in January 2012. The college have said that they are happy to offer us contracts again next year, but unless the local EEB change their policy we cannot see how we can work without Z visas. We would obviously feel happier if we could obtain a Z visa, either before we leave next month, or from the Chinese Embassy in London before our return in January. Any suggestions, please, as to how we can resolve this problem?

    Thanks.

    By John June 11,2011 05:16 PM

27. Hi John,

    If the school is "happy to offer" contracts, then they will also have a visa solution for you. If they do not have a visa solution, then I would reconsider working at that college.

    Other options include Hong Kong where it is possible to purchase Z visas with the right documents:

    1) Invite letter from school
    2) registration form from PSB
    3) passport/pictures

    The school should pay for this trip IN ADVANCE, otherwise you may end up in Hong Kong and find out that you are not able to get a Z visa, for the same over-60 regulation or some other technicality, and then what?

    Usually in CHina, where there is a will, there is a way. If your school cannot help with visas, consider another school. Don't take chances. Keep us posted!

    By Sascha Matuszak June 13,2011 08:31 AM

28. hi, am from Tunisia, and am plannig to visit hong kong, but i need to know if i can travel from Hong Kong to macau without visa? and if i would love to go to singapore, or malaisia , or thailand, or korea, (from hong kong) do i need a visa for each?? wic one doesn't require a new visa, if i have already a visa to china???thanks

    By Ryma June 22,2011 09:26 AM

29. Hi Ryma--unfortunately Tunisian citizens do require a visa to enter Macau (http://macau.visahq.com/requirements/Tunisia/), even though you do not need one for Hong Kong.

    Your China visa only gets you into China and has no bearing on other countries so you'll need to check out the visa requirements for each individually. Also remember that if you leave China to travel to Hong Kong (or Macau for that matter) it means leaving the country (i.e. going through immigration) and if you want to return to the Mainland you will need to get a double entry visa.

    By Aimee Groom June 22,2011 09:55 AM

30. visa problems in china can be solved very easily .
    overstay your china visa for a couple of years.then go to psb office .try to get a police officer friend.invite him to ktv or bribe him by money.he can help you to get a star visa ( requested to leave china within 10 days).after paying the fine 5000 rmb.
    then go back to your country .come back to H.K with the same passport with not less then three people .get a group visa from good agent in h.k. come to china with that group visa.that group visa is valid for maximum 10 days.then go back to h.k after ten days and find a good agent who can get you 1 year china visa.come back to china and enjoy. this is the way now I live in china after my 3 years overstay last year.

    By vinee June 23,2011 08:05 AM

31. Hi, I'm an Indonesian student who came here in February 18th, 2011, I got 180days of F visa. However, I am gonna change to another school in Beijing in September so I did not renew my F visa. I thought it the visa procedure and rules are flexible here, but I'm just totally wrong. In the summer holiday July-August I did not back to my country, I decided to join the summer course in the no 1 uni in Shanghai, hoping that they would give me 30days extension visa before it will be expired. The university either did not understand my problem or stupid and said it was Ok for me to study there. So I came to Shanghai in August 2nd, paid all things for 4 weeks summer course and the problems started. The uni said it was too late for me to extend my visa and I should do medical check up. FYI, there is only ONE hospital in Shanghai that allows to do med check up for visa and we must make an appointment for med check up. They won't care how urgent you are, they won't give you another earlier appointment date.
    This suggestion has failed and I almost gave up because the hospital told me to have med check up in August 16th and the med certificate needs 4 working days!
    Then, August 10, the uni asked me to go to Shanghai Exit Entry Bureau...the woman told me I don't need to do medical check up and I just need the "Invitation Letter for visa" from my stupid uni. Because of the summer course will end in August 31, the uni only give me till that time.
    It means I have to go back to Beijing right before August 31th!In 17 of August, I will take back my passport with F visa in Exit Entry Bureau. My problem here, I'm planning to go back Beijing in August 27, is the time enough to process my visa? My question is, will I get another extension of visa because I'm afraid there will be another problem to handle this visa things? anyone can give me advise or someone who can give me the answer? I really don't want go back to my country because of funds matter.

    By Dee August 14,2011 10:26 AM

32. Dee,

    You will probably have to leave the country. The chances of getting your visa straightened out in 2-3 days is very low. I suggest you go to Hong Kong and get a 30 day L visa that will buy you some time to get your real visa (whichever that is).

    If you are a student, get a student visa from the school; if you are working, get a Z visa from your employer. DO NOT get an F visa just because you can. An F visa is only for business people and you CANNOT extend it in China.

    Good Luck,
    Sascha

    By Sascha Matuszak August 19,2011 02:28 PM

33. hi there,i'm a foreign teacher here in china,and i've been working here for almost 3 years now..is it true that after 5 years i can't renew my visa again?..is it true that the china goverment will send me home because i already stayed here for 5 years?

    thanks and God bless us all..

    By airshadow0528 August 30,2011 09:15 PM

34. Hi,can a Singaporean holidaying in Xiamen able to get to Jinmen from the mainland? Thanks to advise.

    By Goh Fun September 15,2011 11:02 PM

35. Hello Goh Fun,

    As a Singaporean, you're able to enter Kinmen (Jinmen), which falls under Taiwanese jurisdiction, for under 30 days without a visa. Hourly ferries run between the island and Xiamen's Wutong Wharf (Wǔtōng Kèyùn Mǎtóu, 五通客运码头), a short bus ride or drive from the airport.

    Our writer Aimee Groom took a trip to Jinmen last year.

    Happy travels!
    Miller

    By Miller Wey September 16,2011 01:50 PM

36. Howdy airshadow,

    Fret not! I have several friends working as FTs who've passed your benchmark and haven't been kicked out yet. Just so long as you're working on a legit visa (Z Visa + residence permit) you don't have anything to worry about.

    Don't worry, be happy,

    Miller

    By Miller Wey September 16,2011 02:28 PM

37. please i need ur help ,i am from Nigeria i marry to Chinese henan province ,i went to the immigration in henen to extend my visa at the first time the women refuse me ,i go back to nigera and get and get 30 days multiple and come back ,after my ext i come back again for extension she refuse me visa again ,while i marry to a Chinese girl and in her home town ,what can i do ? did it mean i cant live in china with my wife?

    By paul September 19,2011 09:46 PM

38. Hello, this is a good platfom. i want to apply for a 4 weeks in class program in china it is called tefl and tesol.i want to know which type visa i am to apply forand how month will i apply for.thanks loook forward to you reply. goke

    By goke September 24,2011 08:55 PM

39. Hello, I am a musician who has been working in Shanghai on a Z visa for 3 months and applied for a L visa to give me time to find another employer. I only recieved a 10 day L visa because they said I wasn't in the country long enough to give me a 30 day... now I've found a club in Beijing that wants me. What do they and I need to do to ensure my continuing visa status? And also do I need to do this in Beijing or is my visa done in Shanghai good in Beijing?

    By earl October 09,2011 10:42 PM

40. Hey Earl,
    That's very strange that you were only given a 10 day L visa. Last winter, I applied for an L while in Shanghai and was given three separate 30 day extensions after having been in China for only a month, but I am an American citizen, and regulations differ between countries. What country is your official residence? You may need to return to your home country or take a trip to Hong Kong to get a longer or different visa.
    As far as getting a work visa, Z visas are tied to a specific company, and if the club in Beijing can legally employ foreigners, you will need to get an Alien Employment License (which the inviting company needs to get for you, in your case the club in Beijing), a registration form of temporary residence for visitors from overseas (this you get from your local Public Security Bureau, so you would need to register with the address of where you would be staying in Beijing, not Shanghai) and the original of the form you get when you pass your health exam (if you've been on a Z visa for the last three months, I imagine that the Health Certificate you used to get your last Z visa is still valid. However, make sure of this, as you may have to get another examination in order to get your new Z visa). If you're Chinese isn't too hot, I would urge you to get someone from the club to assist you as the visa rules are constantly changing, or to hire a visa expeditor. Visa expeditors cost a bit, but are completely up to date on what you need, so avoiding the frustration and confusion that comes with not knowing is totally worth the cost. Once the expeditor is in the picture, they can communicate with your potential employer and let them know what you will need to have in order to get the Z visa. The entire process is a pain, but it can be done. If you have transferred over to the L visa you mentioned, you will most likely have to travel to Hong Kong to transfer it back to your new Z visa.
    If the club in Beijing can't offer you a Z visa, you will probably have to settle for a L visa. But don't fret, because I know many people here in China that work on L visas. It differs from case to case, but most people I know get visas that are valid for 6 or 12 months at a time, with 90 day stays, in their home country or Hong Kong. So you'd have to leave the mainland every three months, but it can be done. I have heard that going through expeditors for these long term L visas is the way to go, as they often have more pull than a single foreigner.
    Good luck and let us know how it goes!

    By James Weir October 10,2011 10:37 AM

41. Hi, I need help, please.My mom was born in China but she had lost all her China passport and birth certificate. My mom ( not knowing) had booked a tour to china, but the China consulate denied her of the visa because she doesn't have her old china passport. What can she do now? Can she got the China Visa from Hong Kong?

    By dealer October 14,2011 01:32 PM

42. Hi Dealer. That sounds odd... did she list herself as dual nationality on the application form? You don't say where your mum is living now or what passport she holds as it really depends on that.

    By Aimee Groom October 14,2011 03:00 PM

43. I am currently in Shenzhen with a Z-visa trying to get my residence permit, and have passed everything including the face-to-face interview, however, before they can provide my residence permit, my current company needs to get new business documentation, since the current office address, and address on the paperwork is not the same. Therefore, I might need to wait two months, before i can be provided with a residence permit. How many times can I extend the 30 day period at the local PSB?

    By Trevor October 20,2011 10:57 AM

44. Hey Trevor,
    I went through this process just last month, and I traveled to China on a Z visa. Once I got here, I went through all the hoops (as it sounds like you have) and after a little over a month or so I received my residence permit. However, the Z visa that I received had no expiration date (I had an "Enter Before" date, and a "Duration of Each Stay" of "000").
    The Z visa allows you to enter the country and apply for the residence permit. My understanding of the situation is that you are to begin the Residence Permit process as soon as you arrive, but that sometimes things (like getting your health check, or in your case, ironing out your offices paperwork) can take a few weeks so there is no exact date on how long you have to obtain your residence permit. I don't believe that you can extend Z Visa's, as they are just a step towards the ultimate goal of Residence Permit. So, I would imagine that as long as all your paperwork is in order or is in the process of being arranged and that your company can in fact supply you with a visa, if you are in the process of getting your Residence Permit, you should be fine. I was in China for about 40 days before my Residence permit was issued, and I had no problems, because I was in the process of obtaining it the whole time (waiting on my health check, submitting my passport, etc.)BUT! Make sure of this! I live in Shanghai, and things may be different in Shenzhen, and the visa process is not always logical.
    As far as extending your visa, a Z visa is single entry and cannot be renewed. If you have an L visa (tourist) it can be renewed 3 times, for 30 days at a time (I did this last winter). But, you will have to go to your home country or Hong Kong to get an L visa. If it will take a few months for your company to get your paperwork in order, this may be your best bet. You do not want to get deported.
    The best thing you can do is be proactive. Pester your company about when they will have the paperwork they need, and ask them to go with you to the PSB to get the exact details concerning your status as a legal resident in China.
    Good luck, and let us know what you learn!

    By James Weir October 20,2011 02:17 PM

45. Hello i'm a Ghanaian living here in China with F visa and i got it here in China. pls i want to know if i can get the Z visa if i go to Philippine and how to get when i get there.

    By DANIE October 24,2011 06:51 PM

46. @DANIE... if you have the proper paperwork and an offer of employment from a registered Chinese company then it may be possible to do it in Manila. Many countries do require you to be resident or working there for min. 6 months so I suggest you contact the Chinese Embassy in Manila to confirm before you go. Good luck!

    By Aimee Groom October 25,2011 09:19 AM

47. dear sir/ma,
    how are you doing and your business,i want to apply for china visa extension

    i need residence visa the company that help me get my last 2 yrs ,was close down and i need another 2 yrs,its expired on 10-11-2011 and i have go for extension for one month to look for another job to work with.thanks for your co-operation.
    best regards,
    mr toheep

    By benson November 11,2011 11:17 AM

48. Hello Mr Toheep - I'm afraid we can't help you with your actual visa application as we are only an informational site. You'll need to get in touch with your local visa office or a visa agent directly.

    By Aimee Groom November 17,2011 09:19 AM

49. Hey please help me, I heard that if you got a overstay visa you wont be able to go to another country.. Is that true?

    By Graccias November 27,2011 01:48 PM

50. My Nigerian bf was pick up by the policemen last friday afternoon and i think that is because of his expired visa.My problem is i tried calling his friends but seem like most of them have the issue that why they don't visit my fiancee.I can't call my fiancee mobile.I am willing to fly back in china and pay the penalty the problem is i don't know and no one to ask where is his whereabout.He lives in Liaobu.I am so worried because he does not speak and understand china.

    By bim eze November 28,2011 08:10 AM

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