Types | Categories | Typical Applicants | Brief Description |
Tourism | L | Tourism | Independent tourist or Group member |
Visiting | F | Non-commercial activities | Academic, cultural, religious exchanges, Non-profit performance, NGO activities, Volunteering (90 days or less), Foreign expert with pre-approved letters of invitation, Geographic surveying and mapping activities |
M | Commercial activities | Trade; Participation in Competition and other commercial activities |
Re-Union | Q1 | Family member or relative of Chinese citizen(s) or foreigner(s) with permanent residence status in China | Family member of Chinese citizen applying for residence in China for family reunion; Family member of foreigner(s) with permanent residence status in China who is applying for residence in China for a family reunion; Residence visa for child to be fostered in China |
Q2 | Relative of Chinese citizen(s) living in China applying for a visa for visit less than 180 days; Relative of foreigner(s) with permanent residence status in China applying for a visa for visit less than 180 days |
Private | S1 | Family member of foreigner(s) or person who needs to come to China for personal matters | Spouse, parent, child under the age of 18 or parent-in-law of foreigner(s) residing in China for work, study or other purposes who visit China for 180 days or more; Person who needs to reside in China for other personal matters |
S2 | Family member of foreigner(s) staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes who visit China for less than 180 days; Applying for a visa to stay in China for other personal matters, such as handling litigation, inheritance, real estate or medical treatment |
Working | Z | Employee | Foreign expert working in China; For commercial performance; Chief representative or representative of a foreign company; Offshore oil operations; Volunteering (more than 90 days); Foreigner working in China with a Work Permit issued by the Chinese government authorities |
Student | X1 | Study or training
| Long term study (more than 180 days) |
X2 | Short term study (no more than 180 days) |
Journalist | J1 | Journalist | Resident foreign journalist of permanent office of a foreign news agency in China |
J2 | Foreign journalist visiting China for short-term news coverage |
Crew
| C | Crew member | Crew member performing duties on board an international train; Crew member performing duties on board an international aircraft; Crew member performing duties on board an international vessel or accompanying family member; Vehicle driver engaged in international transportation services |
Transit | G | Transit | Transit through China |
PR | D | Permanent residence | Person coming to China to take up permanent residence |
Talent | R | High talent or specialist | Foreigner of high talent or specialist needed by the State |