Instructions for Visa Application
- Information compiled from the Chinese Embassy in Canada. Visa application requirements may vary by countries, so please take this article as a reference. In the case of visa applications, please refer to the Chinese Embassy website of his/her own country for details.
The following documents should be submitted when applying for Chinese visa:
1. Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and available blank pages for visa;
2. One properly completed visa application form, which could be obtained from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in person, or by mail with a pre-paid return envelope, or be downloaded from the following website: www.chinaembassycanada.org.
3. A recent passport-size photo stuck on the visa application form;
4. Other relevant documents for different types of visa:
[$nbsp][$nbsp]a) for Business visa: an official invitation letter from the authorized Chinese government departments, companies or institutions.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]b) for Tourist/Family-visit visa: Except those travelling to Tibet, no additional documents are required for visa applicants. Please note that the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General does not issue individual visa for tourists to Tibet. All applicants travelling to Tibet need to contact your local travel agency to obtain confirmation for group visa of no less than 5 people from the Tourist Bureau of Tibet at Fax: 011-86-891-34632 or 011-86-891-35588, Lhasa, Tibet, China or at Tel : 01-212- 867-0271, Fax: 01-212-599-2892 New York Office of China National Tourist Service, or from China National Tourist Office, Toronto at Tel: (416)979-8993 Fax: (416)979 -8220.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]3) for Student visa:
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]A. Foreign Student Visa Application Form ?JW201? or ?JW202? issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]B. an enrollment letter from the receiving university in China.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]4) for Employment/Work ?Z? visa:
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]A. an Employment License issued by the Chinese Labor and Social Security Ministry. For applicants to be working in an academic institution, a confirmation issued by the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]B. an official invitation issued by a concerned authorized agency.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]5) for Transit ?G? visa:
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]A. a valid visa of the country of destination;
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]B. an air ticket showing transit through China.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]6) for Journalist?s ?J-1? or ?J-2? Visa, please first contact the Press Offices of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa or the Chinese Consulates-General in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]7) for Crew Members of unscheduled flight of private aircraft or vessels, please first apply with competent Chinese authorities for landing/docking permit.
[$nbsp][$nbsp]8) for Group visa , which is issued to tourist group of five people or above planning to enter and leave China at the same time and via the same airport or border-crossing:
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]A. an invitation letter from a Chinese travel agency;
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]B. an authorized group visa number given by the Chinese travel agency;
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]C. copies of the information pages of the applicants? passport;
[$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp][$nbsp]D. three properly completed group visa forms, which could be obtained from the Chinese travel agency ,the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulates-General.
5. Other additional documents deemed necessary by the visa officer.
TYPES OF VISA FEES:
1-Entry 2-Entry 6-month Multiple 12-Month Multiple
50CAD 75 CAD 100 CAD 150 CAD
Visa processing takes 4 working days. For special cases, rush service is provided and the applicants need to pay the extra rush service fee. The rush service fees are rated as following:
$50 Canadian Dollars per person for the same day service (application should be submitted before 11:00 am);
$35 Canadian Dollars per person for the second or third day service.
All payments need to be made by cash, money order or certified checks.
Please be noted that the Chinese Embassy in Canada does not accept any straight forward application sent by mail or courier. Those who wish to apply for Chinese visa or document authentication by mail or courier need to send the applications to their clients or travel agencies in Ottawa, such as ?GOLDEN MILE 2000 Travel Consultant? , who will submit the applications to the Embassy for processing on behalf of the applicants.
Information for group visa application
1. Groups of 5 persons or more planning to travel together may apply for a group visa. A group visa affixed to the list of Tourist Group is issued for the convenience of the tourists and organizers in passing the Chinese border check-points.
2. The group organizer is required to fill in the ?list of Tourist Group in triplicate. Names, dates of birth, passport numbers etc. should be printed clearly and accurately. The serial number assigned to each member of the group in the list should also be marked on the cover of each passport.
3. The group organizer is required to provide all the passports of the members or photocopies of the main pages of their passports, visa fees and the confirmation fax from the authorized Chinese travel agencies and send them to the visa offices of the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulates-General.
4. All members of the group are required to enter and exit China at the same time and via the same port, Should there be any member who will not enter or exit China at the same time, he must apply for an individual visa.
5. The group visa fee is $40 Canadian Dollars per person.
6. Visa processing takes 4 working days.
Information on HK SAR visa/entry permit for foreign citizens
1. Personnel of the following categories enjoy visa/entry permit-free treatment:
1) Canadian citizen with a valid passport going to HK for sightseeing, doing business with a stay of no more than 90 days.
2) Personnel from the country or region which enjoys visa-free treatment going to HK for sightseeing, doing business or transit with a stay in HK not exceeding the visa-free period.
2. Personnel of the following categories need to apply for visa/entry permit via the Chinese Embassy or Consulates-General, or send their applications directly to the HK Immigration Department:
1) Canadian citizen going to HK for sightseeing, doing business with a stay exceeding 90 days.
2) Personnel from the country or region which enjoys visa-free treatment going to HK for sightseeing, doing business or transit with a stay in HK exceeding the visa-free period.
3) Resident consular officers of foreign countries and officials of the offices of international organizations in Hong Kong.
4) Personnel from the country or region which does not enjoy visa-free treatment.
5) Stateless persons .
6) Those who wish to live, study, work, receive training, invest or for family-reunion purpose.
3. The following documents need to be provided when applying for visa directly to the HK Immigration Department:
1) General documents:
A. Photocopy of the personal particulars page of the passport or other travel documents which has at least 6 months remaining validity.
B.The properly completed and signed Hong Kong Visa Application Form .The HK Visa Application Form can be obtained from the Chinese Embassy, Consulates-General or the HK Immigration Department.
C. Two recent passport photos (2x2, front view);
2) Additonal documents relevant to the applicant?s purpose of going to HK:
A. For resident consular officers in HK, a note from the Foreign Ministry or overseas diplomatic or consular missions of the sending country is required. The appointment of a new head of the consular office has to be approved by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People?s Republic of China.
B. For newly appointed representative or other officials of the offices of international organizations in HK, a note from the said international organization is required.
C. For officials of the European Union?s Office in HK, a note from the EU is required.
D. ordinary students studying in HK:
· name, address, and telephone number of the school where the applicant is admitted;
·the admission notice from the school in which the applicant is going to study;
· certificate of education;
· if the applicant is under 18 years of age, documents containing consent of parents or legal guardian must be provided;
· financial sponsorship.
E. Personnel studying for a short period of time in the Chinese University in Hong Kong:
· documents proving the applicant?s affordability of life expense(e.g. a dwelling place) during his stay;
· papers guaranteeing the study period is less than 3 months;
· the admission notice or communication materials from the said university.
F. Personnel receiving training in HK:
· name, address and telephone number of the sponsor;
· the contract between the organizer and the trainee and the specific training itinerary.
G. Personnel working in HK:
· name, correspondence address and telephone number of employer or sponsor;
· contract or letter of appointment indicating the position, salaries and fringe benefits;
· education certificates and detailed profession credentials, e.g. diploma, certificate or other proof letters..
H. Personnel going to HK for performance, exhibition, speech etc.
· name, address and telephone number of the sponsor;
· pertinent contract and communication letters.
I. Personnel investing in HK:
· name, address and telephone number of the sponsor;
· documents disclosing investment specifics, e.g. nature, size and actual capital, capital resource;
·. medical check-up report.
J. Personnel visiting family members in H.K. for a short period:
· name, address and telephone number of the sponsor;
· certificate of relationship.
K. Personnel joining family members or intending to live in HK:
· name, address and telephone number of the sponsor;
· relationship certificate such as marriage certificate or birth certificate.
L. Former HK residents holding Canadian passports for settlement in HK:
· previous HK ID or travel document;
· proof of past settlement in HK (statement from a school, banking account, tax ID, employment statement, etc.)
3) amount of money:
Money order or cheque of 52 US Dollars payable to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region clearly indicating that the payment shall be made by a bank in HK. ( $30 for visa fee, $22 for the returning mail of approval by the HK Immigration Department.)
4) A self-addressed return express envelope.
Upon approval by the HK Immigration Department, a visa/entry permit sticker shall be sent directly to the applicant.
4. The applicant can also apply for HK visa/entry permit via the Chinese Embassy or Consulates-General by providing the following documents:
1) a passport or other travel documents with at least 6 months remaining validity;
2) all materials indicated from 1-4 in Article III;
3) amount of money:
A. For visa or entry permit approved and issued by the Embassy, diplomatic and service visa is free, and the fee for other type of visa or entry permit is 50 Canadian Dollars per person. The processing takes four working days.
B. For visa or entry permit to be approved by the HK Immigration Department, the fee is $80 per person.($50 for visa fee, $30 for communication fee). If original document is required by the HK Immigration Department, $43 extra is required for the courier fee. Please be advised that your payment does not guarantee your application be approved. As the approval of the said visa must be decided upon by the HK Immigration Department, it takes at least 21 days to obtain a visa to HK. Upon receiving the approval notice from the HK Immigration Department, the Embassy shall issue the particular visa to the applicant.
5. Address of the HK Immigration Department:
Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: 852 2824 6111 Fax: 852 2877 7711
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE VISA AND THE PROCEDURE FOR VISA APPLICATION
Chinese visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a diplomatic, courtesy, service or ordinary visa to a foreigner according to his identity, purpose of visit to China and passport type. Hereunder is an introduction to the ordinary visa and its application procedure:
The ordinary visa consists of eight sub-categories, which are marked with Chinese phonetic letters (D, Z, X, F, L, G, C, J-1 and J-2 respectively).
D Visa:
issued to an applicant who is to reside permanently in China. A permanent residence confirmation form shall be required for the application of D Visa. The applicant shall apply to obtain this form himself or through his designated relatives in China from the exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau in the city or county where he applies to reside.
Z Visa:
Issued to an applicant who is to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members. To apply for Z Visa, an Employment License of the People's Republic of China for Foreigners (which could be obtained by the employer in China from the provincial or municipal labor authorities) and a visa notification letter/telegram issued by an authorized unit are required.
X Visa:
Issued to an applicant who comes to China for the purpose of study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period of six months or above. To apply for X Visa, certificates from the receiving unit or the competent authority concerned are required, i.e., Application Form for Overseas Students to China (JW201 Form or JW202 Form), Admission Notice and Physical Examination Record for Foreigners.
F Visa:
Issued to an applicant who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and cultural exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months. To apply for F Visa, the invitation letter from the inviting unit or the visa notification letter/telegram from the authorized unit is required.
L Visa:
Issued to an applicant who comes to China for tourist purposes, family-visiting or other personal affairs. For a tourist applicant, in principle he shall evidence his financial capability of covering the travelling expenses to China, and when necessary, provide the air, train or ship tickets to other country/region after leaving China. For the applicants who come to China to visit relatives, some are required to show invitation letters from their relatives in China.
G Visa:
Issued to those who transit through China. The applicants are required to show valid visas and through tickets to the heading countries/regions.
C Visa:
Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and family members accompanying them. To apply for C visa, relevant documents are required to be provided in accordance with bilateral agreements or regulations of the Chinese side.
J-1Visa:
Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.
J-2 Visa:
Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview mission in China. The applicants for J-1 and J-2 visas are required to provide a certificate issued by the competent authorities in China.
In addition to providing the above-mentioned documents, an applicant is also required to answer relevant questions and go through the following formalities (with the exception of those stipulated otherwise by agreements) :
Providing valid passport or a certificate that can take the place of the passport
Filling out a visa application form, and providing a recent 2-cun, half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photo.
Paying the visa charge.
The Chinese visa authorities overseas include Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, the consular department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR, and other agencies abroad authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa.