The Chinese government issues visas to travellers from countries
that have a normal diplomatic relationship with the People's
Republic of China. Most foreign travellers need an "L" type-
"Tourist" visa to travel in China.
It is not difficult to apply for a visa from Chinese embassies
and consulates in most countries. Travellers need to wait no
longer than three to five working days to obtain a standard
30-day, single entry visa which are valid for entry within three
months. For business people and other regular visitors there are
multiple-entry visas good for six months at a time. As an
alternative, many tourists make arrangements through travel
agencies.
Visa Extensions are dealt with by the local Public Security
Bureau (Gong'anju). The period of extension varies, but if
travellers hold a 30-day visa, they can expect to obtain an
extension of 15 days to one month. Second extensions are rarely
granted. The penalty of overstaying your visa in China is at
least RMB300 per day.
In the past, many foreign travellers made the trek to Hong Kong
to renew visas and get extensions. It is possible to get a
"Business Consulting" Visa in Hong Kong from most travel agents.
Costs vary and the Visa can usually be obtained within 48 hours.
Some agents may ask for a Business Card as proof. As long as
your "Business Card" doesn't list your job description as
"Journalist" you should be ok. Another option for Visa renewal
is to go through one of the agents in Beijing. Check out the
bi-weekly magazine "City Weekend" for classifieds listing
possible agents.
When applying for lodging in a hotel, guesthouse, school or any
other Chinese establishment, a foreign visitor should provide a
valid passport and fill in a registration form for temporary
lodging. A foreign visitorstaying with a Chinese family should
apply to the local public security organ within seventy-two
hours after arrival with valid identification documents of both
the guest and the host. A foreign visitor staying with a Chinese
family in a rural area should apply to the local police station
or residential administrative organwithin seventy-two hours
after arrival. This stipulation also applies to a foreign
visitor staying in a foreign establishment or with a foreigner's
family in China.
A foreigner staying in China with a tourist visa is not allowed
to engage in activities beyond the capacity as a tourist, such
as employment, religious propaganda and illegal journalist
interviewing. Violators of this stipulation will be punished.
The Chinese Government protects the lawful rights of foreigners
in China. On their part, foreigners staying in China should
abide by the Chinese laws and respect the Chinese habits and
customs, and on no account should they do anything to jeopardize
China's national security, public interests and social order.
A foreigner who has lost his passport in China should promptly
report to the local public security organ,explain what has
happened, apply to the Embassy or Consulate of his own country
for an exit document with a certificate issued by the local
public security organ, and go through related formalities at an
entry and exit inspection department. Only then is he allowed to
leave China.
How to Obtain the Chinese Visa
Tourist Visa Foreigners wishing to travel to China should apply
to a local Chinese embassy or consulate for tourist visas. In
the event of a group tour of more than nine persons , the
organizer has to apply for group tourist visas. Foreigners
requesting to visit Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Xiamen Special Economic
Zones may apply directly to visa authorities in these zones for
tourist visas to special economic zones. Foreign tourist groups
from Hong Kong for a 72-hour visit to the Shenzhen Special
Economic Zone are exempt from entry visas. When applying for a
visa, foreigners are required to answer certain questions and go
through the following formalities:
*Providing a valid passport or any document in place of a
passport;
*Filling in a visa application form and handing in up-to-date
passport photos;
*Submitting documents needed for visa application and documents
which explain one's reason(s) to enter China.
Points for foreigners with tourist visas:
A foreigner holding the tourist visa should go to an appointed
port of entry or one which is opened to foreigners, receive the
examination by a frontier inspection station, submit a valid
passport and visa for inspection, and fill in an entry card,
entry into China is granted only after the frontier inspection
has approved all the documents and stamped them with an entry
seal.
Foreigners may travel in places opened to them in China with a
valid passport and tourist visa. By March 1996, China had opened
1, 220 cities and counties to foreign visitors. Foreigners
travelling with their own transport vehicles should apply for
approval before they enter China. These include bicycles,
motorcycles, cars, boats and aircrafts.
Foreign tourists are not allowed to enter areas not opened to
foreigners; violators will be penalized according to law.
Foreigners who want to visit an area on business not opened to
them should apply to the local public security organ for a
Foreigners Travel Permit . When they apply for such a permit,
they should show their own passports and valid visas, provide
letters which explain the reasons for such a visit , and fill in
the Application Form for Foreign Travellers. Only after approval
is granted, can they enter the area not opened to foreign
visitors. The Foreigners Travel Permit should be used along with
the passport.
When applying for lodging in a hotel, guesthouse, school or any
other Chinese establishment, a foreign visitor should provide a
valid passport and fill in a registration form for temporary
lodging. A foreign visitor staying with a Chinese family should
apply to the local public security organ within seventy-two
hours after arrival with valid identification documents of both
the guest and the host. A foreign visitor staying with a Chinese
family in a rural area should apply to the local police station
or residential administrative organ within seventy-two hours
after arrival. This stipulation also applies to a foreign
visitor staying in a foreign establishment or with a foreigner's
family in China.
A foreign tourist may travel in China within the approved period
of time. If he wishes to continue travelling in China after the
approved time of his stay expires, he should apply to the local
public security organ for the extension of his stay. After he
has finished his travel in China, he should fill in an exit
document before his visa expires and submit his documents to the
frontier inspection station in a port opened to foreigners; he
is allowed to leave the country only after his document is
stamped with an approval seal.
A foreigner staying in China with a tourist visa is not allowed
to engage in activities beyond the capacity as a tourist, such
as employment, religious propaganda and illegal journalist
interviewing. Violators of this stipulation will be punished.
The Chinese Government protects the lawful rights of foreigners
in China.
On their part, foreigners staying in China should abide by the
Chinese laws and respect the Chinese habits and customs, and on
no account should they do anything to jeopardize China's
national security, public interests and social order. A
foreigner who has lost his passport in China should promptly
report to the local public security organ, explain what has
happened, apply to the Embassy or Consulate of his own country
for an exit document with a certificate issued by the local
public security organ, and go through related formalities at an
entry and exit inspection department. Only then is he allowed to
leave China.