# 🇨🇳 China — visa routes

> Verified visa and immigration data for China from VisaPassage.
> Canonical page: https://visapassage.com/destinations/china

18 routes with deep coverage. Every entry below is checked against official sources and carries its own verification date. Statuses describe typical eligibility — they are never a promise of approval; individual applications require review.

## Short visits by passport

- **United States**: Visa required · apply before travel
- **United Kingdom**: Visa-free · stays up to 30 days
- **Germany**: Visa-free · stays up to 30 days
- **India**: Visa required · apply before travel
- **Canada**: Visa-free · stays up to 30 days
- **Australia**: Visa-free · stays up to 30 days

Other passports: check https://visapassage.com/visa-checker for your specific passports.

## Visit

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China L Tourist Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 60 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit | Visa-free · typically eligible | 10 days | $0 | — | 0 days |
| China M Business and Trade Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 60 days | $140 | — | 4 days |

- **China L Tourist Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit** — Key documents: Passport, Onward ticket to a third country, Arrival/departure card · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: en.nia.gov.cn
- **China M Business and Trade Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Commercial invitation letter · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn

## Study & Training

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China X1 Long-Term Student Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 30 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China X2 Short-Term Student Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 180 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China F Exchange, Visit and Study-Tour Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 180 days | $140 | — | 4 days |

- **China X1 Long-Term Student Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Admission notice, JW201 / JW202 form · Rights: Study: Full-time study at the admitting institution. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China X2 Short-Term Student Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Admission notice · Rights: Study: Short-term study up to 180 days. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China F Exchange, Visit and Study-Tour Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Invitation letter · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: sanfrancisco.china-consulate.gov.cn

## Work & Self-Employment

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China Z Work Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 30 days | $140 | — | 4 days |

- **China Z Work Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Notification of Work Permit for Foreigners · Rights: Work: Employment authorised for the sponsoring employer once the work permit and residence permit are issued. · Residency after 4 years · Family: Family members apply for S1/S2 visas based on the worker's status. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn

## Invest & Capital

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China Permanent Residence by Investment | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $140 | — | 4 days |

- **China Permanent Residence by Investment** — Key documents: Passport, Permanent residence application form, Proof of qualifying investment, Tax records, Health certificate, Criminal record / non-criminal certificate, Passport photos · Rights: Work: Permanent residents may live and work in China without a separate work permit. · Study: Full access to study and public services. · Residency: This route confers permanent residence directly; the card is valid 10 years and renewable. · Family: Spouse and unmarried children under 18 may be included under the family category. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: en.nia.gov.cn

## Family & Origin

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China Q1 Family Reunion Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 30 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China S1 Long-Term Dependent Visa (Family of Resident Foreigner) | Consular visa · typically eligible | 30 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China S2 Short-Term Dependent Visa (Family of Resident Foreigner) | Consular visa · typically eligible | 180 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China Q2 Short-Term Family Visit Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 180 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| Five-year visa / residence permit for foreigners of Chinese origin | Available | — | — | — | — |

- **China Q1 Family Reunion Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Invitation letter, Inviter's ID, Proof of kinship · Rights: Study: Resident family members may enrol in study subject to institution rules. · Residency after 5 years · Family: Granted on the basis of the family relationship with the Chinese citizen or PR holder. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China S1 Long-Term Dependent Visa (Family of Resident Foreigner)** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Invitation letter, Inviter's status documents, Proof of kinship · Rights: Study: Dependent children may enrol in school subject to local rules. · Family: Issued on the basis of the relationship to the resident foreigner. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China S2 Short-Term Dependent Visa (Family of Resident Foreigner)** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Invitation letter, Inviter's status documents, Proof of kinship · Rights: Family: Issued on the basis of kinship with the resident foreigner. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China Q2 Short-Term Family Visit Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Invitation letter, Inviter's ID, Proof of kinship · Rights: Family: Issued on the basis of kinship with the Chinese relative. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **Five-year visa / residence permit for foreigners of Chinese origin** — Since February 2018, former Chinese citizens and children/grandchildren of (former) Chinese citizens can obtain 5-year multiple-entry visas and 5-year residence permits on proof of Chinese heritage. · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: bal.com

## Special Categories

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China R High-Level Talent Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 180 days | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China K Visa for Young Science and Technology Talent | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $140 | — | 4 days |
| China J1 Resident Journalist Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 30 days | $171 | — | 4 days |
| China J2 Short-Term Journalist Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | 180 days | $171 | — | 4 days |
| China D Permanent Residence Visa / Foreigner's Permanent Resident ID Card | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $140 | — | 4 days |

- **China R High-Level Talent Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Confirmation Letter for High-Level Foreign Talent · Rights: Work: Employment permitted after conversion to a Category A work permit and residence permit. · Study: Academic and research activity permitted within the talent role. · Residency after 4 years · Family: Spouse and minor children may obtain accompanying S2 visas with matching validity. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China K Visa for Young Science and Technology Talent** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Proof of qualifications · Rights: Work: Permits education, science-and-technology exchange, entrepreneurial and business activities; specific employment rules set by authorities. · Study: Educational and academic exchange activities are permitted. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: english.www.gov.cn
- **China J1 Resident Journalist Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Official accreditation documents, Press card · Rights: Work: Authorised to work as an accredited resident correspondent for the sponsoring organisation. · Family: Family members apply for S1/S2 visas based on the journalist's posting. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China J2 Short-Term Journalist Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Official accreditation documents, Press card · Rights: Work: Authorised for short-term news coverage with prior approval. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: us.china-embassy.gov.cn
- **China D Permanent Residence Visa / Foreigner's Permanent Resident ID Card** — Key documents: Passport, Visa application form, Passport photo, Confirmation Form for Permanent Residence, Proof of qualifying category, Health certificate, Criminal record / non-criminal certificate · Rights: Work: Permanent residents may live and work in China without a separate work permit. · Study: Full access to study and public services as a permanent resident. · Residency: This is the permanent-residence status itself; the ID card is valid 10 years and renewable. · Family: Spouse (5-year marriage), unmarried children under 18 and dependent elderly relatives may be included under the family category. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: en.nia.gov.cn

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Source: VisaPassage (https://visapassage.com/). Cite the canonical page above when referencing this data. Markdown index of all destinations: https://visapassage.com/destinations/llm.md.