TRAVEL VISA FOR CHINA

Classification of Chinese visas based on the following criteria:

► Classification of Chinese visas by purpose of entry

Chinese visas are divided into 4 types:

• Diplomatic visa.
• Courtesy visa.
• Official visa.
• Ordinary visa.

Among them, the ordinary visa is further divided into 12 types for 16 specific cases.

Below are some common types of Chinese visas and the target applicants for each type:

Below are some common types of visas that Vietnamese people often apply for, along with specific entry validity, maximum stay duration, and number of entries:

Important note:

• If there are no special notes, the visa will be valid from the date it is signed and will expire on the expiration date according to Beijing time (at 24:00 hours).
• You need to leave China before the visa expires. If the entry validity and the number of allowed entries are still valid, you can enter China at any time within the validity period of the visa. If the entry validity has expired but the number of allowed entries is still valid, you are not allowed to enter China anymore.
• The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam cannot extend the entry validity, so if your visa is about to expire, you need to apply for a new visa to continue staying in this country.
• You can extend your stay duration by submitting an application; however, it is not guaranteed that your application will be approved. If you stay in China beyond the allowed duration on your visa, you will be fined along with other penalties.

The visa application documents for traveling to China include the following:

1. Passport: valid for at least 6 months, original passport with at least 3 consecutive blank pages, and 1 photocopy of the passport’s information page (with photo).

2. 1 Visa application form (complete the online application at https://www.visaforchina.cn/HAN2_VI/, print it out and sign) and 1 recent passport photo, taken from the front, in color (light background), without a hat, size 4×6 cm to be affixed to the application form.

Please note: The application form must be signed by the applicant. Individuals without civil capacity or with limited civil capacity must have a guardian sign on their behalf. If completed by a travel agency, it must also have the applicant’s confirmation signature.

3. Photocopy of the Chinese visa (if applicable).

4. Photocopy of household registration or proof of residence (for those who have never traveled abroad or for Vietnamese passport holders issued from July 1, 2022, without a note on place of birth).

6. For applicants who are not Vietnamese: Original and photocopy of documents proving legal residence or stay in Vietnam.

6. For those who previously held Chinese nationality and later changed to another nationality: Previous passport or visa for China.

• Original Chinese passport previously held and photocopy of the passport’s information page (for first-time applicants for a Chinese visa).
• Photocopy of the information page of the foreign passport and any previous Chinese visa (for those who have previously held a Chinese visa).

7. Documents regarding the itinerary such as confirmation of round-trip flight bookings and hotel reservation or an invitation letter from an entity or individual in China. This invitation letter must include the following information:

• Personal information of the invitee: full name, gender, date of birth, etc.;
• Itinerary information of the invitee: arrival and departure dates, travel destinations, etc.;
• Information of the inviting entity or individual, contact method: name of the entity or full name of the inviter, phone number, address, etc.
• The inviter or inviting entity must sign and stamp (the individual inviter must provide a complete photocopy of both sides of their ID card).

Requirements for minors under 18 years old when applying for a visa:

1. If neither parent is accompanying, a power of attorney must be provided.

2. Original and photocopy of documents related to the legal guardian.

3. Original and photocopy of the birth certificate (the birth certificate must contain complete information of both parents).

4. If one parent is not a Vietnamese national: Original and photocopy of a valid visa or residence permit for Vietnam.

5. If the minor was born abroad, and the parents previously held Chinese nationality and are applying for a visa for the first time, the following documents must be provided:

• Chinese passport (if available).
• Original and photocopy of the birth certificate (with information of both parents).
• Previous Chinese passport of the parents (if available).
• Naturalization documents of the parents.

► Special notes

1. All documents do not need to be notarized; only original or photocopies are required. The invitation letter should be written in Chinese or Chinese-English, but it is best to write it in Chinese to avoid errors in address information.
2. The invitation letter can be a fax, photocopy, or printed copy, but the consular officer may request the applicant to provide the original invitation letter.
3. When necessary, the consular officer may request the applicant to provide additional proof or supplementary documents, or may require an interview based on the situation.
4. The consular officer can decide whether to issue the visa, the duration of the visa, the length of stay, and the number of entries based on the specific situation of the applicant.
5. The visa applicant must ensure that all documents provided are authentic and accurate; any inauthenticity, errors, or incompleteness may lead to visa denial or refusal of entry into China.

• Visa application fee for China: Contact Unique Travel for consultation.
• Submit in person or send complete application by post to Unique Travel Company (Untra Tower – No. 37, Street No. 2, An Khanh Ward, District 2, Thu Duc City, HCMC)
• Processing time and result return for the application: Approximately 4-7 working days (excluding holidays, Tet, Saturday-Sunday)

The time for supplementing documents, verifying information, and cases of force majeure will not be counted in the time for regular visa applications. If there is a special reason, the visa applicant may request expedited or urgent processing, but must include an explanation letter and related documents.

Note: 

1. The above time is calculated from the moment of application submission. To submit the application, the applicant needs to make an online appointment in advance. The availability of appointment slots, whether far or near, depends on how many people are submitting applications at that time. Therefore, you should plan to submit your application about 18 working days before your trip.
2. The working time mentioned is under normal circumstances; some visa applications may require longer processing times, so the processing time is not definite. In such cases, the visa applicant must wait for notification from the Embassy.
3. Currently, the Chinese Embassy does not provide fast or urgent visa services. Therefore, for those who want to obtain a Chinese visa quickly, they will need to use the VIP service – submitting the application without needing to make an appointment, but the fee is higher.
4. The processing time for applications may be extended, specifically depending on the Embassy.
5. This does not include visa applications for Hong Kong and Macau.