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IMMIGRATION LAW IN CHINA

IMMIGRATION LAW IN CHINA

VISA REQUIREMENTS

All persons except the following require visas to enter China:

• Aliens holding final destination tickets and having booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China and staying in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.
• Citizens of Republic of Korea, United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and Greece transiting through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they are in possession of valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours.
• Ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Brunei and Japan to visit China for up to 15 days for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends or transit.

Types of Visa, Validity and Cost:

Single and Double Entry Visas: 6 months.

Multiple Entry Visas: 6 months, 12 months or 24 months. 

Single Entry (for U.S. citizens): $ 50

Single Entry (for citizens of other countries): $ 30

Double Entry (for U.S. citizens): $ 75

Double Entry (for citizens of other countries): $ 45

Multiple Entries (6 months) (for U.S. citizens): $ 100

Multiple Entries (6 months) (for citizens of other countries): $ 60

Multiple Entries (12 or 24 months) (for U.S. citizens): $ 150

Multiple Entries (12 or 24 months) (for citizens of other countries): $ 90

These visas are of the following types:                          

1.      Tourist Visa (L Visa): This is issued to an alien coming to China for sightseeing, visiting family or other private purposes.

2.      Business / Visit Visa (F Visa): This is for an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies, or internship for a period not exceeding 6 months.

3.      Employment or Work Visa (Z Visa):     This is issued to an alien coming to China for a post or employment, and his or her accompanying family members.

4.      Student Visa (X Visa): This is issued to an alien coming to China for study, advanced studies, or intern practice for a period exceeding 6 months.

5.      Crewmember Visa (C Visa): This is issued to crewmembers of Airplane, Ship or Train.

6.      Journalist Visa: This has two categories:

·        J1 Visa: This is issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.

·        J2 Visa: This is issued to foreign correspondents making short trips to China on reporting tasks.

7.      Transit Visa (G Visa): This is issued to an alien transiting through China.

8.      Resident Visa (D Visa): This is issued to an alien coming to China with the intention of residing there permanently.

This information was last updated on 01.01.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Visa:

Valid Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity;

• Completed Visa Application Form;
• One passport-sized photo;
• An applicant born in China while applying for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport is required to submit his or her Chinese passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa.

Along with the above documents the following documents are also required as per the visa type:

For Tourist Visa:

• A written explanation for the purpose of visit, if applying for a multiple entry visa.

For Business / Visit Visa:

• An invitation letter from the host company in China or a letter from the applicant’s company.

If applying for a Multiple Entry ‘F’ Visa valid for 24 months, the following documents are required:

• Documents certifying that the applicant has made an investment in China or has established a collaboration with a Chinese company;
• A copy of the visas if the applicant has visited China at least twice with the ‘F’ Visa within the past 12 months or has been issued a multiple entry ‘F’ Visa;
• Documents proving that the applicant is a foreign Chinese.

For Employment or Work Visa:

• A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit and a Work Permit for aliens issued by the Chinese Labor Ministry or a Foreign Expert’s License issued by the Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau.

For the accompanying family members:

• A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit or proof of kinship, example, marriage or birth certificate.

For Student Visa:

• An approved Foreign Student Visa Application Form issued by the authorized Chinese unit, and an enrollment letter from the Chinese school;
• A Physical Examination Certificate for Foreign Citizen for applicants who will study in China for more than 1 year.

For Crewmember Visa:

·        A formal letter of introduction from the employer on the business letterhead.

For Journalist Visa:

·        One Official Approval Notice from the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from the foreign affairs office of a provincial or central municipal government.

For Transit Visa

·        A valid visa of the country of destination and a final destination airline ticket.

For Resident Visa:

·        A Residence Approval Certificate issued by the Chinese public security bureau.

·        A Physical Examination Certificate for Foreign Citizen.

You can download a Visa Application Form from: www.china-embassy.org/chn/hzqz/zgqz/Q1-1.pdf

CHINESE CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Chinese citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.      By Birth: A child does not acquire citizenship automatically by being born within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. A child born to unknown or stateless parents can acquire citizenship by birth.

2.      By Descent: The following persons can acquire citizenship by descent:

·        Child whose one of the parents is a Chinese citizen, irrespective of the country of birth;

·        Residents of Macao who have a Chinese blood relationship born on the Chinese territory and other persons of Chinese nationality irrespective of their holding Portuguese travel certificates or identity cards;

·        Residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region having both a Chinese blood relationship and a Portuguese blood relationship may choose the nationality of either China or Portugal.

A child who is born abroad and whose parents have settled abroad and the child has acquired the nationality of the parents’ new country is not considered a Chinese citizen.

3.      By Naturalization: The following persons can acquire citizenship by naturalization:

• Persons having close relatives in China;
• Person settled in China;
• Foreign nationals having had Chinese nationality in past may apply for its restoration provided they have legitimate reasons.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

All persons except the following require visas to enter China:

• Aliens holding final destination tickets and having booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China and staying in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.
• Citizens of Republic of Korea, United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and Greece transiting through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they are in possession of valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours.
• Ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Brunei and Japan to visit China for up to 15 days for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends or transit.

Types of Visa, Validity and Cost:

Single and Double Entry Visas: 6 months.

Multiple Entry Visas: 6 months, 12 months or 24 months.

Single Entry (for U.S. citizens): $ 50

Single Entry (for citizens of other countries): $ 30

Double Entry (for U.S. citizens): $ 75

Double Entry (for citizens of other countries): $ 45

Multiple Entries (6 months) (for U.S. citizens): $ 100

Multiple Entries (6 months) (for citizens of other countries): $ 60

Multiple Entries (12 or 24 months) (for U.S. citizens): $ 150

Multiple Entries (12 or 24 months) (for citizens of other countries): $ 90

These visas are of the following types:                          

1.      Tourist Visa (L Visa): This is issued to an alien coming to China for sightseeing, visiting family or other private purposes.

2.      Business / Visit Visa (F Visa): This is for an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies, or internship for a period not exceeding 6 months.

3.      Employment or Work Visa (Z Visa):     This is issued to an alien coming to China for a post or employment, and his or her accompanying family members.

4.      Student Visa (X Visa): This is issued to an alien coming to China for study, advanced studies, or intern practice for a period exceeding 6 months.

5.     Crewmember Visa (C Visa): This is issued to crewmembers of Airplane, Ship or Train.

6.      Journalist Visa: This has two categories:

·        J1 Visa: This is issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.

·       J2 Visa: This is issued to foreign correspondents making short trips to China on reporting tasks.

7.      Transit Visa (G Visa): This is issued to an alien transiting through China.

8.      Resident Visa (D Visa): This is issued to an alien coming to China with the intention of residing there permanently.

This information was last updated on 01.01.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Visa:

• Valid Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity;
• Completed Visa Application Form;
• One passport-sized photo;
• An applicant born in China while applying for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport is required to submit his or her Chinese passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa.

Along with the above documents the following documents are also required as per the visa type:

For Tourist Visa:

• A written explanation for the purpose of visit, if applying for a multiple entry visa.

For Business / Visit Visa:

• An invitation letter from the host company in China or a letter from the applicant’s company.

If applying for a Multiple Entry ‘F’ Visa valid for 24 months, the following documents are required:

• Documents certifying that the applicant has made an investment in China or has established a collaboration with a Chinese company;
• A copy of the visas if the applicant has visited China at least twice with the ‘F’ Visa within the past 12 months or has been issued a multiple entry ‘F’ Visa;
• Documents proving that the applicant is a foreign Chinese.

For Employment or Work Visa:

• A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit and a Work Permit for aliens issued by the Chinese Labor Ministry or a Foreign Expert’s License issued by the Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau.

For the accompanying family members:

• A visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit or proof of kinship, example, marriage or birth certificate.

For Student Visa:

• An approved Foreign Student Visa Application Form issued by the authorized Chinese unit, and an enrollment letter from the Chinese school;
• A Physical Examination Certificate for Foreign Citizen for applicants who will study in China for more than 1 year.

For Crewmember Visa:

·        A formal letter of introduction from the employer on the business letterhead.

For Journalist Visa:

·        One Official Approval Notice from the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from the foreign affairs office of a provincial or central municipal government.

For Transit Visa

·  A valid visa of the country of destination and a final destination airline ticket.

For Resident Visa:

·        A Residence Approval Certificate issued by the Chinese public security bureau.

·        A Physical Examination Certificate for Foreign Citizen.

You can download a Visa Application Form from: www.china-embassy.org/chn/hzqz/zgqz/Q1-1.pdf

CHINESE CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Chinese citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.      By Birth: A child does not acquire citizenship automatically by being born within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. A child born to unknown or stateless parents can acquire citizenship by birth.

2.      By Descent: The following persons can acquire citizenship by descent:

·       Child whose one of the parents is a Chinese citizen, irrespective of the country of birth;

·        Residents of Macao who have a Chinese blood relationship born on the Chinese territory and other persons of Chinese nationality irrespective of their holding Portuguese travel certificates or identity cards;

·        Residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region having both a Chinese blood relationship and a Portuguese blood relationship may choose the nationality of either China or Portugal.

A child who is born abroad and whose parents have settled abroad and the child has acquired the nationality of the parents’ new country is not considered a Chinese citizen.

3.      By Naturalization: The following persons can acquire citizenship by naturalization:

• Persons having close relatives in China;
• Person settled in China;
• Foreign nationals having had Chinese nationality in past may apply for its restoration provided they have legitimate reasons.