China requires that citizens of most countries obtain a visa to enter.  The Chinese Consulate General will determine the duration of stay upon receiving an application.  The types and categories differ according to the purpose of visit, length of stay and respective arrangement with the country of the foreign national.  The following information is for U.S. Citizens, if you are a Non-U.S. Citizen please click here.

• L Visa (Tourist Visa) 
  Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist.
• M Visa (Business Visa)
  Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.
• C Visa (Transport Crew Visa)
  Issued to foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships.
• D Visa (Residence Visa)
  Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently.
• F Visa (Student Exchange Visa)
  Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities.
• G Visa (Transit Visa)
  Issued to those who intend to transit through China.
• J1 Visa (Media 180 or more days)
  Issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
• J2 Visa (Media less than 180 days)
  Issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
• Q1 Visa (Family Visit Residents Visa)
  Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
  “Family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.
• Q2 Visa (Family Visit Residents over 180 days)
  Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
• R1 Visa (Emergency Skilled Visa)
  Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.
• S1 Visa (Family Visit Non-Residents more than 180 days)
  Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.
• S2 Visa (Family Visit Non-Residents less than 180 days)
  Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.
  

  “Family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

• X1 Visa (Student Visit more than 180 days)
  Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.
• X2 Visa (Student Visit less than 180 days)
  Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
• Z Visa (Work Visa)
  Issued to those who intend to work in China.