Basic Requirements When Applying For A Chinese Visa:

1. Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and available blank pages for visa.
2. One properly completed Visa Application form signed by the applicant. Download Visa Application form.
3. One recent 2X2 inches size passport color photo affixed to the Visa Application form.
4. Relevant documents for different types of visa: (others deemed necessary by the Visa Officer)
5. Applications by mail or courier are not acceptable. Return service by mail after the visa is processed is not available. The applicant must come in person or may authorize someone (no authorization letter is necessary) to apply on his/her behalf and pick up the visa at the consulate.
6. A single entry visa is normally valid for 3 months from the date of issue. A double entry visa is usually valid for 6 months. The applicant may apply one or two months in advance, or one or two weeks before the trip to avoid visa expiration.
7. After the applicant enters China, if his/her actual length of stay is longer than the visa given, he/she must apply for extension of stay at the local public security bureau before his/her visa expires. The applicant will be fined or subjected to other penalties if he/she stays beyond the specified date.

Types of Visa And Requirements:

Group Visa:

Issued to tourist group of five people or above planning to enter and leave China at the same time and via the same airport or border-crossing:

A. an invitation letter from a Chinese travel agency;

B. an authorized group visa number given by the Chinese travel agency;

C. copies of the information pages of the applicants' passport;

D. three completed group visa forms, which can be obtained from Chinese travel agencies or the Embassy.

Business Visa (F-Visa):

An official invitation from the appropriate Chinese government departments, companies or institutions that are authorized to request the Embassy or the Consulate Generals to issue a visa.

Tourist / Family Visit (L-Visa):

A confirmation letter from a Chinese travel agency, or a confirmation from a hotel in China, a copy of the round-trip tickets to China, or an invitation letter from a relative in China. Please note that the Embassy and Consulate Generals do not issue individual visas for tourists to Tibet. All applicants travelling to Tibet need to contact their local travel agency to obtain confirmation for group visa of no less than 5 people from the Tourist Bureau of Tibet (TTB)

Student Visa (X-Visa):

A. Foreign Student Visa Application Form "JW201" or "JW202" issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education. B. An enrollment letter from the receiving university in China.

Employment / Work Visa (Z-Visa):

A. an Employment License issued by the Chinese Labor Ministry. For applicants to be working in an academic institution, a confirmation issued by the Chinese Foreign Experts' Bureau.

B. an official invitation issued by a Chinese government agency.

Transit "G" visa:

A valid visa of the country of destination and an air ticket showing transit through China.

Journalist Visa (J-1 or J-2 Visa):

Please first contact the Press Office of the Chinese Embassy or consulate.

Crew Members of unscheduled flight of private air crafts or vessels, please first apply with appropriate Chinese authorities for landing/docking permit.

Chinese Embassy or Consulate General

Consulate General of the P. R. China in Vancouver

3380 Granville St., Vancouver, BC V6H 3K3

Tel: (604) 734-0704 or (604) 736-3955 Fax: (604) 737-0154

Office hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm, Monday to Friday

Website: vancouver.china-consulate.org

Consulate General of the P. R. China in Calgary

1011-6th Ave., S.W., Suite 100, Calgary, AB T2P 0W1

Tel: (403) 264-3322 Ext 212 Fax: (403) 264-6656

Office hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm, Monday to Friday

Website: calgary.china-consulate.org

Consulate General of the P. R. China in Toronto

240 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5R 2P4

Tel: (416) 964-8861, (416) 964-2387 Fax: (416) 324-9010

Office hours: 9:30am - 11:30am, 1:30pm - 3:30pm, Monday to Friday

Website: toronto.china-consulate.org

The Embassy of the P. R. China

515 St. Patrick St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5H3

Tel: (613) 789-9608 Fax: (613) 789-1414

Office hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm, Monday to Friday

Website: www.chinaembassycanada.org

China National Tourist Office, Toronto

480 University Avenue, Suite 806, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1V2, Canada

Tel: (416) 599-6636, 1-866-599-6636 Fax:(416) 599-6382

Website: www.tourismchina-ca.com