Business Visa (F-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice, for a period of no more than 6 months.
i. Please provide the following documents:
(i) Original passport which has more than 6 months left before it expires from the date of application and sufficient blank visa pages.
(ii) One completed Visa Application Form (Download) with a recently-taken passport photo stuck on it; all the items on the application form should be completed neatly with genuine information; if the applicant has a Chinese name, the Chinese name should be filled in; false or incomplete information and illegible characters may lead to refusal of a visa.
(iii) A Letter of invitation from a company or institution in China (The letter of invitation can not be email, and should include full name and passport number of the invitee as well as the purpose and duration of the visit) or an Invitation letter of Duly Authorized Unit or a Confirmation letter of Invitation issued by an authorized unit in China (An Invitation letter of Duly Authorized Unit or a Confirmation letter of Invitation refers to the letter issued by the Chinese government departments, companies and social organizations authorized by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. For detailed information, please consult the foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government where your host is located. An Invitation letter of Duly Authorized Unit or a Confirmation letter of Invitation can not be email, should include full name and passport number of the invitee as well as the purpose and duration of the visit, and should be used within 6 months since its issuing date)
(iv) An applicant holding a passport other than UK passport should provide the original and a copy of his or her permanent residence or work permit which should be valid for at least half a year(except for those who are visa or permit exempt for residing or working in the UK).
(v) In addition to the above-mentioned documents under (i),(ii),(iii) and (iv), applicants applying for short-term study in China should also provide:
(1) Admission Notice (original and copy);
(2) Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW-201/JW-202, original and copy, which indicates the period of study being less than 6 months).
ii. Method and Time for Submission of Application
(i) Method: An applicant may submit his or her visa application to the Centre in person or entrusts someone to submit on his or her behalf.If you select to apply by post, you need to follow Guidelines on Postal Application in addition to preparing for all the documents provided for above. You may be required to go to the Chinese Consulate General for an interview if the Chinese Consulate General deems it necessary.
(ii) Time: Regular visa processing time is 4 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Thursday. Express visa processing time is 3 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Wednesday.
iii. Visa Fee, Period of validity and duration of stay
(i) Pay visa and service fees when collecting passport;
(ii) You may select cash or debit card when making payment;
(iii) Schedule of visa Fees and Service Fees (Unit: British Pound):
(iv) Unless specifically requested by the applicant in his or her completed application form and approved by consular officers, a single-entry visa is valid for 3 months, and a double-entry visa valid for 6 months, both with a 30-day duration of stay.
(v) Consular officers decide on the visa's period of validity, duration of stay and number of entry in the light of China's laws and regulations.
(vi) Whether a visa is to be issued or not to be issued, and what type of visa to be issued shall be decided by Consular officers in the light of China's relevant laws and regulations.
iv. Please note
(i) Please apply for a visa about one month in advance of your intended date of entry into China, and do not apply 3 months earlier than your intended date of entry into China. You should take upon yourself any consequences resulting from your failure to submit visa application at an appropriate time, which may lead to either your already-issued visa becoming expired or it would be too late to get a visa before your planned departure date.
(ii) The visa application form should be fully filled in and signed by the applicant upon completion (application for an applicant under 18 years of age should be signed by one of his or her parents). Items which are not applicable should be filled in with N/A.
(iii) Consular officers may request an applicant to provide additional supporting documents. The applicant should provide this as soon as possible.
