China issues several types of visas depending on the purpose of visit. Below is a list of the main visa categories (ordinary & special), along with brief explanations of when you use each. Always check with the Chinese embassy/visa center in your country for the latest version, since types and rules might change. (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn)
Major Categories of Chinese Visas
Broadly speaking, Chinese visas fall into four high-level categories:
- Diplomatic visa (D)
- Courtesy visa (C)
- Service visa (S / J etc.)
- Ordinary visa (L, M, X, Z, etc.) (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn)
The “ordinary visas” are the ones most foreign travelers use, and they are subdivided by purpose. (sydney.china-consulate.gov.cn)
Here are the common sub-types you should know about:
Common Ordinary Visa Types (by purpose)
| Visa Code | Purpose / Who it’s for | Notes / Additional features |
|---|---|---|
| L (Tourist Visa) | For tourism, visiting, sightseeing, holiday travel | The classic “tourist visa” |
| M (Business Visa / Commercial) | For business, trade, commercial visits, negotiations | Requires invitation from a business entity in China (newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| F (Non-commercial Visit / Exchange / Cultural / Academic Visits) | For non-business visits such as exchanges, cultural visits, study tours, academic exchanges, or short term research | Not for full employment, but for visits or exchanges (newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| Z (Work Visa) | For people going to work in China | You’ll usually need a valid work permit or employment invitation from a Chinese employer (newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| X (Student / Study Visa) | For studying in China — subdivided into X1 and X2 | X1 is for long-term study (more than 180 days), X2 is for short term (≤ 180 days) (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| S (Family / Private Affairs Visa) | For family members of those already staying/working in China | e.g. S1 / S2 — depending on duration and relationship (spouse, children, parents) (newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| Q (Family Reunion / Visit Visa) | For family of Chinese citizens or permanent residents, or family reunions | Q1 is for longer stays (for e.g. to live or for extended visits), Q2 is for shorter visits (newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| C (Crew / Airline / Transport Crew Visa) | For crew members, e.g. of airplanes, ships, trains | For those whose job requires entering China as part of transport crew (newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| J (Journalist / Media Visa) | For journalists, media workers intending to work in China | There are subtypes like J1 and J2 for different durations and conditions (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) |
| G (Transit Visa) | For those only transiting through China en route to a third country | If you’re stopping over in China (not your final destination) and need to exit airport / transit area, etc. (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) |
| D (Permanent Resident / “Green Card”) | For foreigners seeking permanent residence in China | Equivalent to a “domicile / permanent resident” visa / permit (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) |
Some Observations & Special Policies
- The embassy/consular offices have discretion in setting number of entries, validity period, and stay durations (how many days you can stay per single visit) when issuing the visa. (losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn)
- Some visas may require special documents: e.g. work visas require work permit, student visas require admission/acceptance letters, etc.
- China also offers transit / visa-free policies for certain nationalities and in some airports / regions (for limited hours) for travelers going to a third country. (Wikipedia)
- For Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, there are different procedures / travel permits; those are not under the “mainland China visa” system necessarily.
If you like, I can send you the full official PDF or page from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs listing all visa types with current rules and conditions. Would you like me to fetch that?
Here is a summary of the typical durations (validity / stay period) for different types of Chinese visas. Note that the exact duration (validity, number of entries, and “duration of stay per entry”) is decided by the issuing consulate / visa center, so the examples below are common cases — your visa might differ. (Visa for China)
Key definitions (so you understand the terms)
- Validity / Period of Validity: The time span during which the visa can be used to enter China (from issue date until the “enter before” date). (Visa for China)
- Number of entries: How many times you may enter China under that visa (single, double, multiple). (Visa for China)
- Duration of stay (per entry): After you enter China, the maximum number of days you are permitted to remain for each visit. (Visa for China)
Typical durations by visa type
Below is a rough guide of common durations. These are not guaranteed; the consulate may issue shorter or different durations.
| Visa Type | Common Validity / Entries | Typical Duration of Stay Per Entry | Additional Notes / Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| L (Tourist Visa) | Often valid for 6 months, sometimes 3 months or up to multiple years (for frequent travelers) (VisaHQ) | Usually 30-60 days per entry; in many cases ~30 days (visarite.com) | You may apply for an extension (often up to 30 days) inside China before your permitted stay expires. (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| M (Business / Commercial Visa) | Validity often similar to L (e.g. 3 or 6 months), sometimes multiple years for repeat applicants (China Visa Service Center) | Commonly 30 days per entry; sometimes up to 60 days or longer depending on consulate (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | Extensions may be possible (often up to 180 days) via local public security bureau. (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| F (Visitation / Non-commercial / Exchange) | Usually valid for a few months (e.g. 3 or 6 months), sometimes up to 1 year or multiple entries (visarite.com) | Usually 30–60 days per entry (visarite.com) | May vary a lot depending on purpose, consulate discretion. (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) |
| Z (Work Visa) | Initially often valid for 30 days single entry (to allow entry and then change to residence permit) (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | The visa’s “duration of stay” might be short (e.g. 30 days) — you must apply for a residence permit soon after arrival for long-term stay. (Chinese Embassy in the UK) | Once in China, the residence permit replaces the visa for long stays. (losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn) |
| X1 (Long-term Student Visa, > 180 days) | Validity can be several years, depending on length of academic program (VisaHQ) | Typically the duration of study (i.e. you stay for more than 180 days) (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | After entry, you may have to get a residence permit from local authorities. (Chinese Embassy in the UK) |
| X2 (Short-term Student Visa, ≤ 180 days) | Validity often around 1 year (if multiple entries), but usually single entry too (VisaHQ) | Stay allowed up to 180 days or less per entry (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | Extensions are sometimes possible before the stay period ends (but extension must not exceed original visa total) (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| Q1 (Family Reunion, > 180 days) | Validity often aligned with purpose; multiple entries possible (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | Because Q1 is for longer stays, it is intended for residency / family living, so stay can exceed 180 days per entry. (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | After entry, you must convert to a residence permit (within 30 days) if your allowed stay is more than 30 days. (Chinese Embassy in the UK) |
| Q2 (Short-term Family Visit) | Valid for months to years, sometimes up to 10 years (for some nationalities) (VisaHQ) | Typically up to 180 days per entry (often less, e.g. 30, 60, 90 days) (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | Extensions may be granted (up to 180 days) under certain conditions. (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| S1 (Long-term Private Visit, > 180 days) | Validity in line with stay purpose; may be multiple entries (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | Stay is for longer than 180 days per entry (i.e. for extended visits) (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | Must convert to a residence permit within 30 days of entry for long stays. (Chinese Embassy in the UK) |
| S2 (Short-term Private Visit) | Validity often months to years (depending) (VisaHQ) | Often 30–180 days per entry depending on consulate & purpose (s.nia.gov.cn) | Extensions may be possible (up to 180 days) under certain conditions (especially family visits) (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| J1 (Long-term Journalist / Permanent Posting) | Validity in line with assignment, possibly multiple entries | Stay often corresponds with assignment (can exceed 180 days) | Convert to appropriate permit (residence / media permit) after entry. (Chinese Embassy in the UK) |
| J2 (Short-term Journalist / Event) | Typically valid for months | Stay usually ≤ 180 days (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn) | May extend stay (often up to 30 days) depending on conditions. (s.nia.gov.cn) |
| G (Transit Visa) | Typically valid for 3 months (90 days) (VisaHQ) | Usually up to 7 days or less, sometimes up to 30 days depending on transit rules (VisaHQ) | For transit, your stay is short and tied to your onward journey. (VisaHQ) |
What to watch out for
- Discretion of issuing authority
Even though the table above gives “common durations,” visa officers can issue shorter validity / fewer days stay than what is typical, based on your application, your nationality, your travel history, etc. (Travel China Guide) - Extensions
For many visa types, you can apply for a stay extension inside China (through the local Public Security Bureau or Exit & Entry office) before your authorized stay period expires. But approval is not guaranteed. (Visa for China) - Residence permits
For visa types intended for long stays (Z, X1, Q1, S1, J1), after entry into China you often must convert the visa into a residence permit. The visa itself permits entry, but the residence permit allows you to legally remain in China long term. (Chinese Embassy in the UK) - Validity vs stay
Even if your visa is valid for a long period, your allowed stay per entry might be short. For example, a multiple-entry tourist visa valid for 10 years might allow only 30 or 60 days per trip. (VisaHQ) - Overstay penalties
If you stay beyond the permitted duration (and without renewing or extending legally), it’s considered illegal and can lead to fines, detention, and deportation. (sk.china-embassy.gov.cn)
If you like, I can try to find the official 2025 document (from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Authority) that lists precisely the maximum durations allowed for each visa type for Indian citizens (or in Japan). Do you want me to fetch that now?