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F Visa - Exchanges, Visits and Study Tours

ChinaShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in China Read the five questions ↓

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

A visa is normally required: a foreigner entering China must apply for a visa to a Chinese visa authority abroad unless the law provides otherwise, submitting the passport or other international travel document and purpose-related materials and attending an interview if required.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Nationality-specific visa exemptions (mutual agreements or unilateral policies) are not enumerated in these citations.

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

The F visa covers the approved exchange, visit, study-tour or related non-employment purpose.

See recorded sources
  • Article 6(3)
    （三）F字签证，发给入境从事交流、访问、考察等活动的人员。
  • Article 37
    第三十七条 外国人在中国境内停留居留，不得从事与停留居留事由不相符的活动，并应当在规定的停留居留期限届满前离境。

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

The visa records the number of entries, the entry validity and the duration of each stay. Where the stay marked on the visa is no more than 180 days, the holder stays for the marked period. Entry validity runs from the issue date unless otherwise noted and ends at 24:00 Beijing time on the expiry date; the stay period counts from the day after entry.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No F-visa-specific maximum validity, entry count or rolling-period rule is stated in the sources; the actual values are those printed on the issued visa.
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html
    第十七条 签证的登记项目包括：签证种类，持有人姓名、性别、出生日期、入境次数、入境有效期、停留期限，签发日期、地点，护照或者其他国际旅行证件号码等。
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html
    第二十九条 外国人所持签证注明的停留期限不超过一百八十日的，持证人凭签证并按照签证注明的停留期限在中国境内停留。
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1014161/content.html
    （一）签证的入境次数，是指持证人在签证入境有效期内可以入境的次数。 （二）签证的入境有效期，是指持证人所持签证入境的有效时间范围。非经签发机关注明，签证自签发之日起生效，于有效期满当日北京时间24时失效。 （三）签证的停留期限，是指持证人每次入境后被准许停留的时限，自入境次日开始计算。

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

Applicants submit the invitation from the Chinese inviting party, plus passport, application, photograph and required purpose evidence. The law requires the stay expenses to be secured but does not set a universal cash figure in these provisions.

See recorded sources
  • Article 7(3)
    （三）申请F字签证，应当提交中国境内的邀请方出具的邀请函件。
  • Article 7 preamble
    第七条 外国人申请办理签证，应当填写申请表，提交本人的护照或者其他国际旅行证件以及符合规定的照片和申请事由的相关材料。
  • Article 21(4)
    （四）在申请签证过程中弄虚作假或者不能保障在中国境内期间所需费用的；

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

A foreigner applies for the visa to a Chinese visa authority abroad unless the law provides otherwise. An F-stay extension requires the inviting or receiving entity letter and registration proof for an unregistered entity; the listed extension cap is 180 days. Applications must be made at least seven days before expiry; cumulative extensions cannot exceed the originally authorised stay.

See recorded sources
  • VII(2)
    （二）持F字签证者，应当提交邀请、接待单位出具的证明函件。未备案的单位还应当提交注册登记证明。可以延长停留期限不超过180日。
  • Article 29 extension
    需要延长签证停留期限的，应当在签证注明的停留期限届满七日前向停留地县级以上地方人民政府公安机关出入境管理机构申请，按照要求提交申请事由的相关材料。经审查，延期理由合理、充分的，准予延长停留期限；不予延长停留期限的，应当按期离境。
  • Article 29 final paragraph
    延长签证停留期限，累计不得超过签证原注明的停留期限。
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html
    第十五条 外国人入境，应当向驻外签证机关申请办理签证，但是本法另有规定的除外。
  • https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741547/c1013311/content.html
    第十八条 外国人申请办理签证，应当向驻外签证机关提交本人的护照或者其他国际旅行证件，以及申请事由的相关材料，按照驻外签证机关的要求办理相关手续、接受面谈。

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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