CN country scene

M Visa - Commercial and Trade Activities

ChinaStarting a business

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

Official link

Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

M is for a commercial or trade visitor. It does not require the applicant to be a founder, freelancer or company owner merely because the trip is business-related.

See recorded sources
  • Article 6(7)
    (七)M字签证,发给入境进行商业贸易活动的人员。

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

The applicant must submit an invitation letter from the commercial and trade partner in China, and the purpose of entry must be commercial and trade activities. The official source does not state a business plan, company, investment or client requirement.

See recorded sources
  • Article 7(7)
    (七)申请M字签证,应当按照要求提交中国境内商业贸易合作方出具的邀请函件。
  • Article 7
    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。

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

Stay expenses must be financially secured. The cited M provisions do not impose a universal investment, capital, revenue or business-plan threshold.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The responsible consular office may require case-specific financial documents; no nationwide amount is established here.
  • 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;
  • Article 7(7)
    (七)申请M字签证,应当按照要求提交中国境内商业贸易合作方出具的邀请函件。

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

M covers the authorised commercial/trade visit. Employment requires the separate work authorisation and work residence; M is not blanket permission to work or operate any business. Automatic family inclusion is not stated.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Family members need their own appropriate permission; this M provision does not establish a dependent entitlement.
  • Article 6(7)
    (七)M字签证,发给入境进行商业贸易活动的人员。
  • Article 41
    第四十一条 外国人在中国境内工作,应当按照规定取得工作许可和工作类居留证件。任何单位和个人不得聘用未取得工作许可和工作类居留证件的外国人。
  • 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 approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

Apply to the responsible Chinese visa authority with the invitation. The issued visa controls the initial stay. An extension needs local partner evidence at least seven days before expiry, may be up to 180 days and cannot exceed the original stay in aggregate. A replacement can have up to one-year entry validity, up to 180-day stay and zero, one, two or multiple entries. This visitor process is not a permanent-residence progression.

See recorded sources
  • Article 7(7)
    (七)申请M字签证,应当按照要求提交中国境内商业贸易合作方出具的邀请函件。
  • VII(6)
    (六)持M字签证者,应当提交当地邀请、接待单位或者个人出具的证明函件,未备案的单位还应当提交注册登记证明。合作伙伴为个人的,出具的函件应当签名并提交本地常住户籍证明或者实际居住地居住证明。可以延长停留期限不超过180日。
  • VIII(1)(3)
    3、申请换发M字签证,应当提交邀请单位出具的证明函件,可以换发入境有效期不超过1年,停留期不超过180日的零次、一次、二次或者多次签证。
  • Article 29
    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 cap
    延长签证停留期限,累计不得超过签证原注明的停留期限。

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

Your story.
Your next step.

Get your free results