What is the China Business Visa (M-visa)
For non-Chinese residents who wish to travel to China for business purposes such as attending meetings, conferences, visit factories or engage in negotiations, it is necessary to obtain a China business visa to do so. The business visa does not permit one to work in China, in order to do so he/she will be required to apply for the China work visa (Z-visa) The China business visa (M-Visa) allows for Non-Chinese residents to travel to China and enter for a limited amount of time. The allocated time for the China business visa differs from case to case, but ranges from 30 days to up to 10 years. Let us explore the requirements and process of how to obtain a China business visa.
China Business Visa Requirements
Foreigners who want to apply for a China business visa need the following documents:
- A passport which is valid for at least 6 months and has at least 2 blank pages;
- Visa application form V.2013;
- Passport size photo (33 x 48mm);
- An invitation letter issued by a Chinese business partner located in China or Chinese authorities;
- Business License or Certificate of the inviting party;
- Return flight ticket; and
- Bank statement or proof of adequate financial resources.
Visa Application Form V.2013
The V.2013 needs to be completed in full. The application should be completed on a computer and printed out.
Invitation letter
According to the China business visa rules, an applicant must submit one of the following letters:
- A formal invitation letter issued by an enterprise based in Mainland China; or
- A formal invitation letter issued and authorized by the Chinese government.
The invitation letter issued by an enterprise has to be on an official letterhead of the enterprise and must include the following information:
- Applicant’s personal information
- Purpose of the visit
- Date of arrival and expected departure
- Particulars of applicants stay (city of stay, who bears costs of accommodation etc.)
- Particulars of the person/enterprise inviting the applicant
- Signature and official stamp from the party inviting the applicant
The information required by the Chinese consulate or embassy may differ from country to country. Additional information may be requested by the officials at the embassy or consulate.
Return flight ticket and bank statement
An applicant is required to have proof of a booked return flight. The return flight serves as proof that an applicant intends on leaving China once their business has been completed.
The bank statement may be requested to show that the applicant has the necessary means to travel to and around China.
Period of Validity
There are various time periods a business visa can be granted for, dependent on the needs of the applicant and the nature of the business. The most common type of China business visa granted in the country is valid for 90 days, with the permitted duration of stay being 30 days (or longer, depending on the circumstances of each case).
The China business visa can be granted for 30, 40, 60, 90 or 180 days, with visas also granted for 1 year or more (in some cases visas can be granted for up to 10 years, dependent on the applicant’s passport and status).
Process: How to Get a China Business Visa
An application for a Chinese business visa can be submitted to the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country of application. In some countries there is a ‘China Visa Application Center’ where all visa applications for China should be submitted.
The processing time usually takes around 1 week. However, an express application can be made, which can be processed in 2 or 3 days.
China Business Visa Extension
Once an applicant has entered China, it is possible to extend the duration of the China business visa at a local entry and exit bureau. An extension must be applied for at least 7 days prior to the expiration of the original China business visa. The processing time is usually 7 – 10 working days.
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