Visa

A Chinese visa is a permit issued by the Chinese visa authorities to an alien for entry into, exit from or transit through China.

F Visa/Business Visa: Issued to an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months.

L Visa/Tourist Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing, family visiting or other private purposes.

The overseas Chinese visa authorities are Chinese embassies, consulates, and other offices authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through Chinese territory, he/she shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa.

Visas are not required of aliens, who hold final destination tickets and have booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China, and will stay in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.

Visas are not required of Citizens of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece.

No visa is required for ordinary passport holders from Singapore, Brunei and Japan to visit China for up to 15 days for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends or transit.

Invitation Letter for Visa Application
If you are required to apply for visa for entry into China and would need an Invitation Letter as supporting document, please click HERE.

Customs

All visitors must fill out customs declaration forms to present on arrival. One copy of this form should be kept, to hand in to customs on departure. Each traveller is permitted to bring in four hundred cigarettes, two litres of alcohol, twenty fluid ounces of perfume and up to fifty grams of gold or silver. You can legally bring in or take out only RMB6000, and foreign currency over the value of US$5000 or equivalent must be declared.
 
Certain valuable items, such as video cameras, office machines, computers and gold should have import duty paid on them.
 
Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition and explosives; printed matter, film or tapes critical to the country; dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants or foodstuffs. It is also forbidden to take out any of these items, or endangered species of animals or plants and antiques without export permits. You may be asked to show receipts for any cultural relics you plan to take out of the country.
 
There are green channels and red channels. If you have something to declare, take the red channel. Otherwise choose the other!