Visa Categories
✧ Z Visa (Work) : Issued to those who apply for work in China.
✧ F Visa (Visitor) : Issued to those who come to China for exchanges, visits, study tours or other relevant activities.
✧ X Visa (Study) : Issued to those who apply for (long-term or short-term) study in China. It could be divided into X1 Visa (>180 days)and X2 Visa (≤180 days).
✧ L Visa (Tourist) : Issued to who come to China for travel.
✧ R Visa (High Talents): Issued to foreigners of high talent who are needed, or specialists who are urgently needed, by the State.
✧ K Visa (Young Talents): Issued to foreign young scientific and technological talents who seek entry into China.
Please click the following links to know more about visa applications
■ Visa Application Materials and Fees
https://www.visaforchina.cn/HAN3_EN/qianzhengyewu/jichuzhishi/banliliucheng
■ Visa Change, Extension, Reissuance; Travel Permits; Residence Permit
https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147423/n147478/n147715/index.html
Invitation Letter
To request an invitation letter for visa application, please submit the following personal information and documents to the contact person.
✧ Personal Information
Title (i.e. Dr/Prof/Mr/Ms):
Full Name:
Gender:
Date of Birth:
Job Title:
Institution:
Passport Number:
Nationality:
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Postal Address:
City & Country of the Embassy/Consulate office that you plan to apply for visa:
✧ Documents
Brief Job and Institution Description
Scanned Copy of Your Passport
Contact
Ms. Liu Yang
Phone: 010-82649907
Email: yangliu@iphy.ac.cn
Visa-Free Policy
✧ Unilateral Visa-Free Policy
As of September 2025, holders of ordinary passports from the following 47 countries could enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 30 days.
(Reference: the Immigration Service Center of the National Immigration Administration)
✧ Mutual Visa-Free Policy
As of now, China has signed visa exemption agreements with the following 29 countries. Citizens of these countries holding ordinary passports generally do not need to apply for a visa in advance for short-term travel to China.
If you hold other types of passports, please click here to learn more.
✧ 240 Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
As of June 2025, 60 open ports to the outside world in 24 provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government) of China will implement a 240-hour transit visa exemption policy for nationals of 55 countries. Holders of valid international travel documents and interline tickets with confirmed dates and seats within a specified time frame may apply for transit visa exemption at the exit-entry border inspection authorities of Chinese cities designated for this policy. Upon approval, they will be granted temporary entry procedures, with the 240-hour visa-free period calculated from 00:00 hours on the day following entry. During their stay, visa-free transit travelers may engage in activities such as tourism, business visits, sightseeing, or family reunions, while those requiring prior authorization (e.g., work, study, press interviews) must obtain the relevant visas before entering China.
Please click here to acquire the eligible ports and permitted stay areas.
✧ 24 Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
All open exit-entry ports in China implement this policy for nationals of all other countries around the world. Foreigners transiting through China to third countries or regions may stay in China for no more than 24 hours without a visa, provided that they hold valid international travel documents and onward international flight/ship/train tickets with confirmed seats, and will not leave the restricted areas of ports. For any foreigner who does need to leave the designated restricted area, a temporary entry permit must be obtained first at the immigration inspection authority of the port concerned.
■ Q&A on Visa-Free Policy
https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/gyls/lsgz/fwxx/202505/t20250521_11629813.shtml
■ Official Website of the National Immigration Administration
https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183412/content.html
