Q1. Do I need a visa to visit the mainland of China?

A: Normally a foreign citizen will need a visa to travel to the mainland of China unless he/she enjoys visa-exemption based on relevant agreements or regulations (please refer to the section "Guidance on Chinese Visas" for details).

Q2. Where can I apply for a visa? What's the application procedure?

A: If you are holding an ordinary passport and applying for an ordinary visa for China (mainland only), you need to fill in the electronic visa application forms on the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website, then come to the relevant Visa Center in the U.K.  with the printed-out forms, submit the application documents and have your biometric information taken at the Visa Center and make proper payments.

If you are applying for an ordinary visa for Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR, you can submit the application directly to the relevant Chinese Visa Application Service Center.No appointment, electronic forms or biometric information is needed.

If you are a diplomatic and service (official) passport holder, or you are a diplomatic, service or courtesy visa applicant, please fill in the visa application forms online through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center website, print out the completed forms, and hand them in at the Chinese Embassy or Consulates-General during their working hours. No appointment is required.

If you are applying for a diplomatic or service visa for Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR, please submit the application directly to the Chinese Embassy or Consulates-General.No online application form or appointment is required.

Q3. What type of visa should I apply for?

A: It depends on the purpose of your visit. You are kindly advised to refer to "Visa for China(Mainland only)" for explanations of the visa types. The Chinese visa officer will decide what type of visa will be issued.

Q4. What kind of documents do I need for a visa application? Is there anything in particular I should pay attention to?

A: Different types of visa require different supporting documents. You are kindly advised to look up for relevant information from "How to apply for a visa for China (mainland only) ".

Q5. How long in advance should I apply for a Chinese visa?

A: It is advised that you submit the application 1-2 months in advance of your planned date of entry to China. Applications made too early may result in expiry of the visa on the day of your actual travel. However, if you submit application on a date too close to your intended travel date, you might run the risk of having to postpone your trip due to untoward delay in visa processing.

Q6. How long does it usually take to get a visa after I submit my application?

A: If the documents are well prepared, it will normally take four working days for the application to be processed, but the approval time may vary for individual applications.

If there is an emergency or you intend to travel urgently, you may apply for the express service that takes three working days, in which case you are subject to extra fee.

It is important that the applicants collect their visas within the informed date. Failure to do so will affect any further visa applications. If a visa has been left uncollected for more than 3months after the proposed collection date, it will be disposed of as unclaimed.

Q7. What is the number of entries? What should I do if I have used up all the entries?

A: The number of entries refers to the number of times a visa allows youto enter China before its Expiry Date. A visa is normally issued with single entry, double entries or multiple entries. If the number of entries has been used up, or if the entries have not been used up but the visa has expired, the visa becomes invalid. You will need a new visa if you intend to travel to China again.

Q8. I am planning to go to Beijing on a British passport, then stay in Hong Kong SAR for 7 days, and visit Guangzhou afterwards, how many entries do I need to apply for?

A: You need to apply for a double-entry visa, one for entering Beijing from UK and the other for entering Guangzhou from Hong Kong SAR.

If you onlyhave a single entry visa and intend to complete the itinerary above, you will need to apply for a new visa while in Hong kong at the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong SAR.

Holders of British passport are exempt from visa to visit Hong Kong as tourists for up to 180 days.

Q9. When will my visa start to take effect? When does it expire?

A: Unless otherwise specified, a visa is valid from the date of issue. Visas expire if one of the following situations occurs:

(1) The time of your arrival in China is later than 24:00 (Beijing Time) of the Expiry Dategiven on the visa page.

(2) The number of entries have been used up.

(3) The visa has been cancelled or declared invalid by the authorities of the Chinese government.

(4) Other circumstances in compliance with the Chinese laws and regulations.

Q10. Can I change my itinerary after I collectmy visa?

A: Unless otherwise specified on the visa, you may change your itinerary but must make your entry into China before the visa expires.

Q11. What does it mean by "Duration of Each Stay"? What should I do if I need a longer duration for my stay?

A: The Duration of Each Stay refers to the maximum number of days you are permitted to stay in China after each entry. If you are holding an ordinary visa and need to extend your stay after arrival in China, you will have to apply for an extension at the local public security authorities before your duration of stay runs out.

Holders of D visa, J1 visa, Q1 visa, S1 visa, X1 visa, and Z visa with a duration ofstay for 000 days must apply to the local public security authorities for residencepermit within 30 days of entry. Failure to do so will count as illegal overstay.

It is a breach of Chinese laws and regulations if youoverstay what the visa permits. As a result, you may face fines or other penalties.

Q12. What are the things foreign citizens should pay attention to whilst in China?

A: Foreign citizens must abide by the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China while they are in China, and must not engage in any activities other than the stated purpose of the visit in the visa application form, or activities requiringapprovalfrom the authorities of the Chinese government. If foreign citizens are seeking to work in China, they need to apply for a work permit.

Q13. Can I enter China as soon as I get a visa?

A: After you obtain a visa, you should be able to enter China through a port open to foreign citizens. However, it is up to the border authority to decide whether or not a specific visa holder can enter China.

Q14. I have renewed my passport now but the Chinese visa on my old one is still valid. Can I go to China with both passports without applying for a new visa?

A: You can travel to China on the expired passport containing valid Chinese visa in combination withthe new passport, providedthat the identity information (name, date of birth, gender, nationality) on both passport identical. If there is change to any of the above details, you must apply for a new visa.

Q15. The visa has expired whilst I'm in China. Can I still stay?

A: As long as you enter China before the expiry date of the visa, you may stay for the full length of the duration of each stay allowed by the visa.

Q16. What should I do if I lose my passport whilst in China?

A: You should report to the local Chinese public security authority as soon as possible and apply for a new passport (or an international travel document) from the embassy or consulate of your home country in China before applying for the re-issuance of a visafrom the above public security authority.

Q17. May I check with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in the U.K. about someoneelse's visa application?

A: Regrettable, checking on visa application status or information on other people's behalf is not allowed.

Q18. Do I need to attend interviews and provide fingerprints when applying for a Chinese visa?

A: Consular officers may interview applicants if necessary. Chinese laws and regulationsrequire the collection of 10 fingerprints of each applicant at the VisaCenter or Embassy/Consulates-General.

However, the following applicants can be exempted:

(1) Persons under the age of 14 or over the age of 70.

(2) Persons with injuries on all ten-fingers or other situations fingerprints cannot be collected.

Some diplomatic, service and courtesy visa applicants are also exempted from the biometric requirement. Please refer to section " Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visa" for details.