To apply for any type of Chinese visa, the followings are required: One completed visa application form, one recent passport sized photograph, a valid original passport with blank pages. More documents are required if applying for:
Tourist visa ------ L: Airline ticket or the itinerary.
Business visa------F: An invitation letter/ fax from a Chinese Government department or companies authorized by Chinese Government .
Work visa -------- Z: An employment permit from the Ministry of Labour or the State Bureau of Foreign Experts of China together with an invitation letter from the company authorized by the Chinese Government. (The copies of these letters are needed)
Student visa-------X: JW-201 or JW_202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China and a letter of admission from a Chinese University / College. (The copies are needed) If the studying period is less than 6 months, the category of the visa will be F instead of X.
Transit Visa -----G: A valid visa for the country of destination and the letter from the department of work unit. Duration of transit visa is about 7 days.
Journalist Visa --- J-1 or J-2: A letter from the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of P.R.C. or the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai or Guangdong Municipality Government and a letter from the work unit.

Visa validity
A single or double entry visa is usually valid for entry within 3 months from the date of issue. The multi-entry visa is usually valid for 6 months.

Duration of stay / number of entries
Duration of stay of a visa may vary. It is possible to extend the duration of stay of a visa in China. Visa is always required wherever you enter the Chinese mainland even from Hong Kong or Macao.

Requirements towards passport
A. There must be at least one totally blank page in the passport. Pages for endorsements or amendments cannot be used as a visa page.
B. Single or double entry visa requires a passport valid for at least 6 months(For some occasions the validity varies). For multiple entry visa, a passport should be valid for at least 9 Months.

Accompanying person using the same passport
The photo of the accompanying person using the same passport should be affixed to the form. The full visa fee will apply.

Where to apply for a Chinese visa
Applicants could come in person or through a third party (e.g. travel agencies) to apply for the Chinese visa.It normally takes 4 working days to process the application, and there is express service too (48 hours,). Visa is normally not issued on the same day unless the same-day air ticket is presented.

Group visa
A tourist group should comprise at least 5 members. We require:
1. Confirmation letter /Fax from an authorized Chinese travel agency or tourist bureau.
2. Photocopies of the passports of all group members which should be cut in original passport size.
3. Typed name list of the group in TRIPLICATE. If there is any blank on the last page of the name list, draw a straight line from the left corner down to the right corner.
4. A front page covering information about the group.
5. The serial number given to group members should be listed in order on the group visa form.
6. The group visa form pattern can be obtained upon request. It takes 1 weeks to process a group visa.
7. Group members must hold their original passports when they arrive at the port of entry.
8. If any group member intends to travel alone or leave China individually for special reasons after entry into China, the group organizer must apply through local Public Security Bureau.

NOTES
1. The application for a visa may be declined if the applicant fails to provide with true and complete information on the visa application form.
2. The applicant should check the issued visa upon collection and, if necessary raise any queries at the same time. Once accepted, they should follow the content of the visa while visiting China. If there is no immediate inquiry relating to the issued visa, the applicant is held responsible under any circumstances thereafter.
3. The person holding X, Z, D, or J-1 visa shall go through residential formalities in the local public security departments of China within 30 days of the date of entry.
4. The applicant should not engage in activities incompatible with his / her status when he/she enters China.
5. For foreign visitors employment in the territory of China is prohibited without approval.