Understanding China visa types

✅ Updated May 2026

China issues a different visa for each purpose, named by a letter. The most common are L (tourism), M (business and trade), F (non-commercial visits and exchanges), X1/X2 (long- and short-term study), Z (work), Q/S (family of Chinese citizens or residents), and J (journalists). Choose the visa that matches your real purpose — working or overstaying on the wrong visa carries fines and entry bans. Apply at a Chinese embassy, consulate, or visa center before you travel, with a passport valid at least six months and blank pages. Many nationalities now also enjoy visa-free entry or transit (see the visa-free article).