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What is a Visa?
A visa is a stamp or endorsement placed by officials of a foreign country on a passport that allows the bearer to visit that country (Except Russia, whose visa is a separate document). Visas are obtained from the proper embassy or local the consulates of the country to be visited. "Visit" is further defined as the reason for entry, usually business, tourist or transitory. There are over 270 countries that offer visas and literally thousands of different types of visas available based upon country, type of visit, and length of visit.
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Do I need a visa for China?
If you are traveling to mainland China, whether for business or tourism, you require a visa to be obtained from a consulate in advance of your trip. You are exempt from this requirement if you travel and stay only in Hong Kong or Macao for less than 30 days.
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What is the difference between a tourist and business visa?
China visas are issued according to the purpose of the trip; either tourism or business activities. In general, "tourist" visas are issued specifically for the purpose of travel for pleasure, while a "business" visa permits a traveler to engage in normal business-related activities.
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How long is a visa valid?
A Single and Double entry china visa is good for 90 days from issuance. Within 90 days you can enter China. From the date of your entrance, you can stay in China for 30 days (the duration period is written in the visa label).
A Multiple entry china visa (Business Only) is good for 6 months from issuance. Within 180 days (please note the time difference between China and the U.S.) you can enter China. From the date of your entrance, you can stay in China for 30 days (the duration period is written in the visa label).
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I am going to mainland China, then to Hong Kong and back to mainland China for one night. Does this mean I must have a double-entry visa?
Yes, a double-entry visa means you can enter into mainland of China twice within 90 days. Since you are going to the mainland of China twice, you must have a double-entry visa. Although being part of China, Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region.
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Do I need any shots before entering China?
The National Center for Infectious Diseases has a page dedicated to travel in East Asia which you should visit.
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I travel to China frequently. How do I obtain a multiple entry visa?
Multiple entry visas are granted for business purpose only. You'll need to ask your business partners in China to contact the local government office to issue an invitation. The invitation has to be issued by the Foreign Ministry of Affairs and should be sufficient for the embassy or consulate to issue the visa. However; issuance of a multiple entry visa is at the discretion of the consulate and having a invitation from the Foreign Ministry does not guarantee issuance of the multiple entry visa.
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