China business visa (M visa)

The preferred document is a TE invitation letter or an invitation verification letter obtained by the inviting party in China; a verification letter is submitted together with the host's own invitation. Without one, the Chinese host's invitation is accompanied by a mission letter from your employer or from an organisation in your country (chamber of commerce, association or public body) stating your details and the purpose of the trip.

Ordinary passport holders of countries on China's visa-free list can also travel for business without a visa for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026. The M visa remains useful for longer stays or repeated entries.

The invitation should give your name, sex, date of birth and passport number, the purpose of the trip, arrival and departure dates, places to be visited, the relationship between you and the host, who pays the costs, and the host's name, address, phone number, stamp and the signature of its legal representative.

The fee depends on your nationality and the number of entries: a one-year multiple-entry visa costs more than a single entry. Visa application centres sometimes offer optional paid services, such as help with the form, which do not speed up the mission's decision.

Hotels register foreign guests automatically. If you stay in a private home, you or your host must register your accommodation with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Visas marked for a residence permit (Q1, S1, X1, Z, D and similar) require an application for a residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the local public security bureau within 30 days of entry; the authority decides within 15 days.

For visas with a stay of up to 180 days, an extension can be requested at the local exit-entry administration at least seven days before the permitted stay ends. The total extension cannot exceed the original duration of stay shown on the visa; if refused, you must leave when your stay expires.