Secure the right visa in advance

Obtaining a visa for China requires careful preparation, as the process varies depending on the purpose of travel. Business visitors typically need an M visa, which requires an invitation letter from a Chinese company or partner, along with standard documents such as a valid passport, a completed application form, and a recent photo.

Applications must be submitted through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC), which has locations in London, Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh. Fees vary based on visa type, nationality, and processing speed. Travellers should apply well in advance and double-check requirements, as policies can change. For frequent business travelers, multi-entry visas with longer validity may be an option, simplifying future trips. Ensuring all documents are accurate and complete is essential to avoid delays in the approval process.

Stay connected: SIM cards and VPNs

China’s internet restrictions mean many Western platforms – Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, and even some email services – are blocked. Here’s how to stay connected:

If you want to keep using them, then you’ll need a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs are a bit of a legal grey area in China, but the major illegality tends to relate to selling VPN access rather than using one. Just be sure to get everything installed and ready to go before you get to China. In our experience, the most reliable VPN for use in China is Astrill, although NordVPN and ExpressVPN are also popular.

If you have a good international roaming package, you should also be able to access Google and others on mobile data. If you’d prefer to get a local Chinese phone number for the duration of your trip, China’s three mobile providers – China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom – offer SIM-only plans that you can buy by going into one of their stores. Again, you will need to register with your passport.

Must-Have Apps for Business Travel

China’s digital ecosystem is dominated by local apps. Download these before you go:

Communication and networking

• WeChat (微信) – The all-in-one app for messaging, payments, and business networking.
• DingTalk (钉钉) – Popular for corporate communication.

Payments and transport

• Alipay (支付宝) / WeChat Pay – Cashless payments are king; set these up with a foreign card.
• Didi (滴滴) – China’s Uber alternative (link to Alipay/WeChat Pay).

Translation and navigation

• Pleco (offline Chinese-English dictionary).
• Baidu Maps (Google Maps doesn’t work well in China).

Pro Tip: Test your apps before departure – some require a Chinese phone number for registration.

Managing money and payments

Over the past few years, China has fully embraced mobile payments, becoming an almost cashless society. While this makes life very convenient for people living in China, it can create problems for people who are just visiting.

Thankfully, China has introduced several measures to make payments easier for international visitors. Foreign tourists can now connect their overseas bank cards (including Visa, Mastercard and Diners Club) to popular Chinese payment platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay without needing a local bank account.

Following the release of the latest guidelines, the transaction limits for foreign nationals using mobile payment services have also been increased from US$1,000 (approx. RMB 7,233 or £790) to US$5,000 (approx. RMB 36,166 or £3,945) for single transactions, with the annual transaction limit increasing from $10,000 to $50,000.

Foreign users can complete the initial activation of WeChat Pay without a Chinese SIM card and make payments up to a cumulative limit of RMB 15,000 for a certain amount of time without verification.

Read our guide on the set-up process for WeChat here.

Major banks like Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have also improved access, allowing foreign cards to be used at more ATMs nationwide. Some hotels, shops and tourist attractions, especially in bigger cities, do accept international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.

Navigating transport

Booking internal flights and train journeys should be one of the easier aspects of your travel to China. You can search and book both through travel giant Trip.com’s app or website, which have English interfaces and accept international payment methods.

You will need to enter your passport details when booking either trains or flights (which may come as a surprise for those used to flying domestic in the UK/US), and in the case of the train, your passport is actually your ticket – either scan it when passing through the security gates (in newer stations like Beijing South) or present it at the staffed security gate when boarding the train.

Regarding trains, it is worth familiarising yourself with the codes used for the different types of trains in China so you can find the best routes; G are the quickest and newest, for example. China Highlights has a detailed guide.

Taxis in China are abundant, especially in major cities. Most people use a ride-hailing app like Didi, which can be used to book everything from taxis to luxury limos. Unfortunately, the Didi app is not currently available to download from UK app stores, but it can be used as a mini-program on WeChat and Alipay if you have either of these set up.

Most major cities in China – including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Nanjing – have subway lines linking key business districts and tourist attractions. All the subway networks are easy to navigate thanks to signage and announcements in English.

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Who needs a visa for China?

UK citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to mainland China. This requirement applies to various purposes, including business activities, tourism, and visiting family or friends. It’s important to note that visa requirements for Hong Kong and Macao differ from those of mainland China.

Where and how to get a visa for China

Visa for China are applied for via the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASCs). All applicants should prepare any supporting documents (e.g. passport, photograph) and fill in a visa application form online, before proceeding to an application centre (located in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast) to submit the application, pay any fees and provide biometric data (fingerprints) if required.​

The types of supporting documents vary depending on the type of visa. For example, applicants for a tourist or ‘L’ visa will need to provide a travel itinerary, while applications for a business or ‘M’ visa will need to provide an invitation letter from with a business entity in China. See here for more information about the types of visas and supporting documents.

Fees vary depending on the type and duration of the visa. For UK citizens, a standard single-entry visa costs £130, while multiple-entry visas valid for five and 10 years are also available (see here for a full breakdown of fees). Express and urgent processing services are available at higher fees.​

Does everyone need a visa for China?

While most travellers require a visa, China has implemented certain visa-free policies that may benefit UK business professionals:​

144-hour visa-free transit: As of December 2024, China expanded its visa-free transit policy, allowing citizens from 54 countries, including the UK, to stay in select regions for up to 10 days without a visa when transiting to a third country. This policy applies to entry through 60 designated ports across 24 provinces. To qualify, travellers must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country and meet other specific criteria.​

Hainan province: Since May 2018, Hainan Island offers 30-day visa-free entry for citizens from 59 countries, including the UK, for purposes such as business, family visits, medical treatment, and tourism. Travellers can enter via direct flights or through Hong Kong or Macao.​

Hong Kong and Macao: UK passport holders can enter Hong Kong and Macao visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. However, if you plan to travel from these regions into mainland China, a separate visa is required.​

It’s advisable to consult the latest information from official sources or your travel provider before planning your trip, as visa policies can change.​

Additional considerations

Passport validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and contains sufficient blank pages for visas and entry stamps.​

Registration upon arrival: Foreigners staying in private accommodations must register with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels typically handle this registration for their guests.​

Compliance with visa conditions: Adhere strictly to the conditions of your visa. Overstaying or violating visa terms can result in fines, detention, or deportation.​

For the most up-to-date information, always check the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or the UK government travel advice before making travel plans.

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According to the MFA, the improvements include “seven major and 15 sub-items”, but the main changes involve simplifying the visa application form by reducing the amount of background information applicants need to provide.

The changes follow the announcement in March 2023 that China would resume issuing all types of visas. Since 30 August 2023, travellers heading to China also do not have to take a Covid-19 nucleic acid test or antigen test before flying (although you may still be required to fill out a China Customs health declaration form).

How have the visa application forms changed?

The improvements to the visa application form are mainly related to educational background, family members, and travel history.

From now on, applicants will only have to give one year of travel history (cut from five years) and will only have to list their highest degree in the educational background section.

The MFA said that these changes will also significantly reduce the “textual content” of the forms (i.e., decrease the amount of information people have to wade through).

How does this affect business visas?

These improvements will also apply to M (business) visa application forms. Note that in addition to an application form, M visa applicants also need to provide an invitation letter with details of their planned visit. Click here for more details about the M visa application process and how CBBC can help with invitation letters.

Note: Visa requirements may be subject to change. Please check the website of the Embassy of China or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center nearest to you for the most up-to-date guidance.

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The changes were announced during a press conference with China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, who noted that they will further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries. The change follows the resumption of the issuance of work and business visa services for foreign nationals in January 2023. Find out how CBBC can help with business visas here.

An update shared by China Consular Affairs included the following information about visa issuance:

• Valid multi-year, multi-entry visas issued before 28 March 2020 by the Chinese visa authorities abroad resume their function.
• Visa authorities stationed abroad will resume examining and issuing all types of visas for foreigners.
• Port visa authorities shall resume the issuing of all types of port visas in line with the relevant laws and regulations.
• The visa-exemption policy for Hainan, visa-exemption cruise policy for Shanghai, visa-exemption policy for foreigners to visit Guangdong from Hong Kong and Macao, and visa-exemption policy for ASEAN tour groups to Guilin and Guangxi will all come back into operation.

Commenting on the news, Tom Simpson, Managing Director, China at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) said:

“Resuming applications for all types of visas removes another significant barrier in the resumption of normal travel between the UK and China.

CBBC has already seen business travel applications and arrivals begin to increase since January, however this news should lead to a significant increase in visits in particular for tourism.

Some barriers still remain, with PCR tests still required for travel to China from the UK. Also, the resumption of flights won’t be instant but gradual over the course of 2023 and into next year.”

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Applicants for an M visa should apply via the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) website (select the visa centre nearest to you). You will be required to fill in an online visa application form, including a recent photograph, and then make an in-person appointment at the visa centre using the reservation form (access the application form and appointments via the ‘Quick Access’ section of CVASC website). You should submit your application at least one month before your trip but not earlier than three months.

Before going to your appointment, you will need to print out and sign the application form and a separate declaration (see here) and print out the reservation form.

Other documents you should prepare include:

• Passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages
• Photocopies of the passport’s ID page
• Photocopies of previous Chinese visas (plus photocopies of any previous passports that contained Chinese visas)
• An invitation letter including the applicant’s details; details of the planned visit (including purpose, dates, locations, etc.); details of the inviting party (including official stamp, signature of the legal representative or individual, and Chinese ID if the inviting party is a Chinese individual)
• Recent passport photo (in case of any issues with the photo uploaded with your form)

At the appointment, show your reservation form, and you will be given a queue number and called forward to a desk. You will then be asked to submit your documents and have your fingerprints collected. In some cases, you may need to submit to a short interview. At the end of your appointment, you will pay the visa fee and receive a pick-up form to show when collecting your passport.

Please check the CVASC website for specific document requirements, processing times and fees.

How CBBC can help with your visa application

To support your application for an M visa, it is necessary to have an invitation letter (sometimes called a Visa Notification Form) from a Chinese company or Government Department. CBBC can provide such a letter for company employees who are visiting China on business.

Click here to apply for a CBBC visa invitation letter

Simply click the link above to get started (you will need to create an account on the CBBC website). As part of your request, you will need to upload the following documents (where applicable):

• A clear scanned copy of the photo page within the applicant’s passport
• UK residence certification letter if nationality is not British (excluding EU citizens).

CBBC Visa Invitation Letter Service Fees:

CBBC Members: £30.00 + VAT

Non-Members: £50.00 + VAT

When will I receive my Visa invitation letter?

Once you have submitted your letter request and made the online payment, our team in China will process your data and issue the invitation letter within 3-4 working days.

Please note:

The CBBC invitation letter is not your Chinese visa, it is a supporting document. Read the information above for more information on applying for your Chinese business visa.

To obtain a visa for China, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the planned date of entry

Allow enough time before your visit to obtain the letter and complete the formal visa application process through the Chinese Visa Service Centre in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.

Note: Visa requirements may be subject to change. Please check the website of the Embassy of China or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center nearest to you for the most up-to-date guidance.

The post How to apply for a Chinese business visa in 2023 appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

The Visa Centre will be open every Tuesday in March from 9am to 2pm for some specific categories of visa application and legalisation application. Please check its website news section for the updated visa requirements in advance.

The processing time for visa and legalisation application will be 7 days from the date of submission. For example, if you lodge your application on 16 March, you can collect your passport on 23 March. Collection service will be on Tuesdays from 9am to 2pm. Express service is currently not available and postal return service will take approximately two weeks from the date of submission.

*The processing time might be longer if the embassy requires further documents. In this case, the Visa Centre will contact the applicant for a new collection date.

An appointment is required for all visa applications except those on humanitarian grounds and pre-approved by the embassy through emails.  The Visa Centre will not accept any visa application without an appointment.

Applicants aged between 14 to 70 inclusive must come to the Visa Centre in person to submit their visa application and have their biometric information taken. Applicants under 14 or over 70 can entrust another person to submit their application, but they must book an appointment online in advance.

Please note that the online application form will no longer be valid or retrievable after 30 days from the date when you fill in the form. Please ensure that appointment is booked and visa applications are submitted within 30 days of filling in an online application form.

An appointment is also required for legalisation application. Walk-in service is temporarily suspended until further notice.

According to the relevant government social distancing policy, the Visa Center must maintain a proper number of applicants inside the building at any given time and may need to ask applicants to wait outside of the centre for an extended time if necessary. All applicants should make the appropriate arrangements and prepare for extended delays.

Please be reminded that since May of 2018, all application fees need to be paid in full after being successfully accepted by the Visa Centre. The Visa Centre will terminate and return applications where no fees have been paid on the day of submission. To avoid unnecessary disruption to an application, please make full payment immediately after documents are accepted.

To make sure that the Visa Centre is safe for all applicants and staff, visitors must wear proper face coverings and expect obligatory temperature checks. Applicants will be denied entry if they don’t follow the Visa Centre’s guidance.

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‘Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has decided to temporarily suspend entry into China by non-Chinese nationals in the UK holding visas or residence permits still valid at the time of this announcement. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will no longer issue Certified Health Declaration Forms for the above-mentioned personnel.

Entry by holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas will not be affected. Foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at Chinese Embassy or Consulates. Entry by non-Chinese nationals in the UK with visas issued after 3 November 2020 will not be affected.

The suspension is a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of Covid-19. The above-mentioned measures will be assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.’

To read the official statement please click HERE

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In view of the current COVID-19 situation and the need of epidemic prevention and control, adjustments are now made to the announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration on the Temporary Suspension of Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits issued on 26 March 2020.

Effective from 0 a.m., 28 September 2020, foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion are allowed to enter China with no need for applying for new visas.

If the above three categories of residence permits held by foreign nationals expired after 0 a.m., 28 March 2020, the holders may apply for relevant visas by presenting the expired residence permits and relevant materials to the Chinese embassies or consulates on the condition that the purpose of the holders’visit to China remains unchanged.

The above-mentioned personnel shall strictly abide by the Chinese regulations on epidemic prevention and control.

Other measures in the Announcement issued on March 26 will continue to be implemented. While ensuring effective epidemic control, the Chinese government will continue resuming people-to-people exchanges in a step-by-step and orderly manner.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

National Immigration Administration of the People’s Republic of China

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Below are the two announcements made by the Chinese Embassy in London, which offer advise for British nationals planning on returning to China to work.

Updated requirements for Chinese Visa Applications

To facilitate gradually resuming personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.K. are ready to accept visa applications through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh as of Aug 18th 2020 from applicants who intend to travel to China for any of the following purposes and meet the following criteria:

1. A British citizen and applicant from any of the 35 other European countries who is holding a valid Foreigner’s Residence Permit of China for work, private matters or family reunion, and needs to go to China for the same visiting purpose as shown on the Residence Permit;
2. Applicant (including accompanying spouse and children under the age of 18) who does not hold a valid Foreigner’s Residence Permit of China for work, private matters or family reunion, but has an “Invitation Letter (PU/TE)” or “Verification Confirmation of Invitation” issued by the Foreign Affairs Office of the provincial government or the provincial department of commerce of the intended place of visit to visit China for economic, trade, scientific, technological, culture or sport purposes;
3. Applicant (including accompanying spouse and children under the age of 18) who does not hold a valid Foreigner’s Residence Permit of China for work, private matters or family reunion, but has obtained “Notification Letter of Foreigners Work Permit” as well as “Invitation Letter (PU/TE)” or “Verification Confirmation of Invitation” to work in China;
4. Applicant who intends to visit China for the following humanitarian reasons:
   a) Applicant intends to visit an immediate family member in China (including parents, spouse, children, grandparents, grandchildren) who is in a critical medical condition and in need of care, or to arrange funeral matters of an immediate family member in China. Photocopies of a medical certificate or death certificate, proof of relationships (including birth certificate, marriage certificate, Chinese household registration, certificate letters from the local police bureau in China, notarial certificate of kinship, etc.), and an invitation letter from relatives in China are required.
   b) Applicant who is spouse or child under the age of 18 of a Chinese citizen or who holds a valid Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, and intends to visit China for family reunion. An invitation letter and photocopies of the Chinese Identity Card or the Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, and proof of relationships are required.
   c) Applicant (including accompanying spouse and children under the age of 18) intending to visit China to take care of or support his/her Chinese parents. An invitation letter from the Chinese parent and photocopies of his/her Chinese Identity Card, and proof of relationships are required.

5. Applicant who qualifies for a crew (C) visa. Applicants are required to fill in the online application form and make an appointment with the nearest Chinese Visa Application Centre before submitting applications in person on the date of appointment. Minor children under the age of 14 are not required to go to the Visa Centre for biometric information collection. Visa applications for other visiting purposes which are not included above cannot be accepted at the moment.

Please be advised that the above are temporary arrangements and subject to further change.

Notice on Airline Boarding Requirements (negative COVID test)

In accordance with the announcement of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the General Administration of Customs of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passengers who are to fly from the UK to China will be required to take a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 and apply for a certified Health Declaration Form starting from 21 August 2020. The following procedures are for your reference:

1. Starting from 21 August 2020, passengers who fly to China from the UK, directly or indirectly, will be required to take a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within five days before boarding. At this stage, the Chinese Embassy does not designate specific institutions to carry out the test. Passenger can choose any hospital or institution to take the test.
2. Passenger shall fill in and sign the Health Declaration Form and send a scanned copy of the signed Form, together with the Nucleic Acid Test Certificate (with negative result), and a photocopy of the bio-page of the passport to the Chinese Embassy or Consulates at the following email addresses:

Chinese Embassy: testreportuk@gmail.com

Chinese Consulate General in Manchester: health_man@outlook.com

Chinese Consulate General in Edinburgh:lsxz_edi@163.com

Chinese Consulate General in Belfast:chinacnbft@gmail.com

To speed up the process, please use “HS+Passenger name+Date of Departure” as subject line of your email, e.g. “HS+John Smith+Aug 12, 2020”.

3. Certified Health Declaration Form with a validity period of 5 days starting from the date of issue of the Nucleic Acid Test Certificate (with negative result) shall be issued by the Chinese Embassy or the Consulates and sent back to the passenger by email.
4. Passenger shall be required to present the print-out certified Health Declaration Form within the validity period during check-in or before boarding the flight and cooperate with airline staff during the inspection. Please be noted that passengers with expired Health Declaration Forms will not be allowed to board the plane and will be required to take nucleic acid tests and apply for the Health Declaration Form again.
5. Passenger is advised to bring the Nucleic Acid Test Certificate (with negative result) to the airport in case of the need for further inspection.
6. Please also be noted that a certified Health Declaration Form is not an alternative to a Chinese visa.

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