A Chinese visa is a permit issued
by visa authorities of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with its
laws and regulations to a foreign citizen for entry into, exit from or transit
through Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities will issue a diplomatic
visa, courtesy visa, service visa or ordinary visa according to the foreign
citizen’s status, purpose of visit and type of passport.
China’s Visa Authorities are:
1. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the local foreign affairs offices authorized by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs are responsible for issuance, change and extension of
diplomatic and service visas and for issuance of a residence permit to holders
of this type of visa.
3. The Ministry of Public
Security, and the local public security bureaus authorized by it, are
responsible for inspection on entry and exit of foreigners, issuance of visas
at the port of entry, extension and change of ordinary visas, and issuance of
residence permit to holders of ordinary visas already in China.
4. The Immigration Department of
the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is responsible
for matters relating to foreigners’ entry into and exit from the SAR.
