Visa Guides for China

The Z visa is the only legal way to work in China, but it is just the first step in a chain of registrations, a health check, and a work permit. Here is the full process, the documents you need, and how to keep your status valid once you arrive.

Getting a Chinese student visa starts with university admission, not the consulate. Here is the full document list, the X1-versus-X2 difference, costs, and how to convert your visa into a residence permit after you arrive.

Your Chinese visa only gets you into the country; to actually live there you convert it into a residence permit within 30 days of arriving. This guide explains what the permit is, which visas qualify, how long it lasts, and how to apply.

The China M visa covers commercial visits like client meetings and trade fairs, as long as you are not paid to work there. Here is what the application needs, the 10-year option for US travelers, and when 30-day visa-free entry lets you skip it.

Overstaying your visa in China carries a RMB 500-a-day fine, an exit bar until you pay, and possibly detention or a decade-long re-entry ban. Here is what happens and how to avoid it.