Late 2024, saw a dramatic change in China’s business visa policy, with China unilaterally granting visa-free entry to numerous countries (and extending the duration of the stay).

We expect that that policy may be extended in duration (past the end of 2025) and cover more countries as some bilateral agreements have been signed - yet to come into force.

Entering China for business is critical for successfully doing business in China. It is essential to know the options for which visa method you can enter and how you can smoothly pass through across the Chinese border.

The visa-free option is not available to all countries. Even if it is, it is useful to understand the requirements for an “invitation” letter to apply for a business visa (especially if you intend to stay longer).

If there are any changes, to China’s visa policy, we will update this ultimate guide to China business visas in 2025.

We Keep This Ultimate Guide Up To Date

Though we keep our ultimate guide to business visas up to date, it is always essential to double-check the Chinese embassy or consulate’s website in your city for the latest information.

A Tourist Visa isn’t a Business Visa

If you are conducting business in China, whether it's visiting a trade fair or factory, it is essential that you enter on a business visa rather than a tourist visa.

If you have entered China for purposes other than tourism, there is a risk that your visa is cancelled; or any future visa application is rejected.

This ultimate guide is for business visas and not about international crew (D-Class), the “green card” (F-Class), cultural exchanges (G-Class), media (E-Class), tourists (L-Class), family reunion (Q-Class), talent (S-Class), visiting family (T-Class), temporary (X-Class) or study (Z-Class).

Many Western countries’ travel advisories for the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau are at Level 2, ‘exercise increased caution’. The scale is from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel). With increased concern about arbitrary rules, exit bans and the extent of consular services, it's prudent to take steps to protect yourself.

Even if you are entitled to visa-free entry into China, the documentation required for burdensome forms of business visa application is critical for minimising the risks associated with international travel.

Whether you enter China on a short-stay visa, visa-free or on an M-Class Business visa your business trip must be for ‘business’.

• Negotiating contracts.

• Visiting suppliers.
• Overseeing the supply chains.
• Building long-term partnerships.

To minimise business travel risks, even if you enter visa-free you should nonetheless prepare to have supporting documentation for doing business in China.

Russian Tour Groups Visa Exempt to China for 15 Days

Russians can join organised licensed travel company tour groups that are visa-exempt for 15 days. This ultimate guide relates to individual business travel rather than tour groups.

Entering Hong Kong/Macau and the Mainland are Different

Due to the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, there are different visa rules for Hong Kong and the mainland. Hong Kong grants a visa exemption to passport holders from over 170 countries (up to 90 days depending on your passport).

It is essential to consider how to enter the mainland as it is distinct from entering Hong Kong. Hong Kong is an important international travel hub (often with different air routes and airline ticket fees). Hong Kong is worthy of consideration in travel plans to the mainland.

Taiwan & Hong Kong

This guide does not consider the circumstances for Taiwan or Hong Kong travellers to enter the mainland.

The 5 Methods for Entering China on a Business Visa

There are several methods to obtaining entry into mainland China. These are subject to your nationality, entry duration, port of entry and business proof.

Visa-Free to Hainan

1. Visa-free entry is available for many nationalities to visit China’s tropical island province of Hainan. Hainan is a tourist destination and entry is restricted to the province. Therefore, it isn't practical as it isn’t China’s manufacturing hub.

24-144 Hour Visa On-Arrival for Selected Ports of Entry

2. The Short-stay transit visa is up to 144 hours for certain passport holders for entry at various ports. This visa on arrival is for a short visit. You can attend a trade show in the city you are transiting through. As such, it is not ideal for most business travellers as it is too short.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Card

3. The APEC business visa is an elite 5-year, 30-60-day multiple-entry visa for passport holders from ‘participating’ APEC economies. This is only available for 19 countries and requires business travellers to demonstrate their need for the visa by conducting significant APEC-related trade.

15-30 Day Visa-Free Entry for 53 Countries

4. Twenty-five countries, with mutual agreements have a 30-day visa-free exemption. This year, China has unilaterally granted a further 38 countries visa-free entry for about 30 days until the end of 2025.

Long Stay “M” Class Business Visa

5. The ‘M’ Class business visa is the most common type of visa obtained by business people to conduct business in mainland China. To successfully apply for an 'M' visa; you require an “Invitation Letter”.

But wait… Some Countries Require the “TE Letter” (Verification of Identity Letter)

It is important to note that some passport holders from emerging countries will have an additional requirement that the invitation letter be issued by a Chinese local authority (the “TE Letter”).

China Business Travel Visa Decision-Matrix

This is Zhujianger’s China business travel visa decision matrix to help you apply for the right for you.

Why You Should Know About the “TE Letter” & Hainan visa, even if you don’t need it

All countries have different visa policies regarding other foreign citizens entering their borders. To gain insight into business travel to China, even if you don’t need a “TE Letter” or a visa to Hainan - they are instructive.

Unsurprisingly, visa policies of any country are linked to the citizen's nationality and which passport they are holding. Business visas are generally onerous compared to tourist visas and may require proof of hotel bookings, flights, the ability to support yourself during your stay and an itinerary.

Furthermore, a visa may impose restrictions on the activities that a person who is visiting another country can conduct, whether that be work, education, or where within a country a person can travel. In short:

·The “TE Letter” requires significant documentation to verify that you are conducting genuine and substantial business. Understanding the TE Letter gives an appreciation for the form of the ordinary invitation letter - required for the M Class business visa; and business travel even if visa-free.

·The Hainan visa is limited to travel within the island province and restricts movement off the island. Similarly, the “G Class” transit-without visa (TWOV) restricts movement to the port of entry.

You Need to Demonstrate Business Proof for Business Visas

China requires many passport holders from ‘emerging’ economies to demonstrate an additional need to come to China for business. These include Afghanistan, Iran, Türkiye, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and some Middle Eastern and African countries.

Advanced / OECD economy countries generally don’t need the TE/PU Letter; however, the M-Class business visa requires an ‘invitation’ letter.

The “TE Letter” is the toughest requirement to demonstrate that you are doing business with China. It requires an “inviter” (factory, trade fair, or partner that is relevantly licenced) to apply for an invitation letter and be a guarantor – to apply to its local government’s Foreign Affairs Bureau for a Verification of Identification Letter.

To minimise business risks of travel, it’s sensible to have supporting documents about your bone fides for doing business in China.

How to Apply for a TE/PU Letter for an invitation letter to obtain a business visa to China

The verification letter is required for M-class business visa applications from certain emerging economies. A Chinese company must act as the inviter and request their local government foreign affairs office issue the Verification of Identity Letter (邀请核实单). You will need:

1. Your travel documents

2. The dispatch letter from the invitee’s company

3. A letter from the inviter, inviting you

4. A letter from the inviter, guaranteeing your visit

Note: The TE/PU Letter was a Covid-era document that served the same purpose. Today it is correctly referred to as the Verification of Identity Letter.

For the Chinese company to successfully apply to its local foreign affairs office sufficient supporting documentation is required to verify your identity as a genuine businessperson.

There are Risks for the Potential Inviter, and an Invitation Letter doesn’t Guarantee a Visa

There is a risk to the potential invitee company as they must act as guarantees for you and maybe liable for you. The verification letter does not in itself guarantee that ultimately the M-class visa will be granted.

Why you won’t be granted a TE/PU Letter (or M-Visa)

Without being able to demonstrate that you are doing a significant volume and value of trade; adequate documentation – and being able to verify your identity risks the TE/PU Letter or visa not being granted.

Therefore, you must prepare your TE/PU Letter and visa application thoroughly and with sufficient supporting documentation (in the right form). Even if you are travelling visa-free you should have these documents on hand to minimise business travel risks.

For example, a major listed company can dispatch more of its employees for a long duration - compared to a small private company (if it can at all).

How to Write a Quality Invitation Letter?

The factors relevant for consideration for granting the verification letter are supporting documents that are certified/notarised:

•  Your passport and identification documents.
•  Your company letter dispatching you to China to meet with the inviter on behalf of your company.
•  Your company’s license, proof of business address, and taxation record.
•  Your proof of doing business in international trade with China, and with the inviter company (invoices, contracts, purchase orders, factory/office visits, trade fair attendance, shipping records, bills of lading)
•  Your itinerary, flights, hotel bookings and transportation arrangements.
•  Your financial records of your ability to afford to travel.
•  Your inviter’s company licence, compliance record and tax record

Know your Chinese Embassy/Consulate & Port of Entry

Whether you are applying for a visa or entering visa-free; you should know your respective local Chinese embassy/consulate or port of entry. Why?

Each embassy/consulate or port of entry may have a different way of processing your visa or entry.

1. If there is no Chinese embassy/consulate in your city or country. You need to check which of the nearest embassy/consulate processes visa applications from your location.

If you are applying outside of your relevant embassy/consulate, you might need to provide further evidence of your current address which is within the responsibility of that embassy/consulate.

2. China borders 14 other countries and has an array of border crossings: international airports, rail ports, ferry ports, road crossings, bus crossings and land ports. As such, the rules at each port differ and you need to be aware of the nuisances of crossing the border at that point.

You should be obtaining an application from your Embassy/Consulate to which you are applying

You should complete the application form from the embassy/consulate that you need to apply (and the latest version). This illustrates the need to know your embassy/consulate as they are likely to only process that embassy/consulate’s form (download it from the specific embassy/consulate website).

Hainan Visa-Free

Since the island province of Hainan, in the South China Sea, has become a ‘free trade port’ – up to 30-day visa-free entry has been granted for 59 countries:

·All European Union members of the Schengen Visa scheme (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden).

·Albania, Argentina Australia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The key condition is visa-free entry must be via a direct flight to Hainan, and travellers are limited to Hainan province itself. Therefore, the Hainan visa free option is unlikely to the best for business travellers.

With many of the same countries with Hainan visa-free status, the new China wide visa-free entry largely makes the Hainan visa-free status redundant.

Transit-Without-Visa (TWOV)

Though the Transit-Without-Visa is available for up to 54 countries it’s essential to check the port of entry for its specific rules. Different ports of entry have different rules as some ports may permit entry to different passport holders for varying durations.

The Short-Stay Visa is Restrict to the City Around the Port of Entry

Other than time, the key limitation to the short-stay visa is that the visa holder is restricted to the city of the port of entry. Therefore, if you enter Beijing or Shanghai – you must stay in that city as it is merely a transit visa and you must be on your connecting journey.

54 countries can visit for a short-stay transit visa for business

Passport holders of 54 nationalities in Europe Schengen Visa Scheme (40), the Americas (6), Oceania (2), and Asia (6) can enter China without the need to apply for a Chinese visa with a short-stay transit visa.

These countries that are eligible for a “G Class” Transit visa upon arrival are:

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States

Story-Stay Visas Require Valid Travel Documents to a Third Country

If they hold valid international travel documents and possess a third-country visa along with an interline ticket with a fixed date and seat to a third country (or region) within 72/144 hours upon arrival (as well as hotel accommodation receipts).

To ‘apply’ for the short-stay visa is as simple as ticking a box on the arrivals card if you hold one of the passports granted a short-stay visa.

You must check the requirements of the specific port of entry

You must check the requirements of the *specific* port of entry that you intend to enter China as each port has different requirements.

A port may allow a different visa-free period compared to another port for the same passport holder. One port may allow a specific passport holder to enter, while another port the passport holder isn’t eligible for entry.

The visa upon arrival is merely that; a short-stay visa, for transiting through China. The availability of entry visa-free for a day or few is subject to the rules of that port of entry and your passport. You need to check the specific rules are your intended port of entry and have a ticket book that leaves before the short stay expires.

The APEC travel card

The Asia Economic Cooperation (APEC) allows VIP entry through a green channel at border crossings and visa-free access across participating APEC economies including China.

The APEC business travel card (ABTC) offers streamlined entry and visa-free travel for up to 60 and 90 days over a five-year lifetime.

The participating APEC economies are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Mainland China, Hong Kong Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.

The US and Canada are both transitional though they are APEC economies they are merely ‘transitional’ APEC economies for the purposes of the ABTC (and as such, the ABTC isn’t available for the US or Canada).

Visa Free

There are 53 countries eligible for visa-free travel to China and more are expected in 2025. There are two types of visa-free entry:

· 25 countries now have mutual visa agreements with China allowing for up to 30 days of visa-free travel to the mainland and the scheme is indefinite as it is reciprocal in nature.ti

· 38 countries have unilateral visa-free entry to China in 2025 (the scheme ends on December 31, 2025).

To ‘apply’ for the visa-free is as simple as ticking a box on the arrivals card if you hold one of the passports granted a short-stay visa.

Reciprocal Visa-Free Entry

The mutual visa-free entry countries for mainland China:

·Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, San Marion (90 days)

·Mauritius (60 days)

·Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Dominica, Ecuador, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mongolia, Qatar, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, United Arab Emirates (30 days)

Unilateral Visa-Free Entry

Temporary scheme for visa-free entry countries for mainland China:

In 2025, Malaysia, Oman, Solomon Islands, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are expected to have a mutual agreement that will become operative.

M-Class Business Visa

Business travellers to China must obtain an “invitation letter,” to apply for an M-Class Business visa. An invitation letter is a letter from a licensed Chinese factory, trade fair or partner inviting you to visit.

What should an invitation letter be for a China business visa?

A China business invitation letter must meet the following requirements:

• Be a formal, signed letter on the company's letterhead
• Include the company's full address and phone numbers in China
• State the date the letter was issued
• Include the applicant's full name, date of birth, gender, and passport number
• State the applicant's relationship to the inviting company
• Include the first entry and exit dates in China
• State the purpose of the visit
• List the cities to be visited
• State the source of financial support
• Include the company stamp and signature 

The person signing the letter must include their full name and position in the company. The name and signature must match the one on their passport.

How Can I Get an Invitation Letter if I don’t have a Chinese Partner or have Never Been to 

China?

The process of doing business with China starts before you get there. Begin to reach out to potential partners in China in relevant product categories. Investigate relevant trade fairs for the product category. Locate potential sourcing agents, freight forwarders and quality control agents.

Through this process, you will meet a potential Chinese business partner who is likely to be able to provide you with an invitation letter – as you are doing genuine business that satisfies the standard required.

You should not be paying for an invitation letter. You are doing real business with a Chinese partner not purchasing a service.

What should support an Application for an M-Class Business Visa to China?

Prepare required documents

·Passport with at least six months validity (and sufficient blank pages for the visa and entry stamps).

·Completed visa application form (get a fresh form directly from the embassy/consulate website).

·Passport-sized photo meeting visa standards.

·Proof of travel and accommodation arrangements.

Application Tips For an M-Class Business Visa to China

1. You might only be granted a short stay on your first trip with a single entry. Subsequent visa applications might be granted for between 30-60-90 days for single or multiple entries.

2. Compiling all the supporting documents takes time, apply as early as possible.

3. Consider the strength of your supporting documents in demonstrating verification of your identity, your business, and your Chinese partner and the persuasiveness of your business case.

4. Be aware of when Chinese national holidays are held and if the embassy/consulate/visa processing centre is closed.

5. The application fees vary from country to country, check your local Chinese embassy/consulate.

6. Processing times can be expedited for additional fees and you should consider how long your local wait time is expected to be.

Visa-Extensions

Coming into the last week before your visa expires, you can attend the local Exit & Bureau in China and seek a visa extension.

Tips for Crossing the Border

Every border crossing is different, and you may be entering mainland China for the first time or on a new visa or passport. Therefore consider the following:

· When does the passport expire and is there sufficient time to complete the permissible stay on the visa?

· First-time travellers are required to scan their faces and fingerprints at machines after disembarking and before transiting through customs.

· Frequent business travellers should register for the E-Channel for streamlined customs processing.

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available sources and best practices as of the date of publication. Visa policies and regulations are subject to change without notice and may vary depending on individual circumstances, consulate locations, and government updates. We strongly recommend verifying all details with official Chinese embassies, consulates, or immigration authorities before making travel plans. The authors and publishers of this blog are not responsible for any decisions made based on this information.