Exemptions of Visa for China

1. Bilateral agreement and Visa-free policy to citizens of certain countries

According to the bilateral agreements between China and foreign countries, as well as Visa-free policy, citizens of some countries who meet requirements set out in the bilateral agreements and notices of the Chinese Government, may enter China without a visa. Foreigners are kindly suggested to reach the respective government unit of the passport-issuing country for specific information.

2. Transit passenger

(1) Foreigners who hold connected passenger tickets and are in transit to a third country or region by an international aircraft, ship or train via China may be exempted from visas should they stay in China for no more than 24 hours within the restricted area of the port of entry.

(2) Foreigners are kindly suggested to find the latest information about 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free stay in the transit city or province via certain port of China through the related website of the Bureau of Immigration and the relevant ports.

3. Tour Group to the Zhujiang River Delta, Hainan Island and Guilin

(1) Foreigners in Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR, holding ordinary passports of the countries having diplomatic relations with China and participating in group tours organized by the travel services registered in Hong Kong or Macao,  shall not apply for visa to enter the Zhujiang River (Pearl River) Delta Area for a stay within 6 days. The Zhujiang River (Pearl River) Delta Area refers to the following cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou. The above-mentioned policies are also applicable to the above-mentioned group's travel to Shantou, providing direct exit from Shantou and the scope of activities not exceeding the administrative area of Shantou.

(2) Foreigners holding ordinary passports of the following 59 countries can enjoy visa-free entry to Hainan Province through its international ports and are entitled to stay in the administrative area of Hainan Province for 30 days, should they book their tour through local travel agencies. The 59 countries are, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Monaco, Belarus.

(3) 2-people and above tour groups of 10 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines) organized by the travel services approved by the Guilin Municipal Tourism Administration shall not apply for visa to stay in the administrative area of Guilin within 6 days, providing direct entry/exit from the Guilin Airport.

4. Holder of valid APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card is equivalent to a 5-year multiple entry visa. The cardholder may enter China within the validity of the travel card with a valid corresponding passport at the same time. The duration of each stay is up to 60 days.

5. Holder of valid Residence Permit for Foreigner in the People's Republic of China issued by the Public Security authority in China

6. Holder of valid Permanent Residence Card for Aliens of the People's Republic of China

The above-mentioned foreigners are required to apply for separate Z, X1, Q1, S1, D or J1 visas before entering China should they intend to stay in China for work, study, family reunion or long term visit, permanent residence or resident correspondent purposes.

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Application Procedures

1. Online application at https://cova.mfa.gov.cn

Confirmation page and full form must be printed with signature on the confirmation page and item 9 of the form. Please check the information on the application form carefully, so as not to take it back and fill it out again after arriving at the Consulate General. 

2. Submission

All applicants with sufficient application material may submit visa application directly to the Consulate General.

A. Documents shall be submitted to the Consulate General in full. Applicants will also be requested to have their fingerprints collected (Visa for Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR of China are not included). The following applicants can be exempted from fingerprints collection:

a. Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70; 

b. Diplomatic passport holders or applicants eligible for diplomatic, official or courtesy visas;  

c. Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected at the Chinese Consulate General in Davao with the same passport in the past five years；

d. Applicants who suffer from 10 fingers mutilation or whose fingerprints cannot be collected.

Those exempted from fingerprints collection may authorize others to submit visa applications.

The Chinese Consulate General kindly request that applicants shall have their fingerprints collected in person. Those forge fingerprints or use other people's fingerprints will be denied entry into China and bear all the consequences incurred.

B. Business hour: 9-11 a.m. from Monday to Friday except holidays

C. Mail applications will not be accepted.

D. If necessary, the Consulate General may require an interview with the applicant.

E. Address and contact information:

Address: Acacia Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City

Email: dvo@csm.mfa.gov.cn

Tel: (082) 298-7471 (English&Tagalog, 9:00-12:00&14:00-17:00 Monday to Friday)

Basic requirements for VISA Application

1. Passport – Original passport that is valid for at least another 6 months with at least one blank visa page, and a photocopy of the passport's information/photo page and emergency contact page. The previous passport is required to be submitted.

2. Visa application form and the confirmation page with signatures. 

3. One photo – The photo should be recent (within 6 months), front view, white background, in 48mm x 33mm size chromotype without head covering (Please click here for Specific photo requirements). Stapled/taped/clipped/detached photos will not be accepted.

4. Additional documents required by visa categories are as follows:

Visa categories and documents required

*Remarks on the Invitation Letter:

The above mentioned invitation letter must contain the following information: 

1) Information on the applicant : full name, gender, date of birth, etc.
2) Information on the planned visit: purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, relations between the applicant and the inviting entity or individual, financial source for expenditures, etc.
3) Information on the inviting entity or individual: name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative or the inviting individual.

The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter.

The proofs of kinship refers to marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by Chinese Public Security Bureau or notarized certification of kinship.

Additional requirements

1. First Time Chinese Visa Applicant

Please provide the following additional documents:

A. Bank Certificate of Deposit Balance (including the past 6 months bank statement) and the receipt for payment of this certificate;

B. BIR-stamped Income Tax Return Form;

C. Certificate of Employment (detailing the salary condition and the duration of employment);

D. Business Registration Certificate (for individual operator only);

E. Professional ID/Student ID (if applicable);

F. Other relevant documents proving the applicant's economic condition/ employment/study, or supporting the applicant's travel to China, or explaining the travel purpose (if applicable);  

2. Previous Chinese Visa

If the applicant obtained a Chinese visa before, please submit a photocopy of the visa. If the visa is on the previous passport, please also submit the previous one.

3. Non-Filipino Nationals

Please submit proof of residence permit, employment or study in the Philippines. Temporary visitors to the Philippines should apply for Chinese visas from the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in the countries in which they live, unless the applicant can provide proof of employment/study or other occupational status. The visa officer will make the final decision on a case-by-case basis. The applicant should also submit a photocopy of the Philippine visa/immigration entry stamp on the passport.

4. Certificate of Name Change

If the name in the current passport is different from that in the previous one, the official document (birth certificate/marriage contract) issued by authorities for name change must be submitted.

5. Original Chinese Passport

First-time applicant whose former nationality was Chinese or who was born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), needs to submit the original Chinese passport and a photocopy of the passport's information/photo page, and extension page (if applicable). Bank statement is not required compulsorily.

6. Visit Tibet

Applicant may join a tourist group organized by local Authorized Travel Agency. Individual applicant must contact the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region (Tel: 0086-891-6834313; Fax: 0086-891-6834632) in advance and provide a Visa Notification issued by it.

7. Applicants applying for special tour to China

Applicants for hiking, cycling, horse-riding, fire balloon voyage, or other expeditions should provide an original of Invitation Letter for Tourist issued by Authorized Travel Agency.

Authorized Travel Agency refers to:

A. Tourism administration bureau of Chinese province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

B. CITS Group Corporation, CITS Head Office, CTS Head Office, CYTS, etc.

8. Seafarers from the Philippine shipping companies to join vessels in ports in China and stay in China for less than 10 days, should submit Letter of Guarantee from employers and the original and copy of Seafarer's Registration Certificate, and apply for "G" visa. Those who would stay in China for more than 10 days should also submit invitation letters from China and apply for "M" visa.

9. American passport holders may apply for 10 years multiple entries L/M/Q2/S2 Visa, or 5 years multiple entries X1 Visa, only if his/her passport is valid over 1 year from the date of application.

Visa Fee (Unit: Peso) and Processing Time

1) Regular processing time is 4 working days (for example, submission on Monday and pick up on Thursday).

2) Express service (third working day release): an additional fee of 1100 pesos per visa will be charged.

3) Rush service (second working day release): an additional fee of 1700 pesos per visa will be charged.

4) Express and Rush service is not available for the First time Chinese visa applicant/ X1, X2 and Z visa applicant. Please apply as earlier as possible.

5) Same day release service is not available.

Other Important Information

1. The application materials must be authentic and complete. Forged and incomplete applications will be denied.

2. The consular officer will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.

3. According to the relevant Chinese law and regulation, the consular officer is not required to give reasons for refusing the issuance of a visa.

4. Please check the visa after picking it up. Should there be any discrepancy, please contact the Visa Office immediately.

**Meaning of terms of Chinese Visa:

The entries specified in the visa means the number of times that the visa holder may enter China till the expiry date of the visa;

The expiry date or enter before specified in the visa means the last valid day on which the visa holder may enter China. Unless otherwise specified by the issuing authority, a visa is valid from the issue date until 24:00 (Beijing time) of the expiry date;

The duration of (each) stay specified in the visa means the period of time during which the visa holder is allowed to stay in China after each entry. It begins from the next day of each entry.