(J2) Foreign journalist visiting China for short-term news coverage

 (1) Passport
Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with more than 2 blank visa (Front & Back)pages, a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate,expired passports within 5 years required and the photocopy of relevant passport pages. (If you apply multiple entry visa, validity of your passport should cover the validity plus duration of stay on your visa).

(2) Visa Application Form and Photo

Please complete the Visa Application Form online “application form”, upload your electronic photo (click to check the rules for photos), then print and sign the Visa Application Form. One actual photo (size 33x48mm in color with white background as the rules required above) is also needed when walking in to submit your application.

(3) Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

If you are not applying for a visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates of residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal stay provided by the relevant authorities of the country where the Visa Centre is located.

(4) Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship).

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.

If you have obtained Chinese visas before and apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).

Visa Notification Letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or other related authorities in China and an official letter issued by the media organization for which the journalist works.

Applicants should contact the press section of the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General in advance and complete the relevant formalities.

(1) The applicant should guarantee that all information provided in the application is true and correct. Any false, misleading or incomplete information may result in denial of the visa or refusal of entry into China.
(2) The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout. If necesssary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.

(3) 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.