The following are the most common types of Visas: Tourist or family visit (L Visa- luxing) Business visit (F Visa-fangwen) Resident Visit (D Visa-dingju) Transit (G -guojing) X/F Student (liuxue) Z Working (renzhi) In order to obtain a Business Visa, you require an official invitation from a Chinese government department, Company or organizations that has received authorization from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only an official invitation accompanied by a letter from the company will suffice. An invitation that has not received the official "stamp" will not be accepted. You may apply for a single, double or multiple entry Visa.

Applicants for resident Visas (Resident -D Visa) must apply for residency by themselves or through their relatives in China. The application for residency should be made to the local Entry and Exit Administration division of the public Security Department in China, so if you are applying by yourself you will probably have to travel to China to complete the application. The process is quite complicated and lengthy, so if you are not completely familiar with China and the language, you would be well advised to gain the assistance of a local Chinese person. For a travel Visa (Transit- G Visa) a valid Visa for the country of destination or an invitation, and an airline ticket/travel itinerary showing transit through China is required. Along with the Visa application, you must provide an approved JW201 or JW202 (Foreign Student Visa Application Form) issued by the State Education Ministry of China, and an enrollment letter from the receiving university. An F Visa will be issued for those who study for less than 6 months, and X Visa for those who study in China for longer than 6 months. Only single entry study Visas are available.

Obtaining a work Visa (Working/Employment- Z Visa) is quite a detailed process requiring approval from a number of Chinese authorities. Your employer in China should visit the Labor Office to obtain appropriate application forms and instructions. It may take several weeks to get all the forms signed and sealed. An official invitation from the government will be issued which must be taken to a Chinese embassy/Visa office in a foreign country in order to obtain a working Visa. Once you arrive in China you will be required to register with several government agencies and the police department to obtain the official working and residence permit. You may then continue working almost indefinitely given you have a contract with the company and regularly extend the relevant documents.

Theoretically you should be able to get an extension by simply visiting the Public Security office in any Chinese town, and filling out a Visa extension form. However, Chinese Visa officers can be remarkably pragmatic. Depending on your luck it may simply involve filling out a Visa extension application form, or they may demand some sort of "evidence" to support your application. This may include a plane/train ticket, or a letter from a Chinese friend/company. Some Public Security (Police) departments will require a letter explaining the reason for your wish to extend the Visa. You may have to gain the help of a Chinese friend to write a letter explaining the reasons for you extended stay in China. The process of applying for and extending Visas is becoming a lot easier, but depending on where you go it can still be a confusing and frustrating experience. Please note that a tourist Visa is only extendable up to a maximum of 90days, after which you must leave the country.