Who are taking care of the visa matters in Chongqing? 

According to the Administrative Law of the People’s Republic of China on Entry and Exit of Foreigners, foreigners entering China should apply for a visa to the Chinese diplomatic representative or consular offices, or other institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China.

While applying for a visa, a visa notice issued by an authorized Chinese organization should be presented. Visa notice could be obtained from the Chinese host organization, or the Chinese side of a joint venture, or the warranty company of the foreign representative office and the solely foreign-invested company, after being reviewed by the corresponding supervising commission, office or bureau and approved by the authorized organization. Invitations belonging to foreign trade sector should be submitted to the Municipal Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission for examination and approval and issuance of visa notice; invitations belonging to tourist sector should be submitted to the Municipal Tourism Administration Commission for examination and approval and issuance of visa notice; the authorized group companies issue visa notices to foreigners invited by their affiliates for trade or investment activities; other visa matters shall be dealt with by Administration of Exit and Entry of Chongqing Public Security Bureau for the issuance of visa notice.

Department of Responsibility

Administration of Exit and Entry of Chongqing Public Security Bureau

重庆市公安局出入境管理处

Address:No.555 Huanglong Rd,Yubei 渝北区黄龙路 555 号

Tell: +86 (23) 6375 2666

Office hour: 9:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00

 What kind of visa shall I apply? 

Chinese visas fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visas are further divided into the following categories:

"C" Issued to foreign crew members of means of international transportation, including aircraft, trains and ships, or motor vehicle drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, or to the accompanying family members of the crew members of the above-mentioned ships.

"D" Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently.

"F" Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities.

"G" Issued to those who intend to transit through China.

"J1" Issued to resident foreign journalists of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.

"J2" Issued to foreign journalists who intend to go to China for short-term news coverage. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.

"L" Issued to those who intend to go to China as a tourist.

"M" Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities.

"Q1" Issued to those who are family members of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

"Q2" Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days.

"R" Issued to those who are high-level talents or whose skills are urgently needed in China.

"S1" Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.

"S2" Issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days. "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

"X1" Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.

"X2" Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.

"Z" Issued to those who intend to work in China.

 Can a visa be extended? 

The validity period of a visa refers to the time limit for the bearer to enter China, and it is irrelevant to the duration period of stay in China. The duration of stay refers to the period allowed for the bearer to stay in China starting on the date of entry. If the visitor fails to complete his/her work at the duration period of stay, he/she should go to the Entry and Exit Administration of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau to extend the visa. 30 days of extension could be granted to a "F" visa if the application is submitted by the bearers host organization while 90 days could be granted if the application is submitted by the supervising commission, office or bureau of the host organization and the visa could be renewed repeatedly within one year. "L" visa can be renewed only once for 30 days.

 72-hour Visa-free Policy 

Starting from Nov, 2013, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality launched 72-hour visa-free stays for travelers from 51 countries, becoming the fifth city on the mainland to introduce the policy. Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing will apply the visa-free policy to passengers from countries including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Japan. To enjoy the policy, travelers should hold third country visas and have booked plane tickets leaving for a third country or region within 72 hours.

The 51 visa-free countries are:

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Australia, 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, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America.

Tips:

1、The passengers of the 51 countries should hold transit flight tickets to a third nation or region.

2、The passengers of the 51 countries should have their valid international travel documents and visas of the third nation or region.

3、The passengers of the 51 countries are allowed to stay in the administrative areas of Shanghai within 144 hours.

4、The passengers of the 51 countries should exit through the same airport which they enter.