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Updated April 2024
China, with its rich history, impressive advancements, and abundant chances, attracts visitors from all corners of the world. Whether you’re arranging a work visit, starting a journey, or reconnecting with family, it’s crucial to grasp the details of Chinese visas.
Book cheap flights from UAE to China
If you’re a UAE resident looking to travel to China, continue reading on Wego to learn more about the China visa for UAE residents.
Table of Contents
Required documents for China visa
As per the Consulate-General of China on Dubai’s website, the Embassy of China in the UAE and the Consulate-General of China in Dubai will issue the following types of ordinary visas:
M visa (business and trade)
The M visa to China is issued to visitors entering China for the purpose of business and trade activities.
Documents required
- invitation letters such as business activity documents and invitations to economic and trade fairs issued by trade partners in China.
L visa (tourism)
The L visa to China is a tourist visa issued to visitors entering China for tourism purposes.
Documents required
- round-trip air tickets, hotel reservations and other travel materials; or invitation letters issued by units (travel agencies) or by individuals (copies of the ID cards of the invited shall be attached) within Chinese territory, which shall include the following details:
- personal information of the invitee, including name, sex, date of birth
- the invitee’s itinerary, including arrival and departure dates, travel destination
- information of the inviting unit or inviter, including the name of the inviting unit or inviter, telephone number, address, seal of the unit, and the signature of the legal representative or inviter.
Q1 visa (family reunification)
The Q1 visa to China is issued to family members of Chinese citizens, family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who apply for residence in China for family reunification and those who apply for entry and residence due to foster care.
Please note that the family members include spouses, parents, parents of spouses, offspring, spouse of offspring, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.
Documents required
In the case of family reunification, the following documents must be provided:
- invitation letter (original, fax, and copy are acceptable) from a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China (they shall live in China), which must contain the following information:
- personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality.
- information about the invitee’s visit: the reason for coming to China, proposed date of arrival, proposed place of residence, proposed duration of stay, relationship with the inviter, and source of expenses.
- information of the inviter: name of the inviter, ID number, contact number, address, and the signature of the inviter.
- original and copy of the proof of the relationship between the family members of the applicant and the inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the police station (public security bureau) or notarized certificate of kinship)
- copy of the inviter’s Chinese identity certificate (such as a Chinese ID card or household register; overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots can provide a passport, hometown permit, Taiwan compatriot permit and proof of work or residence in China for more than 6 months), or copy of foreigner’s passport and Chinese permanent residence permit.
In the case of foster care, the following documents must be provided:
- original and copy of the notarized certificate for foster care issued by the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or the notarized/certified certificate for foster care in the staying country or China;
- original and copy of the passport of the principal;
- letter of consent to accept foster care and a copy of the ID card from the trustee who accepts the foster care;
- if both or one of the parents of the foster child is a Chinese citizen, a copy of the certificate that the child’s Chinese parent/s were/was settled abroad at the time of birth must also be provided.
Q2 visa (short term family visit for Chinese citizens and residents)
The Q2 visa to China is a short-term entry visa (not exceeding 180 days) to visit relatives of Chinese citizens residing in China and relatives of foreign nationals with permanent residence status in China.
Documents required
- invitation letter (original, fax, and copy are acceptable) from a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China (they shall live in China), which must contain the following information:
- personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality.
- information about the invitee’s visit: the reason for coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of a visit, relationship with the inviter, and source of expenses.
- information of the inviter: name of the inviter, ID number, contact number, address, and signature of the applicant invited.
- copy of the inviter’s Chinese identity certificate (such as a Chinese ID card or household register; overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots can provide a passport, hometown permit, Taiwan compatriot permit and proof of work or residence in China for more than 6 months), or copy of foreigner’s passport and Chinese permanent residence permit.
S1 visa (long term family visit for foreigners working or studying in China)
The S1 visa to China is a long-term entry visa (exceeding 180 days) to visit the spouse, parents, children under 18 years of age, and parents of the spouse of a foreigner staying in China for work or study.
Documents required
If the inviter is already working or studying in China for a long period of time:
- invitation letter from a foreigner residing in China (original, fax, and copy are acceptable) , which must contain the following information:
- personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality, etc.;
- information about the invitee’s visit: the reason for coming to China, proposed date of arrival, proposed place of residence, proposed duration of stay, relationship with the inviter, and source of expenses.
- information of the inviter: name of the inviter, passport number, nationality, contact number, address, and the signature of the inviter.
- copy of the inviter’s passport and residence permit;
- original and copy of the proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the police station (public security bureau) or notarized certificate of kinship, etc.).
If the application is made at the same time as the foreigner coming to China for work or long-term study:
- copy of the application materials for work or long-term study visas
- original of the relationship certificate (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, notarized certificate of kinship, etc.) between the applicant and the applicant for a work or long-term study visa;
- statement of the situation issued by the relevant enterprise/institution
If the applicant is a family member accompanying a foreign resident journalist:
- a letter of visa notification issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
S2 visa (short term family visit for foreigners working or studying in China)
The S2 visa to China is a short-term entry visa (not exceeding 180 days) issued to visit family members, including spouse, parents, parents of spouse, offspring, spouse of offspring, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren of foreigners staying in China for work, study and more.
Documents required
In the case of short-term family visit:
- invitation letter from a foreigner residing in China (original, fax, and copy are acceptable), which must contain the following information:
- personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality
- information about the invitee’s visit: the reason for coming to China, proposed date of arrival, proposed place of residence, proposed duration of stay, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses
- information of the inviter: name, passport number, nationality, contact number, address, and the signature of the invited.
- copy of the inviter’s passport and residence permit;
- original and copy of the proof of kinship between the applicant and the inviter (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship issued by the police station (public security bureau) or notarized certificate of kinship).
X1 visa (long term study)
The X1 visa to China is a long-term study visa issued for applicants wishing to stay in China for more than 180 days.
Documents required
- original and a copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting institution in China
- original and a copy of the “Visa Application Form for Foreign Students to China” (Form JW201 or JW202)
X2 visa (short term study)
The X2 visa to China is a short-term study visa issued to applicants who stay in China for a period of not more than 180 days.
Documents required
- original and a copy of the acceptance letter issued by the recruiting institution in China.
Z visa (work)
The Z visa to China is a work visa issued to applicants who enter China for work purposes.
Documents required
Applicants applying for the Z visa to China are required to provide any one of the following documents:
- copy of the Notification of Work Permit for foreigners
- copy of the Invitation Letter for Foreigners to Engage in Offshore Oil Operations issued by CNOOC
- copy of the Certificate of Registration of Permanent Representative Offices of Foreign (Regional) Enterprises issued by the market supervision and management department
- original and copy of the Confirmation Letter of Appointment of Staff of Foreign Cultural Center issued by the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- copy of the Confirmation Letter of Representative Qualification issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
- copy of the business performance approval issued by the culture and tourism administrative department (a copy of the Certificate of Short-term Work of Foreigners in China must also be submitted for entry for short-term business performances of less than 90 days).
F visa (exchanges, visits, study tours)
The F visa to China is a visa issued for the purpose of entry into China for exchanges, visits, and study tours
Documents required
- letter of invitation issued by the relevant department or individual in China
G visa (transit)
The G visa to China is a transit visa issued for transit via China.
Documents required
- interline ticket to the destination country or region with a confirmed date and seat or letter of guarantee from a foreign shipping company
C visa (crew members)
The C visa to China is a visa issued to crew members of international aircraft, crew members of international ships who are performing crew, aviation or shipping duties, and their accompanying family members
Documents required
- letter of guarantee issued by the foreign airline or shipping company or an invitation letter issued by the relevant enterprise/institution/department in China.
J1 visa (foreign resident journalists of Chinese news organizations)
The J1 visa to China is a visa issued to foreign resident journalists of Chinese news organizations staying in China for more than 180 days.
Documents required
- visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and an official letter issued by the affiliating media of the journalist.
J2 visa (foreign journalists)
The J2 visa to China is a short-term entry visa issued to foreign journalists entering China for news coverage for not more than 180 days.
Documents required
- visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or the relevant department/institution and an official letter issued by the affiliating media of the journalist.
R visa (talents and professionals)
The R visa to China is a visa issued to foreign high-level talents and professionals in urgent need of a visa.
Documents required
- relevant materials of the competent departments of the Chinese government accepting foreign high-level talents and professionals in urgent need.
D visa (permanent residence)
The D visa to China is a visa issued for entry into China for permanent residence.
Documents required
- original and copy of the permanent residence status confirmation form issued by the Chinese public security authorities for foreigners.
Emergency humanitarian visa
An emergency humanitarian visa is issued for emergency purposes, such as mourning or visiting critically ill relatives.
Documents required
- identity document of the deceased or critically ill person (such as a Chinese ID card or foreigner’s passport),
- death certificate or diagnosis certificate issued by the hospital
- notice of critical illness
- proof of kinship
Please consult the border inspection authorities of the intended place of entry on the application for the visa-free transit policy.
How to apply for a China visa from the UAE?
Please note that the Embassy of China in the UAE and the Consulate-General of China in Dubai can only accept visa applications from UAE citizens holding ordinary passports and citizens of third countries with a record of legal entry into the UAE (for instance, residence or visa exemption under the agreement).
For particularly urgent humanitarian purposes, the applicant may confirm with the Embassy of China in the UAE or China Visa Application Service Center in Dubai in advance according to the consular district division, and process on-site.
Applicants in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain
The Embassy of China in the UAE will process visa applications for residents in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain.
Applicants shall follow the steps given below to apply for a visa:
- must fill in the online form and make an appointment in advance through the:
Please note that applications not filled in online will not be accepted.
Embassy of China in the UAE
Plot No. 26, Sector No. W-22, Al Khaleej, Al Arabi Street – Abu Dhabi, P.O.Box 2741, Abu Dhabi
Please contact them at +971-2-4434276 for more details.
Applicants in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah
The Consulate General of China in Dubai will process visa applications for residents in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah
Applicants shall follow the steps given below to apply for a visa:
- fill out the online form and make an appointment through the China Visa Application Service Center website in advance.
- submit the application documents to the Center at the appointed time and enter their fingerprints
Please note that applications not filled in online will not be accepted.
Consulate General of China in Dubai.
Villa 14, Street 7a, Community 357, Umm Al Sheif Road, Safa 2 Area, P.O.BOX 9348, Dubai, UAE
Please contact them at＋00971-4-3944733 for more details.
China visa exemption
The following categories from the UAE are exempt from applying for a visa to China:
- foreigners subject to various types of mutual visa exemption agreements. To see the complete list of countries, please refer to the official China Consular Affairs website.
- foreigners with valid Chinese permanent residence documents;
- foreigners with various types of valid residence permits;
- foreigners with valid APEC business travel cards
