You can obtain visas for china travel as fast as the same day if you are in an emergency situation. There are instructions about how to do this towards the end of this article but let's begin by looking at the several types of visas for China travel and their respective requirements.

Types of Visas to China

The types of visas to China can be categorized according to either the purpose of your trip or the validity and number of entries. For example, those who go to China for tourism should submit the application for the "L" visa. Travelers who plan to do business in China must apply for a "F" visa. The letter that is used for a crew visa is "C", for a work visa is "Z", for a student visa is "X" and for a resident visa is "D".

Foreign correspondants should apply for either a J-1 or J-2 visa depending on whether they intend to stay long-term or short-term respectively.

Applicants have the option of choosing between single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visas. Validity for single-entry or double-emtry visas can be either 90 days or 180 days. Those who apply for a multiple-entry visa have the option of a validity of 6 months, 12 months or 24 months. The last can only be obtain with special permission and is not offered on the application form.

How to Apply for China Travel Visas

The application process to obtain a visa to China is pretty straightforward. You are required to present a valid passport when applying for a visa. The passport has to have at least six months of validity remaining beyond your time of stay in China.

There is only one application form that can be used for every type of visa. There are just a couple of pages that are separated into 7 different sections. Section 1 requests personal data such as complete name, birth date, passport number and occupation. Information about your China travel plans should be written in Section 2. This space is provided for you to to select the type of visa you need as well as the the validiity and number of entries you desire.

There are six questions about the state of your health that you must answer in Section 3 and provide your contact information in Section 4. Section 5 is for any special declarations you want to make and Section 6 is only necessary if the form is completed by a third party. Finally, Section 7 is where you sign and date the application.

It is essential that you fill in the form with correct information and in a legible manner. Any errors can cause delays in the process or, even, rejection of your request. A recent passport-style photo that is a full face, front view with a light background should be affixed to the application.

This and the payment are all that is required for a tourist visa. Other types of visas require additional documents when applying. For example, applicants who apply for a business visa to China must also submit an Official Business Visa Notification, a business letter with the name of visiting firm in China and a letter of invitation from a company in China.

The recommendation made by the China government is that travlers submit visa applications one month before their planned travel date. The Chinese consular services does offer express (2-3 business days) and same day visa processing. You have to ask for this service and include payment for it.

Note, the Chinese embassy and consulates will not accept applications that are delivered by mail.

Therefore, you either have to personally deliver the Chinese visa application form or apply through a private China visa service.