To do business in China, as a foreigner, you will need a business visa and preferably an Interpreter and confirmed Exhibition or Expo booking.
An Interpreter/Translator can save a non-Chinese speaker alot of time and enable you to get from A to B quickly and efficiently. Especially, if you are traveling to China for the first time or you have been there many time but speak no Chinese and are not familiar with various cities. An Interpreter can arrange to meet you on arrival at the airport at Shenzhen, Shanghai or what ever city you arrive at. They will guide you to your planned meetings, expo event, help with buying meals, getting train tickets and booking a taxi.
In many instances, you will find that there are a substantial number of people in the service industry who do not speak any English. Of course, you can try and cut corners and save costs, by being prepared, and printing out the name of a company and their address, in Chinese to pass to the taxi driver, but that doesn't always work, because the taxi driver will probably have questions about which entrance to an Expo and they may not be familiar with the address.
You can attend an Exhibition in China, such as the massive Canton fair in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, as a Visitor/Buyer (usually free) or as an Exhibitor (you pay the costs for a stand/booth for 2 - 3 days plus you need to supply roll-up banners, advertising materials and Chinese Interpreters).
Up to the 119th session, the accumulated export volume for the Canton Fair has amounted to about USD 1.2 trillion and the total number of overseas buyers has reached 7.64 million. The exhibition area of one session totals 1.18 million m2 and the number of exhibitors from home and abroad stands at more than 24,000. In each session, about 200,000 buyers attend the Fair from more than 210 countries and regions all over the world.
The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair - established in 1957) is scheduled for twice a year - in April/May and in October annually, located at No. 380, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou. It's so huge and gigantic that not all exhibitors can exhibit at the same time. For example, the Canton Fair is normally held over 3 phases (different dates during a month, with a phase being 1 week):
Phase 1
Electronics & Household Electrical Appliances
Lighting Equipment
Vehicles & Spare Parts
Machinery
Hardware & Tools
Energy + Resources
Chemical Products
Building Materials
International Pavilion
Phase 2
Consumer Goods
Gifts
Home Decorations
Phase 3
Office Supplies, Cases & Bags, and Recreation Products
Medical Devices and Health Products
Food
Shoes
Textiles & Garments
International Pavilion
Note that you can actually find a wide selection of Translators/Interpreters spontaneously standing on the street near the Canton Fair site, just up from the metro station to the Fair (Pazhou Station - Area B & Area C of Canton Fair Complex). They are mainly students looking to earn some extra income and their English is pretty good. They will charge about 250 or 300 RMB for a full day's assistance. Once you are inside the trade Fair, you can travel between Area, via the free courtesy Shuttle Bus.
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
Sanya is situated on the southern end of Hainan island, and is regarded as the tourist centre of Hainan island. Popular tourist destinations are: Yalong Bay, which is known for luxurious hotels, while Wuzhizhou Island and and its coral reefs are destinations for scuba diving, surfing and other water sports. In 2010, the population of Sanya was estimated to be 650,000 people.
Haikou is the capital city of Hainan province. it is situated in the north of Hainan island, and is a port city. In 2010, the population of Haikou was estimated to be more than 2 million people. Haikou is divided into 4 Districts: Longhua, Xiuying, Qiongshan and Meilan.
The following document are required for the visa on arrival, at the port of entry:
1. Passport
2. Passport photographs x2
3. Processing fee (about $20 USD)
4. Second form of ID (eg. photo driving licence), may be required
Citizens of the following countries are exempt from applying for a Hainan Visa on Arrival and they also do not need a prior visa, as issued by the Chinese Consulate, provided that they are traveling to Hainan on a TOURIST GROUP (more than 5 people), organized by an international Travel agency, registered in Hainan Province, and approved by China National Tourism Administration, and also their stay cannot exceed 15 days:
Australia
Austria
Canada
Denmark
France
Finland
Germany
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Russia
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Can the Hainan Visa on Arrival be extended?
Yes it can.
Unlike, the Shenzhen Visa on arrival or the Zhuhai visa on arrival or the Shanghai 144 hour visa exemption - it is possible to apply for a visa extension for the Hainan Visa on arrival.
The 15 day visa on arrival can be extended for a further 15 days, up to a maximum of 30 days, at the visa section of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in either Haikou or Sanya.
Is it possible to also apply for a Visa on Arrival for Business purposes, in Hainan?
Yes, it is possible to get a visa on arrival at Haikou and Sanya, if you visit Hainan for business investigations, trade, investment negotiation, technical exchange, travel or enter Hainan due to an emergency, provided that your stay does not exceed 15 days.
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
The Chinese government have implemented a 72 hours Visa Free Transit policy, which means that eligible passport holders can visit designated cities in China for up to 3 days, without a visa and without needing to apply in advance for a visa at the Chinese Consulate, in their country of residence.
Note that the following Chinese cities are part of the Visa Free transit policy:
- Beijing - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Shanghai
- Guangzhou - (can stay in the whole province)
- Chengdu - (can stay in the whole province)
- Chongqing - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Harbin - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Shenyang - (can just stay in this city)
- Dalian - (can just stay in this city)
- Xian
- Guilin - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Kunming - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city
- Wuhan - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Xiamen - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Tianjin - (cannot leave the administrative area of the transit city)
- Nanjing
- Qingdao - (can stay in the whole province)
- Changsha - (can stay in the whole province)
- Hangzhou
Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for the 72 hour Visa Free Transit:
Schengen Agreement Countries:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Other European Countries:
Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), Albania.
American Countries:
United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile.
Oceania Countries:
Australia, New Zealand.
Asian Countries:
Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
When does the 72 hour period start?
The 72 hours starts from 00:00 the day following the entry date in almost all the airports.
What documents are required for the 72 Hour Visa Free Transit:
- Passport
- Visa for a 3rd country
- Arrival/Departure Card (including name, nationality, passport no., visa no. & issuance place, flight no., purpose of visit, date of birth, gender)
- Onward travel ticket
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
The Zhuhai Visa on Arrival (Port visa or Landing visa) is similar to the Shenzhen Visa on Arrival and is the same cost: 168 RMB for applicants of most countries, but UK nationals have to pay 469 RMB. You apply for the visa at the Gongbei Port, in the Gongbei immigration building.
The visa is actually named: The Zhuhai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Visa, and is available for many citizens (Australian, NZ etc).
Special Economic Zones (SEZ, 经济特区) set up to encourage development and foreign investment with tax concessions and other government measures. These began in 1980 as a provincial government initiative. SEZs tend to be prosperous, have large expatriate communities, and have more Western restaurants and facilities. They are:
Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou (Guangdong)
Xiamen in Fujian
Hainan (entire island province)
Shanghai (Pudong district)
The city of Zhuhai is comprised of: Gongbei, Jida and Xiangzhou. The main Districts of Zhuhai are:
Jinding (金鼎; Jīndǐng)
Tangjiawan (唐家湾; Tángjiāwān)
Xiangzhou (香洲; Xiāngzhōu)
Jida (吉大; Jídà)
Gongbei (拱北; Gǒngběi)
The following countries have a Visa Exemption (They do not need to apply for a visa or visa on arrival):
Brunei (stay up to 15 days)
Japan (stay up to 15 days)
San Marino (stay up to 30 days)
Seychelles (stay up to 30 days)
Singapore (stay up to 15 days)
Below is a list of countries eligible to apply for the Zhuhai Visa on Arrival, and the current visa fees in RMB:
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Spain, and others pay RMB 168.
Angola: RMB 681
Armenia: RMB 420
Bolivia: RMB 414
Brazil: RMB 369
Bulgaria: RMB 504
Cameroon: RMB 480
Chile: RMB 429
Congo: RMB 747
Cote D’Ivoire: RMB 737
Ecuador: RMB 414
Ethiopia: RMB 487
Gabon: RMB 512
Kazakhstan: RMB 429
Mexico: RMB 371
Moldova: RMB 455
Montenegro: RMB 160
Panama: RMB 579
Poland: RMB 475
Romania: RMB 512
Russia: RMB 393
Ukraine: RMB 409
United Kingdom: RMB 304
Uzbekistan: RMB 512
Venezuela: RMB 585
Citizens of the following countries are currently not eligible to apply for the Visa On Arrival:
France
United States
On arrival, you just need to present your Passport (with more than 6 months validity remaining), completed Visa Application Card and pay the visa fee.
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
The Serviço de Migração is the government agency responsible for processing visa applications in Macao, whilst the Public Security Police Force is responsible for enforcing immigration laws in Macao.
Macau is an autonomous region on the South coast of China, about 1 hour by Ferry boat across the Pearl river Delta from Sheung Wan port in Hong Kong. "The Historic Centre of Macao" is inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005, and there are more than 20 ancient monuments and urban squares. In addition, Macau is famous for its massive casinos, shopping malls on the Cotai Strip, which joins the islands of Taipa and Coloane and has acquired a nickname, "Las Vegas of Asia." In 2016, the population of Macau was estimated to be 650,000 people.
All visitors must hold a passport valid for 1 month.
Visa Exemptions:
1 Year stay:
- Holders of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Re-entry Permit, regardless of nationality
6 Months stay:
90 days stay:
- European Union European Union citizens
- Albania
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Cape Verde
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Grenada
- Iceland
- Israel
- Japan
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Macedonia
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Serbia
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Uruguay
30 days stay:
- Australia
- Belarus
- Canada
- Chile
- India
- Indonesia
- Kiribati
- Malaysia
- Monaco
- Namibia
- Philippines
- Russia
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United States
14 days:
Nationals of the following countries must apply for a visa in advance though the Chinese Diplomatic Mission:
- Bangladesh
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Vietnam
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
Since February 2016, the State Council of Shanghai has adopted a 144-hour visa-exemption transit policy (6 days stay) for eligible passport holders. The purpose of this Temporary entry permit or visa exemption is to support and fund the construction of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center.
The Visa exemption is available at the following ports of entry in Shanghai:
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
- Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal
- Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal
- Shanghai Railway Station
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
On arrival at a Shanghai port of entry, the Shanghai immigration inspection authority has set up dedicated inspection lanes for 144-hour visa-exemption transit passengers within the entry inspection areas at all the ports of entry. There is no government visa fee for the Visa exemption transit stay in Shanghai. Note that the foreign visitor must provide the Immigration officer with the following documents:
1. Passport
2. Onward air/vessel/train ticket to a third country (region) with confirmed date and seat within 144 hours upon arrival.
Can the applicant travel and stay anywhere in China for 144 hours?
No, the visitor must stay within the administrative precincts of Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province for 144 hours.
The following 51 countries are covered by the Visa Exemption policy, in Shanghai:
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, Luxembourg, 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.
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
As a tourist, you may be eligible to apply for the Shenzhen Visa on arrival. Generally, if you are traveling to China for Business, you need a Letter of Invitation and a business visa stamp, from the Chinese Consulate.
However, if you are not prepared or you didn't have time to get to the Chinese Embassy, in your country of residence then you could visit Shenzhen for up to 5 days, Single entry, as a Tourist, and still attend meetings, business expos and exhibitions. The visa on arrival cannot be extended.
Note that the Visa on Arrival does not allow you to enter the whole of China. You are not permitted to travel outside the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. In other words, you cannot just jump on a train to Guangzhou or Dongguan or take a flight to Shanghai.
Citizens of the following countries can get a Visa On arrival:
Germany
Switzerland
Netherlands
UK
Austria
Italy
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Russia
Spain
South Korea
Indonesia
Thailand
Malaysia
Passport holders of India and Philippines are not eligible for the application and even get fined for arrival without a valid Chinese visa.
You can get the Visa on Arrival at the following ports of entry:
Lo Wu (7:30-23:30)
Huanggang Border (24hours)
Shekou Ferry Port (9:00-16:30)
The procedure at the above port of entry is that you need to complete the white paper form, with your personal details, the take a ticket from the machine and wait until your number is called.
Once your number is called, you present your passport to the Chinese officer, and they check your visa eligibility, take a photo of you, with a web cam, and then you return to your seat.
The next step, involves waiting for your number to be called again, and then you need to make the payment of the visa application fee, which is about 168 Chinese Yen (RMB) except that UK citizens pay a higher fee of 304 RMB. Payment can be made in cash or credit card.
The last step occurs when your number is called again, and you simply collect your passport with your visa label. Finally, you need to queue up and present your passport and Immigration Entry card to the Immigration officer, who stamps your passport, with an entry date stamp, and then you proceed through security, and arrive in Shenzhen.
So, the total time spent from the moment that you get to the Immigration Entry office is about 15 minutes, at quiet times (early mornings during the week and not public holidays) up to about 1 hour at busier times.
Note, that if you are arriving at Lo Wu port from Hong Kong, the train travel time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Central, and you would need to change lines twice.
VisaConnect: Migration Agents and Lawyers
