Business Visa (F-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice, for a period of no more than 6 months.

1. Checklist of documents required for application

(1) Original passport remaining to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of application and with sufficient blank visa pages.

(2) One completed visa application form with a recently-taken passport photo stuck on it; all the items on the application form should be completed neatly with genuine information; if the applicant has a Chinese name, the Chinese name should be filled in; false or incomplete information and illegible characters may lead to refusal of a visa.

(3) Letter of invitation from a company or institution in China or Visa Notification Form issued by an authorized unit in China (Visa notification refers to the form of visa notification issued by the Chinese government departments, companies and social organizations authorized by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. For detailed information, please consult the foreign affairs office of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government where your host is located).

(4) An applicant holding a passport other than UK passport should provide the original and a copy of his or her permanent residence or work permit which should be valid for at least half a year(except for those who are visa or permit exempt for residing or working in the UK).

(5) Applicants applying for short-term study in China should also provide:

A)Admission Notice (original and copy);

B)Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW-201/JW-202, original and copy, which indicates the period of study being less than 6 months).

2. Application procedure and processing time

(1) Application procedure

Book online appointment at the website of Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) and then submit application to CVASC. Application without appointment will not be accepted. For more information, please visit www.visaforchina.org.uk . CVASC accepts postal application.

(2) Processing time

Regular visa processing time is normally 4 working days. For example, applicants lodging applications on Monday will collect the visas on Thursday. Express visa processing time is normally 3 working days. Applicants requesting the express service must lodge visa applications at the CVASC counter before 12:00 noon, Monday to Friday.

3. Important notes

(1) Consular officers may request an applicant to provide additional supporting documents. The applicant should provide this as soon as possible.

(2) Whether a visa is to be issued or not, and what type of visa to be issued shall be decided by Consular officers in the light of China's relevant laws and regulations. Application may be refused without detailed explanation.

(3) The applicant should check all the information of the issued visa upon collection and if necessary raise queries at the same time. If there is no immediate query relating to the issued visa, the applicant is held responsible under any circumstances thereafter.

(4) The visa application form should be fully completed and signed by the applicant upon completion (application for an applicant under 18 years of age should be signed by one of his or her parents). Items which are not applicable should be filled in with N/A.

(5) Please be advised to apply for a visa about one month in advance of the intended date of entry into China. The applicant is held responsible for any consequences resulting from the failure to submit visa application at an appropriate time, which may lead to either the issued visa becoming expired or it would be too late to get a visa before the intended entry date.

(6) Consular officers decide on the visa's period of validity, duration of stay and number of entry in the light of China's laws and regulations.

4. Fees

(1) Please pay on collection.

(2) Chinese Visa Application Service Centre accepts cash or debit card for payment.

(3)Schedule of visa Fees and Service Fees (Unit: British Pound):

Fee category Amount UK Citizen US Citizen Third Country Citizen Visa  Fees Single entry 30 65 20 Double entries 45 65 30 Multiple entries / 6Months 90 65 40 Multiple entries / 1 year 150 65 60 Extra visa fee (3rd working day collection) 15  (for Express Service) Application  Service  Fees Regular Service (4th working day collection) 35.25 (VAT inclusive) Express Service (3rd working day collection) 47.00 (VAT inclusive) Postal Service  (apply by post) 52.88 (VAT inclusive)

Notes:

1. Visa Fees are collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy.

2. Application Service Fees are charged by the Centre.

3. The total amount of the fees to be paid by an applicant = visa fees + application service fees.