Journalist Visa （J-visa）is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories:  J-I visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children; J-2 visa is issued to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.

    i. Please provide the following documents:

    (i) Original passport which has more than 6 months left before it expires from the date of application and sufficient blank visa pages.  

    (ii) One completed Visa Application Form (e-Form / Download) with a recently-taken passport photo. The application form should be fully filled in 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. 

    (iii) Applicants for J-1 visa (resident journalist) should provide a visa notification form issued by the Information Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry (the media employing the journalist should apply for the visa notification from the Information Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry). His or her accompanying family members need to provide  visa notification form issued by the Information Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and certificate(s) to prove their status as dependants of the journalist. 

    (iv) Applicants for a J-2 visa (journalists visiting China for temporary news coverage) should provide a visa notification form issued by competent Chinese authorities.  

    ii. Method and Time for Submission of Application

    (i) Method: An applicant may submit his or her visa application to the Centre in person or entrusts someone or a travel agent to submit on his or her behalf. You may book in advance via the Centre's website for submission. If you select to apply by post, you need to follow Guidelines on Postal Application in addition to preparing for all the documents provided for above. You may be required to go to the Chinese Embassyor the Consulate General for an interview if the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General deems it necessary.  

    (ii)Time: Regular visa processing time is 4 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Thursday. Express visa processing time is 3 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Wednesday. Please note that express service is only available to those customers who submit applications to the visa counter before 12:00 at noon, Monday to Friday. Therefore, if you request express service, please select the time slot before 12:00 at noon for submission when making an online appointment. 

    iii. Schedule of fees, period of validity and duration of stay

    (i) Pay visa and service fees when collecting passport;

    (ii) You may select cash or debit card when making payment;

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

Notes:

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

    2. Visa Fees are collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General;Application Service Fees are charged by the Centre.

    3. We do not provide either same day service or next day service. 4 working days regular service and 3 working days express service are available for applications submitted directly to the Centre. Postal applications will be processed and returned within 5 to 14 working days assuming the documentation is in good order and no further requirements are necessary .

    4. Cash or debit card can be accepted. ( For postal applications debit card only )

    (iv) J-1 visa issued by the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General is valid for 3 months with single entry and 000 duration of stay. J-1 visa holders should go through formalities for a residence permit at a local public security bureau within 30 days after entry into China, to avoid illegal stay in China. The validity period of the residence permit is the duration of stay of the J-1 visa holder. J-2 visa issued by the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General is valid for 15 days with single entry, and duration of stay on the visa is decided by consular officers in the light of actual need. J-2 visa holders are required to pay a deposit at the Chinese Customs on arrival at the port of entry if they need to bring any professional equipment to work within China. The deposit will be refunded when they leave China.

    (v) 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. 

    (vi) Whether a visa is to be issued or not to be issued, and what type of visa to be issued shall be decided by Consular officers in the light of China’s relevant laws and regulations.

    iv.Please note：

    (i) Please apply for a visa about one month in advance of your intended date of entry into China, and do not apply 3 months earlier than your intended date of entry into China. You should take upon yourself any consequences resulting from your failure to submit visa application at an appropriate time, which may lead to either your already-issued visa becoming expired or it would be too late to get a visa before your planned departure date.  

    (ii) The visa application form should be fully filled in 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. 

    (iii) Consular officers may request an applicant to provide additional supporting documents when called for. The applicant should provide it as soon as possible. 

    (iv) If two or more foreign news agencies appoint the same foreign citizen as their resident journalist in China, each of them should go through normal application procedures, and indicate in the application the status of the resident journalist in China.