Notice on Further Adjustment of Visa and Entry Policies for Foreigners to China
In order to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, the Chinese government has decided to make the following adjustments on the visa and entry policies for foreigners to China as of 0:00 Beijing time on March 15, 2023:
1.Valid multi-year multi-entry visas issued before March 28, 2020 by the Chinese visa authorities abroad resume function.
2.Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia resumes the review and issuance of various types of visas for foreigners to go to China. Please refer to the Instructions for Visa Application (Annex) for detailed requirements.
3. Port visas shall resume to be issued in line with the relevant laws and regulations.
4. The visa-exemption policy for Hainan, visa-exemption cruise policy for Shanghai, visa-exemption policy for foreigners to visit Guangdong from Hong Kong and Macao, and visa-exemption policy for ASEAN tour groups to Guilin, Guangxi shall resume operations.
Annex：Instructions for Visa Application
Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia
March, 14, 2023
Annex
Instructions for Visa Application
1.Those who hold ordinary passports and apply for ordinary visas (see the table below), China Hong Kong visas, and China Macau visas, please fill in the form and make an appointment online through the website of the Visa Application Center (www.visaforchina.org), and arrive at the Visa Application Center according to the appointment time Submit materials to apply for a visa.
(1)Please choose to apply for the corresponding type of visa according to your main purpose of going to China.
Type of visa | Visa Description |
C | Issued to Crew member |
D | Issued to those who intend to reside in China permanently |
F | Issued to those who intend to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities |
G | Issued to those who intend to transit through China |
J1 | Issued to resident foreign journalists (resident for more than 180 days) in Chinese news organizations |
J2 | Issued to foreign journalists visiting China for short time (stay no more than 180 days) |
L | Issued to those who intend to travel to China |
M | Issued to those who intend to go to China for commercial and trade activities |
Q1 | Issued to those who are family members（including spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law） of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purpose of foster care. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days |
Q2 | Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent residence in China. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 day |
R | Issued to High-level talents |
S1 | Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days |
S2 | Issued to those who intend to visit their family members (including spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law) who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days |
X1 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 day |
X2 | Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 day |
Z | Issued to those who intend to work in China |
(2)When applying for a visa, you need to prepare the following materials:
I.Basic application materials
(I) Passport: The remaining validity must be more than 6 months with at least 1 blank visa page and a Photocopy of the bio-page of the passport.
(II) COVA Visa Form and photo: 1 COVA Visa Form（please log on to https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to fill out the form online) and 1 1 recent, color (light background, dark clothing) photo.
(III) Proof of Legal Stay or Residence: If you are a non-Ethiopian citizen, you need to provide the original and photocopy of valid proof of legal stay, residence, work or study in Ethiopia or valid visa.
II. Other supporting materials
C visa
Guarantee Letter from transport company or Invitation letter issued by relevant department in China.
D visa
The original and photocopy of the Confirmation Form for Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Status.
F visa
An invitation letter issued by a relevant entity or individual in China. The invitation letter shall contain the following contents:
(I) Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.
(II) Visit information of the invitee: reason for going to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting party or inviter, source of expenses, etc.
(III) Inviting department or inviter information: the name of the inviting party or inviter, contact number, address, seal of the party, signature of the legal representative or inviter, etc.
G visa
An onward air (train or ship) ticket with confirmed date and seat to the destination country or region.
J1 visa
The visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the official letter issued by the media where the reporter works.
J2 visa
The visa notification letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China or the relevant authorized department and the official letter issued by the media where the reporter works.
L visa
Itinerary materials such as round-trip air ticket orders and hotel orders, or invitation letters issued by parties or individuals in China. The invitation must contain the following:
(I)Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.
(II)The invitee's itinerary information: arrival and departure dates, travel locations, etc.
(III)Inviting party or inviter information: the name of the inviting party or inviter, contact number, address, seal of the party, signature of the legal representative or inviter, etc.
M visa
Documents on the commercial activity issued by a trade partner in China. The invitation must contain the following:
(I)Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.
(II)Visit information of the invitee: reason for coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting unit or person, source of expenses, etc.
(III)Inviting party or inviter information: the name of the inviting party or inviter, contact number, address, unit seal, legal representative or inviter’s signature, etc.
Q1 visa
(I)An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen with a Chinese permanent residencepermit who lives in China.The invitation must contain the following:
a.Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.
b.Visit information of the invitee: reasons for coming to China, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended period of residence, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.
c.Inviter's information: inviter's name, contact number, address, inviter's signature, etc.
(II)A copy of the inviter's Chinese ID card or a copy of the foreigner's passport and permanent residence permit.
(III)The original and copy of the family member relationship certificate (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) between the applicant and the inviter.
Q2 visa
The same as the supporting materials (I) and (II) of Q1.
R visa
Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents.
S1 visa
(I)Invitation letter issued by foreigners residing in China. The invitation must contain the following:
a.Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.
b.Visit information of the invitee: reasons for coming to China, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended period of residence, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.
c.Inviter's information: inviter's name, contact number, address, inviter's signature, etc.
(II)A copy of the inviter's passport and residence permit;
(III) The original and copy of the family member relationship certificate (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) between the applicant and the inviter.
S2 visa
(I)Invitation letter issued by foreigners residing in China. The invitation must contain the following:
a.Personal information of the invitee: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;
b.Visit information of the invitee: reasons for coming to China, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended period of residence, relationship with the inviter, source of expenses, etc.;
c.Inviter's information: inviter's name, contact number, address, inviter's signature, etc.
(II)Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page, residence permit or visa.
(III)Photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) showing the relationship of immediate family members between applicants and inviting individual.
X1 visa
(I) Original and photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in China.
(II)The original and photocopy of the "Visa Application Form for Foreigners Studying in China" (JW201 or JW202).
X2 visa
Original and photocopy of Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China.
Z visa
Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners
(3)Special Note
I .The invitation letter can be faxed, photocopied or printed, but the consular officer may require the applicant to provide the original copy of the invitation letter.
II.The consular officer may require the applicant to provide other supporting documents or supplementary materials, or require the applicant to take an interview if necessary.
III.Consular officers of the embassy will decide whether to issue a visa and the validity period, duration of stay and number of entries of the visa according to the applicant's specific situation.
2. Those who hold diplomatic or service passports and apply for visas, or apply for Chinese diplomatic, courtesy, or service visas, please log on to https://cova.mfa.gov.cn to fill out the form online, then submit the application directly to the embassy without an appointment.
According to Agreement Between The Government of The People’s Republic of China And The Government of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on Mutual Visa Exemption For Holders of Diplomatic And Service Passports, Citizens of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia who hold diplomatic or service passport, shall be exempted from visa requirement for a period of stay not exceeding thirty(30) days from the date they enter to China.
For more countries that have agreements on mutual visa exemption with China, please refer to List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries from CS.MFA.GOV.CN (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/bgzl/201202/t20120207_961630.shtml).
For other questions, please contact:
Phone: 011-3203724; Email: addis-ababa@csm.mfa.gov.cn.