Beijing: independent visa application for Russians in 2021

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, which means a visa to Beijing for Russians in 2021 is required according to Chinese immigration law. Permission can be obtained through the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, as well as through its Consulates in St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok. It is also possible to obtain a visa to Beijing through one of the many intermediary companies providing such services.

Beijing is the capital of China and one of the most populous cities on the planet

Types of visas

The People's Republic of China issues many categories of Beijing visas for Russians. The type of document primarily depends on the tasks for which the applicant plans to cross the border.

Categories:

• C – for aircraft crew members;
• G – this visa is required when transiting through Beijing;
• F – will be required for persons coming on exchange, on study visits, on training tours, etc.;
• D – those arriving for permanent residence;
• M – for carrying out commercial activities;
• L – for tourists;
• R – for persons who have particularly valuable knowledge and skills for the PRC;
• Z – work visa;
• J1, J2 – for foreign journalists and other media workers working in China;
• Q1, Q2 – for family members of Chinese citizens (or those with a residence permit) for the purpose of family reunification;
• S1, S2 – for those foreigners who want to come to visit persons studying or working in the PRC or other private visits;
• X1, X2 – study visa.

Types of visas

Depending on the purpose of the trip, Russians in 2021, as well as next year, will receive a special type of visa to enter Beijing. It is open not only to tourists, but also to employees of aviation companies. Thus, you can visit the capital of the People's Republic of China using the following categories of permits:

• For the purpose of study (X1 and X2).
• As part of the aviation crew (C).
• To carry out exchanges, study visits or study tours to be held in Beijing (F).
• Persons entering the capital of the country for permanent residence (D).
• To conduct business and commercial activities (M).
• For tourist purposes (L).
• For work in Beijing (Z).
• Individuals who have valuable knowledge and skills that are needed for China (R).
• Journalists and media workers (J).
• For family reunification or family reunification of Chinese citizens and holders of a residence permit (Q).
• For Russians who are traveling on a private visit (S).

Where is the visa issued?

Beijing visa for Russians 2021 is issued at embassies and consulates located in cities such as:

• Moscow (embassy).
• St. Petersburg (consulate).
• Khabarovsk (consulate).
• Irkutsk (consulate).
• Vladivostok (Consulate General of the People's Republic of China).

You should find out the details of the work of each institution before submitting papers by studying the website of the embassy or consulate.

Another place where visas are regularly issued is the airport. But the trip must be tourist, transit or group.

For residents of border regions that are located near China, it is possible to obtain a visa at checkpoints. They are located in Neihe, Manzhouli, Suifenhe, Hongchun.

Consular fee and payment

Depending on what kind of visa is issued, as well as on the number of visits - single or multiple. Payment is made at the airport upon arrival (for transit) or at institutions where documents are accepted.

The cost of a visa is shown in the table, which indicates that the price varies depending on the urgency of the consideration.

• Regular term: One-time – 3.3 thousand rubles.
• Double entry – 6.6 thousand rubles.
• Multiple – 9.9 thousand rubles.

The consular fee is paid on the day the visa is issued. It is fashionable to make payments in cash and credit cards (only in Moscow).

When applying through a visa center, additional services are paid.

Transit

You need to know the special rules for obtaining a transit visa to Beijing for Russians in 2021. The visa-free regime for all international airports of the PRC (including Beijing Airport) is valid only in case of transfer to another aircraft at the same airport.

• Visa-free transit is not possible; a visa is required when transferring in Beijing, if the traveler transfers from an airplane to another transport;
• If you plan to stay in Beijing for less than 24 hours, then a transit visa to Beijing for Russians in 2021 will not be required ; moreover, there is a 72-hour visa-free regime in the city, but you need to register (register) with the local police within one day;

Transit restrictions

If the question of whether a visa is needed when transiting through Beijing is more or less clear, then the rules of movement during this 72-hour period should be mentioned additionally:

• Passengers are not allowed to leave the city;
• The starting point for the validity period of a transit visa for a stopover in Beijing is the time of receipt of the transit permit;
• Departure to a third country is permitted only on a flight through Beijing airport;
• With a transit permit, transfers to other modes of transport are not allowed.

Visa-free transit

You can get to Beijing in 2021 without a Chinese visa. In this case, you need to obtain a transit permit to visit the country, which will be valid for passengers arriving by plane.

Throughout the territory of the PRC, air transit is 24 hours, but in some cities and provinces it is increased. At the airports of Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Harbin, Chongqing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen, Xi'an, Kunming, Guilin, Dalian, Shenyang, Qingdao Guilin, a stamp is placed for visa-free transit, the validity of which is 3 days (72 hours).

Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces (subject to arrival and departure via Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing) - visa-free transit lasts 144 hours.

Among the features of the 72-hour visa-free transit through Beijing, the following are worth noting:

• Unlike other cities, the time limit for staying in Beijing begins from the moment of transit registration.
• Before purchasing a ticket, you must notify the airline company that you do not have a visa and that you wish to obtain transit.
• Have a copy of your air ticket in English.
• You cannot fly in and out from the same territory, since the visa will not be counted as a transit visa. It is necessary to fly to a third country.
• The presence in the foreign passport of a visa of the country that is the main one for the trip.

A Beijing transit visa will not be issued if the passenger must travel by means of transport other than air. After receiving visa-free transit, Russians are required to go through the registration process at the local police station. This must be done within 24 hours.

The Chinese police strictly monitor foreigners who have received this type of visa. If you check into a hotel, the staff will register for you. Airplane passengers are prohibited from leaving the city; they must fly to their destination country only from Beijing.

Airport visa

There is also a special type of visa for Russians, which is issued only at Beijing airport. Such a permit is issued by a travel agency if a group of foreigners is flying.

Each of them must have an invitation and a copy of the airline ticket in order to obtain an airport visa at Beijing International Airport. It allows you to cross the Chinese border only once.

List of documents for a visa to Beijing

For each visa subtype, there is a specific set of required documents, based on a general list. To obtain a visa to Beijing in 2021, Russians will need to provide:

1. A foreign passport valid for another six months after the applicant leaves China (for group visa-free lists - one month);
2. A properly completed application form and photographs 3.5×4.5 cm (you can fill out the application form in English);
3. Copies of all earlier Chinese visas;
4. If the applicant has changed his passport after a previous trip to Beijing or is submitting documents for the first time, then photocopies of the passport pages with personal information (where there is a photograph) are needed.

Additions for various visa categories are described below.

• For C: letter of guarantee issued by the transport company (received by it from the relevant Chinese organization).
• For F: an invitation with information about the invitee (first name, surname, address, etc.), purposes of the visit, dates of travel, a description of the approximate route of travel, a description of the relationship between the inviting party and the invitee, sources of covering expenses. Information about the inviting individual or organization is also provided;
• For D: copy and original of the permanent residence permit issued by the Ministry of Public Security.
• For G: tickets for transport with a fixed date of any airline, where the further route is indicated.

• 
  For J1, J2: notification from the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, as well as a letter from the media where the journalist is employed.

• For L: airline ticket reservation, route program, hotel reservation or invitation from a Chinese travel agency, which must contain all personal information about the invitee, dates of visit, visiting routes, information about accommodation, and so on.
• For M: business papers received from a Chinese trading partner or invitations issued by a suitable organization. The letter must contain all the same information as the invitation letter for category F. A letter with detailed information about the inviting party, as well as a photocopy of the identity card or permanent residence permit of the inviting person.
• For Q1/Q2: invitation letter from a citizen of the People's Republic of China or a person who has permanent residence. Documents (original and copy) confirming kinship and family ties. The rest of the documents are the same as for “F” and “M”.
• For R: standard certificates that can confirm the presence of valuable skills.
• S1/S2: see the list of documents for Q1/Q2 adjusted for this type of visa;
• X1/X2: Original and copy of admission documents issued by the Chinese educational institution.
• For Z: work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and a confirmed invitation from a Chinese organization. A company inviting a foreigner to work will require a number of documents, which can be found on the website of the Chinese Embassy.

Tourist visa to China for Russians (L)

If you plan to visit the country in 2021 for the purpose of tourism , then you will need the usual package of documents:

• a foreign passport valid for more than 180 days (as well as its copy);
• copy of internal passport (pages with photo and registration);
• booked return tickets;
• hotel reservation (for the entire duration of the trip around the country);
• completed application form V.2013 - can be done manually (in block letters, without marks);
• color photo - it must be glued to the application form;
• a copy and original of insurance with coverage of more than 15 thousand dollars (especially important in St. Petersburg and Moscow). Insure your trip →
• Make a travel plan just in case.

In the same case, if you received a Chinese visa in the past, you need a copy of it (and a copy of the old passport, if it is pasted there). But when you first receive a visa, it is important to attach proof of financial solvency and a certificate from your work.

Pensioners, the unemployed and students additionally need to provide:

• letter from the sponsor with a copy of the passport;
• a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work (indicating his income);
• or account statement ($100 per day).

For a private visit (acquaintances, friends, etc.) you will need a free-form invitation from the Chinese side, which must be stamped by the police. You also need to have a copy of your Chinese friend's document (ID). However, check with your city's consulate in advance to see if they accept invitations. For individual entrepreneurs, you must attach a copy of the individual entrepreneur certificate.

Where to look for cheap tickets? Use Air Sales and Skyscanner.

Self-application of a visa to Beijing

After the traveler decides whether he needs a visa to Beijing, he must begin collecting the relevant papers.

For tourist groups, entry permission is obtained through a company at the invitation of a Chinese travel agency according to the list of tourists with their personal data.

You can independently obtain permission to enter Beijing through the Consular Section of the Embassy according to the standard procedure:

• Collect papers;
• Submit them to the Consulate closest to your place of residence (Consular Section of the Embassy);
• After some time, receive a passport with a visa stamp.

There is an alternative (easier, but also more expensive) way to obtain a Chinese visa - through a company that includes the applicant in visa-free lists, which allows you to receive a stamp at the border. You can use it if you plan to enter the state, including through Beijing (as well as Hong Kong and Guangzhou).

Required documents for tourist visa

A tourist visa to China does not require many documents.

This is what a single-entry tourist visa to China for 30 days looks like

Their basic list is as follows:

• Foreign passport. The main requirement for this document is that it must be valid for at least another 6 months from the date of intended entry into China. Provided you want to stay for a longer period, your passport should expire in at least one year.
• A special form that must be filled out in one of the languages ​​of your choice (English or Chinese). Both manual filling and filling on a computer with further printing are allowed. If you fill it out manually, then try to write carefully and avoid mistakes, otherwise you will have to start all over again. You can fill out the form either independently or by asking the consulate staff for help (a paid service).
• Photo. The requirements are standard - size 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height. The photo must be in color on a white background, wearing regular clothes without logos or other marks. It is also not recommended to be photographed wearing glasses and/or a hat or hijab. If you cannot be photographed without these elements, then you need to make sure that your face can be seen without problems.
• If you have previously received a Chinese visa, you must provide all previous visas. For 2021, this requirement is not as mandatory, but the more visits you have previously made to China, the easier it will be for you to apply for a new visa.
• You need to make photocopies of the pages of your passport with your photo. Photocopies can be either black and white or color. Be sure to print out the pages with your photo and basic information about your passport, and it is advisable to print out the page about your marital status.

There are also additional documents that must be provided to obtain a Beijing tourist visa:

• Information about purchased tickets (train or air) to China. Information about return tickets must also be provided, otherwise there is a high risk that the visa will not be issued.
• Information about booking a hotel or renting an apartment (room) in one of the Chinese cities.
• If you are traveling with a travel agency, it must provide a special letter of guarantee, which will indicate all the required data.
• Detailed travel plan (optional). A visa will be issued just fine without it, but if you want to make a good impression on the visa officer, it is recommended to make a plan.

Beijing visa cost

A visa to Beijing for Russians can be single-entry or multiple-entry. Depending on this, there is a gradation of cost. The expense item will need to include an amount from 1,500 to 6,000 rubles.

Transit visa

A transit visa to Beijing will be required if a tourist plans to stay in the Chinese city for more than a day. It is necessary to submit a standard package of documents, attaching to it a flight ticket and entry paper to the final destination country.

Visa-free entry

It is possible to transit through Beijing without obtaining the appropriate permit if:

• further movement of the tourist will be carried out only by air transport;
• the flight to a third country will be carried out from the same Beijing airport where the tourist arrived;
• The tourist will stay in the city for no more than 72 hours.

If a Russian citizen plans to stay in Beijing for 72 hours, then he must register with the local police department. He is prohibited from leaving the city. The tourist must present an air ticket for the next flight, a coupon from the previous flight, and a passport. Departure to the final destination takes place only from the same airport where the tourist arrived.

The following circumstances may be an exception:

• the airline noted in advance a technical stop with a subsequent transfer to a domestic flight;
• flights from different airports are organized by the same airline;
• even if the airline is not the same, but all flight actions are entered into one form and have a common code.

If you still have to put a transit type visa stamp, then consular fees will not be charged for it.

Refusal to issue

Although the PRC is distinguished by its high loyalty in immigration legislation towards Russian citizens, cases of refusal cannot be completely ruled out.

First of all, you need to remember well the answer to the question of whether a visa is needed when transferring in Beijing. It is necessary if there is a transfer to another transport or if the traveler plans to leave the city. Violating the rules will result in a lifetime ban on entry not only to Beijing, but also to the rest of China.

Common reasons for a possible negative decision on a visa application:

• Problems with documents;
• Violation of Chinese legislation during previous visits;
• Violations of visa laws.

Latest updates

China will ease entry restrictions on foreigners vaccinated with a Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine, some Chinese embassies say. This visa facilitation applies only to applicants who have been vaccinated with Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines (either received two doses of Chinese-made vaccines with an agreed interval between them, or received a single dose of a Chinese-made vaccine at least 14 days before submitting the application) and received a vaccination certificate. Proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result and a health and travel declaration form are no longer required to apply for a visa. The new rules have already come into force in some places on March 15, 2021. In addition, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the country plans to issue international electronic medical certificates and implement mutual recognition of other countries' nucleic acid tests and vaccinations to ensure a "healthy, safe and regulated new order of cross-border people exchange."

• China has decided to temporarily suspend the entry of non-Chinese citizens again from a number of countries, according to announcements on the official website of their Chinese embassies, including Bangladesh, Belgium, Ethiopia, France, India, Italy, the Philippines, Russia, the UK and Ukraine. Those who will not be allowed to enter China include holders of Chinese visas and/or residence permits (for work, personal affairs and reunion), even if they were still valid at the time of the announcement by Chinese embassies. Relevant Chinese embassies and consulates will no longer issue certified medical declaration forms to such travelers. However, the latest ban on entry of non-Chinese citizens with visas issued after November 3, 2021 will not be affected.

• Earlier in September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration announced that foreign nationals holding a valid Chinese residence permit for work, personal affairs and reunion can enter China without applying for new visas - starting from 0 am on September 28, 2021 of the year. If these 3 categories of residence permits held by foreign nationals have expired (during the period from the introduction of the travel ban on March 28, 2021). Holders may apply for relevant visas by submitting expired residence permits and related materials to Chinese embassies or consulates, provided that the purpose of the holder's visit to China remains unchanged. All other measures are outlined in the March 26 announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration to temporarily suspend the entry of foreign nationals holding valid Chinese visas or residence permits.
• On August 10, 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Denmark announced that China is now allowing foreign citizens from 36 European countries to directly apply for new Chinese visas if they meet certain eligibility criteria.

Read other CHINA NEWS News of Chinese influence regarding maintaining stability in Asian countries
(China Briefing) - On March 26, 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (MFA) announced that from March 28, 2020, it will suspend the entry of most foreign citizens into the country. Many foreigners who have residence permits and work in China are now unable to return. Naturally, the most frequently asked questions concern how they will be able to return to China and how to manage the status of their visas, work permits and residence permits.

conclusions

When planning a trip of any kind to the PRC, Beijing, or to travel through Beijing and transfer at its international airport, you first need to determine whether a visa to Beijing is needed. And if a visa is required, you must obtain it in advance.

• At Chinese Consulates you can get an entry stamp very quickly - literally in one day;
• If it is impossible to bring documents in person, then it is possible to use the services of numerous intermediary companies;
• Chinese visa legislation does not erect large bureaucratic barriers for any types of visitors to its state, so obtaining a visa is quite easy;
• For residents of the Russian Federation border zone with China, there is a simplified visa regime;
• If a traveler is traveling in a group and it is possible to apply for a visa through the host Chinese side, then it is better to use it, since in this case the process is simplified until you receive a visa stamp upon arrival (for a fee, the travel agency can be included in the visa-free list of tourists and receive the necessary document, the condition for purchasing a package tour is not mandatory).

Submission to the consulate

Documents for obtaining a visa can be submitted to a travel agency, which will then handle the paperwork. This method is suitable for those traveling as part of a group or planning an individual excursion tour.

In other cases, you will have to apply for a visa yourself. To do this, you need to collect the entire set of documents, bring them to the embassy or consulate, and pick up your passport with a visa at the appointed time.

Required documents (by visa type)

The general list of papers required to obtain permission to enter Beijing consists of:

• A foreign passport, which must be valid for six months after returning from China or 1 month for those included in the list of visa-free citizens.
• Application form - filled out by hand or online, and then printed.
• Photo in color on a white background, size 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters.
• Copies of visas to China, if you have previously traveled.
• Copies of the old passport with the applicant’s data, but only in case of replacement of the foreign document.
• Photocopies of Russian passport pages.
• Flights.
• Reservation at your place of residence.
• Itinerary.
• Medical insurance with coverage of 15 thousand US dollars.
• Certificate from the place of work.
• Financial papers – bank statements, accounting records.

Additionally, for each type of visa, you must provide the following documents:

• Category C requires the applicant to provide a letter of guarantee from the transport company.
• Category F - an invitation, which will indicate the purpose and date of the visit, the route of the trip, the connection between the invited party and the person entering Beijing, and the method of financing. Information about the organization or person who invites is provided separately.
• D – originals and copies of documents that allow you to stay in China for permanent residence, which is issued by a special Ministry of Public Security.
• G – air tickets indicating the date of arrival in Beijing, as well as the country of further destination.
• J – confirmation that a journalist or media employee works for a specific publication or organization; notification from the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
• L – confirmation of plane and hotel reservations, route, invitation from a Chinese travel agency.
• M – confirmation of the commercial purpose of the visit, which can be provided by partners from China. Attached to it is an identity card of a person who lives in Beijing or another city in the country.
• Q – an invitation from a Chinese party or a person with the right to permanent residence; documents on kinship.
• R – certificates and diplomas that can confirm a person’s skills.
• S – documents are similar to those issued for category Q.
• X – an invitation from a Chinese university, which must indicate the dates and duration of study.
• Z – paper from the Ministry of Human Resources, confirmation from a Chinese company.

Paper requirements

Particular attention should be paid to filling out the form, which can be done online. Data must be entered correctly to obtain permission to enter Beijing. The questionnaire consists of 4 blocks that must be filled out very carefully.

If the question does not apply to the applicant, then you should answer in the negative. Passport data, like other information, must be correct, accurate, and correct.

Registration period

Documents for obtaining a visa do not take very long to be processed. It usually takes five days to obtain entry permission. For urgent consideration, you need 2, maximum 3 days.

Documents for the child

To travel with a child or children, you need to provide the following types of documents:

• A questionnaire that the child fills out independently.
• Original or copy of birth certificate.
• International passport.
• Medical insurance.
• Permission from parents if the child is traveling alone or with one of the parents.

Visa and service fees are paid for each child separately. A transit or airport visa applies to children as well as adults.

Tracking the status of documents for Russians

The status of your visa application can be found on the visa center website. You can also check at the Embassy or Consulate by calling the numbers.