Do I need a journalist visa?

Journalist visa is subdivided into J-1 Visa and J-2 Visa. J-1 Visa is issued to a foreign resident correspondent in China. J-2 Visa is issued to a foreign correspondent on temporary short term news report mission in China. If you are from a media background, and you are going to China, on a temporary and short term basis, either to do news writing and reporting, professional still photographing, documentary making, or film shooting, you also need a J-2 Visa.

I think I need a J-2 visa. Do I also need to get a journalist accreditation or confirmation somewhere?

Yes, you do. A prior accreditation and confirmation from the PRESS OFFICE of this Embassy is needed. Do not go to the visa office and apply for J-2 visa without contacting the press office of this embassy first.

How long will it take to get my accreditation or confirmation?

It normally takes 15 working days. Please lodge your accreditation request to the press office of this embassy at least three weeks prior to your planned date of travel.

What documentation do I need to provide for my accreditation?

You need to put together a minimum of 4 documents:

1. A commissioning letter from the agency that has commissioned your China assignment. In some cases, a letter from your superior within the same company you work for will do.

2. An introductory letter from yourself about the assignment you are to do in China. Please enclose an itinerary and your brief one page CV. If it is a crew of more than one people, please also enclose CVs of other crew members.

3. Two filled forms. Form 1: Basic information of the applied China Project. Form2: Particulars of Foreign journalists or crew members for the China Project.

4. An invitation letter from China.

In some cases, though not very often, the press office might ask you to provide other supporting documents, say an invitation from your contacts in China. It is advisable you enclose, together with the above listed documents, any additional documents that you think might facilitate your request.

I have lodged my accreditation request to the press office, how do I know whether it has been approved?

Make sure leaving your correct contact details on the document submitted. You will be notified by a press officer of this Embassy in due course. You can also make follow-up calls to the Press Office.

I have been notified by a press officer from your Embassy that my accreditation request has been approved. What should I do next?

Now is the time for you to fill in the general visa application form(download it from http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/P020061130059217818237.pdf or http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/P020061130058120943375.doc), get the passport and a passport size photo ready, and hand them in to the visa office of this embassy. The visa office opens from Mondays to Fridays, between 09:00-12:00am only.

The issuing of a visa normally takes four working days. A next-day or same-day service is available, though at a higher cost. Should you need a same day service, make sure submit your passport to the receptionist at the counter before 11:00am. You do not need a written confirmation from the press office for your visa application.

I need to bring with me some equipment to work within China, what should I do?

Should you need to bring any professional equipment to work within China, you are required to pay some deposit at Chinese Customs on arrival, which will be refunded when you leave.

I have some more Journalist related enquires, where can I get assistance?

Please contact:

Press office of the Chinese Embassy in London

49-51 Portland Place, W1B 1JL

Tel: 020-72994071, 020-72994094, 020-72994049

Fax: 020-76365578