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.

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. 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.

(3) Applicants for J-1 visa (resident journalist) should provide a letter or telex of visa notification 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 certificate(s) to prove their status as dependants of the journalist.

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

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) J-1 visa is valid for 3 months with single entry and 000 duration of stay. J-1 visa holders should go through procedures 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 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. Should J-2 visa holder need to bring any professional equipment to work within China,he/she is required to pay a deposit at Chinese Customs on arrival, which will be refunded when he/she leaves China. No Equipment Confirmation Letter from the press office of the Chinese Embassy is required any longer.

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

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) 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.

(7) 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	Third Country Citizen	US Citizen
Visa         Fees	Single Entry	30	20	65
	Double Entries	45	30	65
	Multiple entries/6Months	60	40	65
	Multiple entries/ 1 year	90	60	65
	Extra fee for third working day collection	15	15	15
Application Service Fees	Regular Service	34.50(VAT inclusive)
	Express Service(third working day collection)	46(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.