Visa for your stay in China

All students of the Hutong School need to enter China on an F (business) Visa, except for stays shorter than 3 months, for which an L-visa can suffice. Obtainment of such a Visa is the students' responsibility, but the Hutong School will assist you during the process.

F-Visa

The F-Visa is appropriate for business visits, internships and short term studies. The main difference between the F-Visa and the L-(tourist) Visa is that in order to obtain it, you need an invitation letter issued by a company in China. The invitation letter can only be issued after the Hutong School has found a suitable company which will provide the student with an internship position. It is advisable to start the application procedure as early as possible. Sending the invitation letter from Beijing usually takes about 3 days. The application at the embassy usually takes 5 working days, although there is an express procedure as well.

You will also need to present your passport, a passport photograph and a filled-in Visa application form to obtain a visa. The visa application form can be obtained at the embassy or from the website of the Chinese embassy in your country. In most countries you can also send all documents by registered mail to the embassy. An F-Visa can be issued with a validity of up to six months, although embassies often allow only 3 months.

NOTE:
F-Visa has different types according to the length of stay and the number of entries. The length of stay should be determined by the length of the internship or Chinese classes you are applying for. In some countries, the Chinese Embassy might refuse to issue a six-month F-Visa. In this case, you should apply for the longest possible length of stay, usually 3 months and extend the visa in Beijing if you wish to stay longer. The extension of an F-Visa is a rather simple and inexpensive process, which the Hutong School will arrange for you when necessary. We further recommend that all applicants apply for a single entry visa. The reason is that the length of stay upon each entry with a multiple entry F-Visa is normally limited to 30 days, while a single entry F-Visa allows for a longer stay. If you would like to leave China for a short time during your internship (for the purpose of a holiday, for example), a re-entry visa can easily be requested at the Public Security Bureau in Beijing before you leave China.

Chinese visa regulations might vary slightly according to the location of the embassy and the applicant’s nationality. Although we try to keep this page up to date, regulations may also change unexpectedly. We recommend that you consult the Chinese Embassy in your country before applying for a visa.