How to get a China visa from Rwanda

• Chinese Tourist visa(L) is for Rwandans who wish to visit china for leisure, pleasure and tourism purposes. It is issued to foreign visitors visiting China for a short period of time to tour around freely.
• China tourist visas is sub-divided into three types:

Single Entry allows for a single entry into china and is valid for 30 days to 60 days.

Double entry allows for two entries and is valid for 30 days to 60 days.

Multiple entry allows for multiple entries and is valid for six months and a year for Rwandans.

• Only UK, US, Canadian and Argentine citizens are eligible for a 10-year China tourist visa with multiple entries.
• Rwandans applying for a Chinese tourist visa are expected to provide a copy of their return ticket and a hotel reservation for the duration of their stay.
• The documents which are necessary during the application process should contain full contact information of the applicant.
• If when you leave China you are expected to apply for a new entry visa before you can enter China for a second time.
• The validity of a Chinese Tourist visa is between the issue date and enter date. Holders of a Chinese tourist visa are to enter 24 hours before the enter date.
• The duration of a Chinese visa is usually between a 30 to 60 days period. But the length of stay is sometimes decided by the Chinese consulate.
• Overstaying on Chinese Visa is prohibited.
• Applicants applying for a Chinese Visa are required to go to the embassy. Applications through mails are not allowed and will be refused at the Chinese Consulate.
• Multiple entry visa allows you to gain entry to China for up to a year;despite this you can’t stay in China for a whole year. The embassy has to decide how long you can stay back in China.
• A letter of invitation signed by the host which includes his/her home address and contact information is required during the process.
• Employed visitors are to provide an employment letter which confirms their employment in their home country.
• When travelling with an organised tour group, you won’t be issued an individual visa. Instead a group tour visa would be issued to you which will contain the names of the members of the group.
• It takes abut 4 working days to process a Chinese tourist visa.

• Rwandan applicants who are eligible for a business visa are those who intend to visit China for business and commercial activities.
• With the China business or trade visa, Rwandans can attend trade fairs, visit and negotiate clients, or sign contracts.
• The China M visa is for business and trade related activities. While the China F visa is for non-commercial activities.
• Before the introduction of the Chinese M visa, the F visa allowed holders of this visa to attend to business related activities.
• Now when F-visa is issued to foreigner, they are only allowed to attend a lecture, investigation, cultural or scientific programs.
• The validity of a Chinese M visa is usually 30 to 60 days, however extension depends on applicant’s personal reasons which are valid.
• The Chinese Business visa is extendable. Applicants who wish to apply for an extension are to apply seven days before the M-visa expires.
• A letter of invitation or confirmation letter duly singed by an authorized Chinese institute is required.
• Also, a letter of invitation issued by a Chinese business or trade partner is to be provided by the applicant.
• A power of attorney is not needed when a third party or an agency is entrusted to submit your application documents with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
• The Chinese business visa can issued on a single, double or multiple entry.
• An original and photocopy of the applicant’s business registration certificate and tax clearance are required for the application process.
• Holders of a M-visa are not allowed to work in China. Foreigners who want to work in China are to apply for a work visa.
• The Chinese Multiple-entry visa is more expensive. Citizens of countries where there CVASCs (Chinese Visa Application Service Centers) exist would need to pay both the visa fee and service to the center.

• Holders of a Chinese Work Visa(Z) are eligible to work in China or take up employment from a Chinese company.
• Foreigners with a Chinese work visa who intend to visit China for a paid job or commercial entertainment performances in China.
• The holders of a Chinese work visa are legally allowed to work in China. Without one, it becomes illegal to work or be employed during the duration of your stay in China.
• Applicants aged between 18-60 years are only eligible to apply for a work visa. Although those who are not within this age range can also apply if they can find an employer who is willing to give them approval.
• The work visa has 30 days validity from the date of arrival in China.
• During the duration of your work visa, you and employer have to seek for a temporary residence permit for the duration of the employment contract.
• The Chinese work visa allows only for a single entry.
• Before an employee is granted a work visa, he/she has to obtain a work permit issued by a the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC through their employers.
• Unlike the work visa, the residence permits multiple entries up to a year.
• Applicants are expected to have a letter confirming their employment status with a Chinese company.
• Non-Rwandans are expected to provide a copy of a valid re-entry pass or resident permit.
• Rwandans who working without a work visa are to pay a fine or suffer a jail term sentence.
• An official letter of invitation written with the company letter head indicating the terms of employment and the address of the company is to be provided.

• Rwandan Students who intend to study in China can apply for this type of visa.
• The Chinese student visa is sub-divided into two types; the X1 and X2 visa.
• The X1 visa is a long term which allows applicants to study in China for more than 6 months while the X2 visa is issued to students to study for a short period for just six months.
• Students who apply for this visa are authorized to work part-time or apply for internships during the duration of their stay.
• If you obtain a X1 visa you are mandated to apply for a temporary residence permit from the Public Security Bureau within 30 days upon entry into China.
• The JW201 and JW202 forms are submitted during the X1 application process.
• The JW201 and JW202 issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the notice of admission from your school is required.
• The JW201 / JW202 form is to be submitted at consulate or embassy during your application for the Chinese student visa(Xvisa).
• The JW201 form is meant for those studying in China on a full scholarship while JW202 is for studying in China on a partial scholarship.
• People who are under the age of 18 years, the original copy of your birth certificate should be provided. A notarized letter of consent signed by both your parents should be provided.

• The official visa is issued to foreigners who intend visiting China for official purposes.
• An official letter of invitation from the Chinese government should be provided. If the letter is signed by any other organization which is not part of the government, then the visit will not be defined as official.
• If the applicant is holding an ordinary passport, the type of visa that will be issued cannot be diplomatic or official.
• As a Rwandan diplomat, if the purpose of your visit to China cannot be defined as official, you will not be issued this visa.
• A diplomatic note from the Kenyan government should be provided. The note should clearly state information about the purpose of your visit, the duration of your visit and your status in the government.
• Copy of your valid re-entry or resident permit if you are not a Kenya national.
• If you are traveling with a minor, you are required to possess the original copy of the minor’s birth certificate.
• Only the single-entry official visa will be issued to applicants.

If you have applied for a Chinese visa with all the necessary documents, it takes about four days to get a visa approval(for express it takes only two days).

The Chinese currency is called Renminbi. The unit of Renminbi is yuan and its fractional currency is jiao. One yuan equals ten jiao.