(J2) Foreign journalist visiting China for short-term news coverage

Online Submission -Required Documents and Requirements:

1.Passport information page

2.Visa application form and photo

3.Proof of legal stay or residence

4.Visa Notification Letter issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China

5.An official letter issued by the media or ganization for which the journalist works

Applicants should contact the Chinese embassy/consulate general in advance or go through the relevant formalities.

Submission at visa center (After receiving the Visa Application Certificate )

1.Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least 2 pieces of blank visa page. 

2.Photo,the requirements of the photo will be a recent 6 month colored passport photo (full face, bare head, clear and white background) and the measurement of photo should be (48mm X 33mm) . Please click the following large photo for details.

3.Visa Application Certificate

Details of Requirements

(1)Passport. Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least 2 pieces of blank visa page. If you are a dual national or multi-national, you are requested to provide all current valid passports in your possession. Additionally, you may be also required to provide your previous passport(s) in support of your application.

(2) Photo.One recently-taken color passport photos. The requirements of the photo will be a recent 6 month colored passport photo (full face, bare head, clear and white background) and the measurement of photo should be (48mm X 33mm). In addition, the color of attire of the applicant in the photo should be distinct contrast with the color of the photo background. Please click the following large photo for details.
Please be noticed that, your visa application may be declined if your photo does not satisfy the requirements, and all the responsibilities should be taken by yourself.

(3) Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship).If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are currently staying.

(4)Photocopy of previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who have obtained Chinese visas before)
If you have obtained Chinese visas before, you should provide the photocopy of the latest Chinese visa. It might facilitate the Embassy  to issue the most appropriate visa to you .

(5) Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas(applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship).
If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.
If you have obtained Chinese visas before and for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should provide original previous passport(s)and present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).

(6) An offical invitation letter issued by an a relevant unit or individual in China.The invitation letter should contain:
a) Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, etc.);
b) Details of the planned visit (incl. arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, accommodation arrangements, etc.);
c) Information of the inviting party(incl. name of organization or person concerned, contact telephone number, address, ID number of the individual inviter,official stamp of the organization, signature of the legal representative or individual).

3. Special Reminder

(1)Each applicant must provide all the documents mentioned above. Applicants may not share the supporting documents for their applications.
(2) All the Documents except required original, may be in the form of fax, photocopy or scanned copy, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original documents. All non-original documents must be clear and neat. An issuer of invitation letter who is an individual in China should also provide a photocopy of his/her Chinese ID.
(3) If the applicant is a dual national or multi-national, please provide all current valid passports in his/her possession. Additionally, the previous passport(s) may also be required in support of the application.
(4) If necessary, the consular officer will require an interview with the applicant or require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, i.e. naturalization paper, bank statement, tax report, proof of relation etc., which may not be listed in the website, by individual cases or different circumstances.
(5)The consular officer will decide on whether to issue the visa or not  and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.