To apply for any type of Chinese visa, the followings are required: One completed visa application form, one recent passport sized photograph, a valid original passport with blank pages. More documents are required if applying for:

Tourist visa ------ L: Airline ticket or the itinerary.

Business visa------F: An invitation letter/ fax from a Chinese Government department or companies authorized by Chinese Government .

Work visa -------- Z: An employment permit from the Ministry of Labour or the State Bureau of Foreign Experts of China together with an invitation letter from the company authorized by the Chinese Government. (The copies of these letters are needed)

Student visa-------X: JW-201 or JW_202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China and a letter of admission from a Chinese University / College. (The copies are needed) If the studying period is less than 6 months, the category of the visa will be F instead of X.

Transit Visa -----G: A valid visa for the country of destination and the letter from the department of work unit. Duration of transit visa is about 7 days.

Journalist Visa --- J-1 or J-2: A letter from the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of P.R.C. or the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai or Guangdong Municipality Government and a letter from the work unit.

Visa validity
A single or double entry visa is usually valid for entry within 3 months from the date of issue. The multi-entry visa is usually valid for 6 months.

Duration of stay / number of entries
Duration of stay of a visa may vary. It is possible to extend the duration of stay of a visa in China. Visa is always required wherever you enter the Chinese mainland even from Hong Kong or Macao.

Requirements towards passport
A. There must be at least one totally blank page in the passport. Pages for endorsements or amendments cannot be used as a visa page.
B. Single or double entry visa requires a passport valid for at least 6 months(For some occasions the validity varies). For multiple entry visa, a passport should be valid for at least 9 Months.

Accompanying person using the same passport
The photo of the accompanying person using the same passport should be affixed to the form. The full visa fee will apply.

Where to apply for a Chinese visa
Applicants could come in person or through a third party (e.g. travel agencies) to apply for the Chinese visa.It normally takes 4 working days to process the application, and there is express service too (48 hours,). Visa is normally not issued on the same day unless the same-day air ticket is presented.

Mail Service
People live outside Helsinki area (Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa) could apply for visa by mail. However, the Embassy does not express the visa applications which are sent by mail. It usually takes 6 working days to process the mail while the mailing time is not included. It is advised that your passport(s) should be sent by registered post for security and the proof of posting needs to be kept. When the visa application is mailed to the Embassy, there should be the original passport, completed visa application form with picture, self addressed return envelope which should be prepaid with stamp (registered post is strongly recommended), and prove of payment (visa fee and service fee---see item: visa fee ) in the mail.

Hong Kong visa
For Finnish passport holders, they may stay in Hong Kong up to 3 months without any visa for the purpose of tourism or short business visiting. For the purpose of residing, working or studying, they should apply for correspondent Hong Kong visa in the Embassy.

Chinese citizens can transit in Hong Kong for 7 days without an entry permit if they have the air tickets for next stop. If they wish to stay over seven days, they must apply for Entry Permit at the Embassy.
Detailed instructions for application for a Hong Kong visa or Entry Permit, please look over HKSAR Web site: http://www.info.gov.hk/immd/.

Visa fee
Cash only when collect passport, and cash or Bank Receipt (pay to the Chinese Embassy, Nordea Bank, account No. 121030-103463 ) when send by mail. No refund if the visa is turned down or cancelled.

(In Euro) Single Double Multiple
For Finnish citizens 22 33 43 (half- year ) 65 (one year)
For American citizens 50 75 100 150
All other Nationalities 33 50 66 100

Same day service: extra 33 Euros per person.

Express Service (48 hour ): extra 23 Euros per person (not for mail service)
Mail service is charged with an extra 6 Euros for one package ( which is different from the prepaid return envelope as mail handling fee).
Visa fee for Hong Kong: 33 Euros per person.

Group visa fee: 19 Euros per person for Finnish citizens and 27 for non-Finnish citizens

Group visa
A tourist group should comprise at least 5 members. We require:

1. Confirmation letter /Fax from an authorized Chinese travel agency or tourist bureau.

2. Photocopies of the passports of all group members which should be cut in original passport size.

3. Typed name list of the group in TRIPLICATE. If there is any blank on the last page of the name list, draw a straight line from the left corner down to the right corner.
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4. A front page covering information about the group.

5. The serial number given to group members should be listed in order on the group visa form.

6. The group visa form pattern can be obtained upon request. It takes 1 week to process a group visa.

7. Group members must hold their original passports when they arrive at the port of entry.

8. If any group member intends to travel alone or leave China individually for special reasons after entry into China, the group organizer must apply through local Public Security Bureau.

NOTES
1. The application for a visa may be declined if the applicant fails to provide with true and complete information on the visa application form.

2. The applicant should check the issued visa upon collection and, if necessary raise any queries at the same time. Once accepted, they should follow the content of the visa while visiting China. If there is no immediate inquiry relating to the issued visa, the applicant is held responsible under any circumstances thereafter.

3. The person holding X, Z, D, or J-1 visa shall go through residential formalities in the local public security departments of China within 30 days of the date of entry.

4. The applicant should not engage in activities incompatible with his / her status when he/she enters China.

5. For foreign visitors employment in the territory of China is prohibited without approval.