Many businesses are going global and are considering starting their business in other countries, such as China. Some reasons that people want to start a business there would have to do with expansion or manufacturing. With that, you need to do a bit of research to understand the ropes of starting a business in China.
As a foreigner, you can’t simply fly to China and start a business or take care of one. There is a lot of legal work you need to consider and one of the things you need to focus on is obtaining a visa. A Chinese business visa isn’t difficult to get; the most challenging part of the process is getting the right documentation to submit.
If you’re considering getting a business M visa for China, it pays to do the work ahead of time, so you can save valuable hours and money when you start your visa application process.
Before you get your Chinese business visa application moving, here is our ultimate guide to help you get an M visa. Let’s dive into it!
Is having a Chinese business visa necessary for my business trip?
For any business-related trip to China, you’ll need a business visa. However, there are a few exceptions to the visa requirements, even for short business trips.
These exceptions usually extend to people who are coming from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and are staying in China for less than five days. People coming from Macau to Zhuhai and staying for less than three days are also exempt. Other than that, you’ll be needing an M visa or Business visa to do business in China.
As for the decision to issue your visa, the validity period, the number of entries, and the length of your stay, these will be determined by the Chinese Consular. However, you should remember that this visa doesn’t allow you to work in China, it is only for business trips.
When is the best time to get an M Visa?
Usually, it may take two to four days before you can get your M visa, depending on whether you pay for a regular one or an expedited service. Rush service visas are only available in cases of extreme urgency and should get approved by the Chinese Consular Office.
Although it’s much better to process your Chinese business visa application ahead of time, you shouldn’t work on it too early because the validity period from the issue date is only 90 days.
What are the documents I need for my M visa application?
The most tedious part about applying for an M visa is when you need to start gathering your documents. You’ll need the following requirements to apply for an M visa:
- A passport with at least six months validity remaining and two blank pages. If you have a passport with a valid Chinese visa, you’ll need to submit that, too.
- Visa application form
- Photo for your application form
- Invitation letter
How do I get the Chinese invitation letter?
If you’re planning a business trip, you should get an invitation letter in advance before starting your visa application. Your invitation letter may come from the following sources:
- Chinese government agency
- Company or organization in mainland China
Your invitation must include the following information:
- Your personal information, such as your name, date of birth, passport number, the full name of the company you work for in your country of origin, and your job title
- Purpose of your visit
- The city you will visit
- Date of arrival and departure
- An explanation of the relationship between your company and the Chinese company
- An explanation of who will shoulder the cost of your accommodations in China
- Information of the person inviting you, such as their name, job title, company address, fax, and phone number
- Official seal of the company or organization, including the signature of the person inviting you
Conclusion
Processing your Chinese business visa application isn’t tricky; all you need to do is gather the right information and work with expert visa and passport specialists. Once you have your travel dates ready, have your invitation letter and all your documents, all you need to do is submit it for processing and wait to get approved.
If you need to work on your Chinese business visa application, consider working with Travcour. Our team of visa and passport specialists will assist you throughout your application process, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Start your search and work on getting your visa today!