A foreigner entering China must apply for a visa from an overseas visa authority. Visas are diplomatic, courtesy, official, or ordinary; the categories and issuing rules for ordinary visas are set by the State Council (Entry and Exit Administration Law, Arts. 15–16).

Ordinary visas carry a Pinyin letter code by purpose of entry (Regulations on Entry and Exit Administration of Foreigners, Art. 6):
(C) Crew performing flight, aviation or shipping duties;
(D) Persons taking up permanent residence;
(F) Persons invited for exchanges, visits or study tours;
(G) Persons transiting through China;
(J) Journalists of foreign news agencies resident in China;
(K) Qualifying young foreign science-and-technology talent;
(L) Tourists;
(M) Persons invited for commercial and trade activities;
(Q) Family members of Chinese citizens, and of foreigners holding permanent residence, applying to reside for family reunion;
(R) High-level foreign talent needed by the state;
(S) Persons visiting for private affairs;
(X) Students;
(Z) Persons working in China.

[2026 update — the K visa] The State Council created the K visa on 7 August 2025, effective 1 October 2025. It targets foreign science-and-technology talent aged 18 to 45 who hold a bachelor’s degree or above in a STEM field from a recognised university or research institution, in China or abroad, or who teach or research in such an institution. Validity up to 5 years, multiple entry, up to 180 days per stay. Unlike the R visa, a K visa does not require an invitation from a Chinese employer.

[2026 update — unilateral visa-free entry] Until 31 December 2026, ordinary-passport holders from roughly 48 countries — including Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sweden, Canada and the United Kingdom — may enter visa-free for business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges, or transit for up to 30 days. The stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after entry.

(Note: the visa-free list and its end date are adjusted from time to time by the National Immigration Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — always check the current official notice before travelling. Visa-free entry does not permit work, study, or other activities that require a specific visa.)

外国人入境，应当向驻外签证机关申请办理签证。签证分为外交签证、礼遇签证、公务签证、普通签证；普通签证的类别和签发办法由国务院规定（《出境入境管理法》第十五条、第十六条）。

普通签证依据入境目的，注明相应汉语拼音字母代码（《外国人入境出境管理条例》第六条）：
（一）C字签证，执行乘务、航空、航运任务的人员；
（二）D字签证，永久居留的人员；
（三）F字签证，应邀来华交流、访问、考察的人员；
（四）G字签证，途经中国的人员；
（五）J字签证，外国常驻中国新闻机构的记者；
（六）K字签证，符合条件的外国青年科技人才；
（七）L字签证，旅游的人员；
（八）M字签证，应邀来华商业贸易活动的人员；
（九）Q字签证，因家庭团聚申请来华居留的中国公民家庭成员，及具有中国永久居留资格的外国人的家庭成员；
（十）R字签证，国家需要的外国高层次人才；
（十一）S字签证，因私事来华的人员；
（十二）X字签证，来华留学的人员；
（十三）Z字签证，在中国境内工作的人员。

【2026年更新 · K字签证】国务院2025年8月7日决定新增K字签证，自2025年10月1日起施行。面向18至45周岁、毕业于境内外知名高校或科研机构STEM（科学、技术、工程、数学）学科并获学士及以上学位，或在上述机构从事相关教育、科研工作的外国青年科技人才。有效期可达5年、多次入境、每次停留不超过180天。与R字签证不同，K字签证不以境内用人单位邀请为前提。

【2026年更新 · 单方面免签】截至2026年12月31日，对德、法、意、荷、西、瑞士、爱尔兰、匈、奥、比、卢、新西兰、澳、波兰、葡、希、韩、日、巴西、阿根廷、智利、秘鲁、沙特、阿曼、科威特、巴林、瑞典、加拿大、英国等约48个国家持普通护照人员，来华经商、旅游观光、探亲访友、交流访问、过境不超过30天免签入境。免签停留时间自入境次日零时起算。

（注：免签国家名单与期限由国家移民管理局、外交部不定期调整，出行前务必核对官方最新公告。免签入境不得从事工作、留学等需相应签证的活动。）