1. Do I need to apply for a visa beforehand if I plan to go to Chinese mainland?
Answer: Normally you will need a visa to go to Chinese mainland as foreign citizen unless you are visa exempt based on relevant agreements or regulations (please refer to the section "A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visas").
According to the agreement between China and the Maldives on mutual visa exemptions and visa feess, Maldivan Diplomatic and Official Passport holders shall be exempted from visa requirement for entry into, exit or transit through China.
2. What type of visa should I apply for?
Answer: It depends on the purpose of your visit. Please see the section "A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visas". It is up to the consular official to decide on the type of visa to be issued.
3. What kind of documents should I provide for a visa application at the Chinese embassy ? And is there anything particular I should pay special attention to?
Answer: You need to prepare required documents according to the purpose of visiting
4. How long in advance should I apply for a visa?
Answer: It is advised that you submit the application one month in advance of your planned date of entry. Application made too early may cause the expiry of the visa and you won't be able to use it in the end, but if you submit an application too late, there might not be enough time for the application to be processed.
5. When can I get the visa after I submit my application?
Answer: If the documents are well prepared, it will normally take three visa working days for the application to be processed, but the time may vary dependent on a case by case basis.
If you intend to travel urgently, you may apply for the express service and collect the visa on the next visa working day, in which case you will need to pay an extra fee. Express service is not guaranteed in the Chinese Embassy , and the eligibility for express service is judged on a case by case basis.
It is important that the applicant comes to collect the visa on time. The visa may be collected after the collection date, but if the visa has not been collected within 90 days after issuing date it will be disposed of as Unclaimed.
6. What is the number of entries? What should I do if I have used up all the entries?
Answer: A visa's number of entries refers to the number of times the visa holder can make entry to
7. I am planning to go to
Answer: You need to apply for a double entry visa because you need your first entry when you visit
Suppose you have obtained a single entry visa, you will need to apply for a new visa at the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong SAR while visiting
Holders of a Maldivian passport are exempt from a visa to visit
8. When will my visa start to take effect? And when will it expire?
Answer: Unless otherwise specified, a visa is valid from the date of issue.
A visa expires if one of the following situations occurs:
(1) The visa has passed 24:00 (Beijing Time) on the date of entry, namely the 'Enter Before' date given on the visa page;
(2) The number of entries have been used up;
(3) The visa has been revoked or cancelled by the authorities of the Chinese government.
(4) Other circumstances governed by the Chinese laws
9. Can I change my itinerary after I've got my visa?
Answer: Unless otherwise specified on the visa, you may change your itinerary but must make your entry to
10. What does "Duration of Each Stay" mean? What should I do if I need a longer duration for my stay?
Answer: The Duration of Each Stay refers to the maximum number of days a visa holder is permitted to stay in
Holders of D visa, J1 visa, Q1 visa, S1 visa, X1 visa, and Z visa must register with the public security authorities for residential formalities within 30 days of entry. It will lead to illegal overstay if a permitted stay runs out but no required formalities have been processed accordingly.
It is a breach of Chinese laws and regulations if someone stays longer than the visa permits while visiting
11. After I get the visa, can the validity period, duration of stay and number of entries be altered?
Answer: No. They cannot be changed. Therefore, it is essential that before you apply for a visa you make proper arrangement. While filling out the application form, you must complete all relevant items truthfully. While collecting your visa, you must check all the contents of the visa. If an alteration must be made, then you will have to submit a new visa application with supporting documents and pay for the application again.
12. What are the things foreign citizens should pay attention to while in
Answer: Foreign citizens must abide by the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of
13. Can I enter
Answer: After you obtain a visa, you should be able to enter
14. The validity period has expired while I am in
Answer: As long as the duration of each stay allows, you may still stay in
15. What should I do if I have lost my passport while in
Answer: You need to report to the local Chinese public security authority as soon as you can and then apply for a new passport (or international travel permit) at your embassy or consulate in
16. May I check with the Chinese embassy or consulate in the Maldives about someone else's visa application?
Answer: No.