If you are serious about volunteering in China and are a foreign national, you will need a valid visa to gain entry into the country. The first option is to personally go to your nearest Chinese Consulate or Chinese Embassy, as you cannot scan a copy of your passport and mail it across to the officials, who will issue you a visa. You are required to physically go to the visa office, fill in an application form, submit it along with your passport and other relevant documents, and then collect your passport after a few days once the visa has been issued.

l         How to Apply

 1.       You must go to the visa office of the Embassy or Consulate-General (http://www.chinaembassy.org/eng/hzqz/t84229.htm) in the consular jurisdiction, where you live and submit your application

2.       Mailed applications are not acceptable and will be refused, though mail back service is available. Please follow the link and read the furnished instructions for Application Mail Service (http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/yisq/t169582.htm)

3.       No appointment is required.

4. If the visa application form is not filled out completely, correctly and legibly, this can cause a delay in processing or the denial of a visa.

l         Documents Needed

1.       Your valid and actual passport which must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity with at least one blank visa page in it

2.  One complete Visa Application Form (Q1) ( http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/hzqz/zgqz/Q1-1.pdf ) with one passport photo (black & white or color is acceptable)

3.       If you apply for a Work Visa, a visa notification issued by the authorized Chinese unit, and a Work Permit for Aliens issued by the Chinese Labor Ministry or Foreign Expert's License issued by the Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau are required

4.       An applicant born in China who applies for a Chinese visa with a new foreign passport is required to submit his/her Chinese passport or last foreign passport with a Chinese visa

5.       An invitation letter from Impact Abroad (we will send you such a letter upon your enrollment in the volunteer program of your choice) 

l         Visa Fee and Processing Time

1.       $50 for Americans, and $30 for citizens of other countries (Single Entry)

2.       The regular processing time is four working days. For express service, additional fees of $30 for one-work-day processing (applications presented before 11:30 am may be picked up between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm on the same day), or $20 for two to three working days processing will be charged.

3.       Please pay by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Cheque, Company Cheque or Cash. Personal checks are not acceptable. Please make the check or money order payable to the Chinese Embassy.