Do I need an invitation letter for a China business visa?

For most applicants, yes, an invitation from a company or contact in China is a core supporting document for the M visa. The exact requirement varies by consulate, so we confirm what yours needs before you apply.

Can I do business in China on a tourist visa?

No. Trade activity, sourcing, factory visits, negotiations, meetings, needs a business (M) visa. A tourist (L) visa doesn't cover commercial activity, and using one for business carries real risk.

What's the difference between an M visa and a Z visa?

An M visa is for business and trade visits; a Z visa is for taking up a job in China, and it requires a work permit plus a residence permit after arrival. If you'll be employed and paid by a China company, that's a Z visa, not an M.

How long can I stay in China on a business visa?

It depends on the duration of stay printed on your visa, often 30, 60 or 90 days per entry, which is separate from how long the visa is valid for entry. We help you read your visa correctly so you don't overstay.

Can I get a long, multi-year China business visa?

Longer multiple-entry M visas exist, but the validity is set by the consulate on a country-by-country basis and isn't offered everywhere. We'll tell you realistically what's available for your nationality rather than over-promise.

How much does a China business visa cost?

Fees depend on your nationality, the number of entries and where you apply, and they change, so we give you a current figure for your situation rather than a number that may be out of date. Contact us for a tailored quote.

Do I still need a PU or TE invitation letter?

Those pandemic-era letters are largely no longer required, though a few consulates still reference them. We check the current rule for your post so you don't chase a document you don't need.

Will I need to give fingerprints?

Biometrics are currently waived for short stays of 180 days or less through 31 December 2026, with some exceptions. Because that's time-limited, we confirm the rule that applies on the day you submit.

Can HCSG arrange my invitation and visa even if other agents declined?

Yes. We regularly help business travellers, including applicants other services turn away, by sourcing a legitimate invitation and supporting the full M-visa application. Tell us your situation and we'll advise honestly.

How to Get a China Business (M) Visa: A 2026 Guide

China business (M) visa at a glance

Mvisa category

S / D / Mentry options

~4working days

Yesinvitation needed

What the M visa is, and isn't

Three things to be clear on before you start.

For commerce & trade

The M visa is for commercial and trade activity, meetings, sourcing, factory visits, negotiations and fairs. Being employed and paid in China is different, and needs a Z work visa.

Usually required

Most applicants need an invitation from a company or contact in China. We cover exactly what it must contain in the invitation-letter guide.

Embassy or visa centre

You apply at the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa application centre that serves you, the online form first, then in person to submit.

China visa types: M vs Z vs L vs F

Choosing the wrong category is the most expensive mistake you can make, here's the short version for business travellers.

Visa	What it's for	Work in China?	Typical use
M (business)	Commercial & trade activities	No	Sourcing, factory visits, fairs, negotiations, meetings
Z (work)	Taking up employment in China	Yes, needs a work permit	A job offer from a China employer
L (tourist)	Tourism & leisure	No	Holidays and sightseeing, not trade activity
F (exchange)	Non-commercial visits & exchanges	No	Study tours, cultural or academic visits

How to get a China business visa, step by step

A clear sequence, HCSG keeps the invitation, documents and timing aligned so nothing slips.

Secure a genuine invitation

Get an invitation from a legitimate business contact or partner in China, or have HCSG arrange one. It must carry the correct details and the inviter's official stamp.

Complete the online application

Fill in the official visa form online, through the COVA portal or the China visa-centre system that serves your country, and assemble your documents.

Book and submit in person

Book an appointment and submit at the embassy, consulate or visa application centre. In many countries, including across much of Africa, submission is in person, not fully online.

Give biometrics if required

Fingerprints are currently waived for short stays of 180 days or less through 31 December 2026; because that's time-limited, confirm the rule that applies on the day you submit.

Collect your visa

Once approved, collect your passport with the M visa. Standard processing is typically around four working days when the file is complete.

What African business travellers should plan for

African importers are a fast-growing share of China's business visitors, but a few realities differ from the generic guides, and we plan around them for you.

No fully-online route

In Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana you complete the form online but submit in person at the visa centre or embassy, Abuja, Nairobi or Accra. Build the trip to the centre into your timeline.

Expect more than the basics

Some posts ask for more, for example a verification of your invitation, bank statements, or company and tax papers. We tell you exactly what your post expects, so nothing is missed.

The M visa is the route

China's short visa-free transit schemes don't cover Nigeria, Kenya or Ghana, and the long 10-year business visas aren't offered for these markets either. The M visa is the route, we make it straightforward.

How HCSG handles this for you

Your China business visa, handled end to end, from the invitation to the day your passport comes back.

Official invitation letters

We arrange a correct, properly-stamped invitation from a legitimate inviter, including for applicants the budget market turns away.

Business visa support

We assemble and check your documents and guide the M-visa application so it's right the first time.

Delegation coordination

Travelling as a team? We coordinate group and executive delegations so everyone's paperwork and timing line up.

Meeting arrangement

We set up and schedule the business meetings your visit is built around, so the trip earns its keep.

Protocol, etiquette & hosting

From etiquette guidance to corporate hosting on the ground, we make sure high-stakes meetings go smoothly.

The outcome: a clean invitation, a well-prepared visa application, and a trip organised around real meetings, while we carry the paperwork, timing and on-the-ground detail.

Specific, net-new answers, not a repeat of the guide above.

How to Get a China Business (M) Visa