How to get a Visa for China!

Well those of you might encounter the first small problem when dealing with a trip to China. Regardless any bilateral contracts even tourists need to have at least a "tourist visa" in order to enter China for leisure purposes, which normally is granted for a 30 days stay.

This might sound easy...it's by far little more complex as there are also restrictions how often you are allowed to leave and enter China again (during the timeframe stated on the visa). Insiders might know what I am talking about.....the number of "entries" can be crucial if you plan to stay little longer somewhere in China...usually there is the possibility to get a one, double or multi entry visa.
However a tourist visa with a multi entry option is rather impossible to get.

Apart from a tourist visa you may get a student or business visa as well. To me I think there are still some others which I currently do not remember.

Those visa depending where you purchase them cost around 20 - 60 Euro.
It is remarkable to illustrate that getting a business visa with an option of multi entry and a validity of six months is easy collectable during a short stopover in Hong Kong. There you will find a bunch of tourist agencies offering such kind of visa services.

If you are still abroad in your home country, things may be little more disappointing. If you are in Germany, only the Chinese consulates are obliged to issue visa....the restriction is immense...without the correct paper it's is hardly impossible to get a multi entry business visa. Getting a tourist visa instead is no problem at all.

For that reason I might recommend the visa services of Visum Centrale in Germany. Although to date I haven't worked with them on a visa issue, I am confident they will help me getting the business visa I need this summer. I have already been in contact with them and all you need is:

- invitation letter from your company operating in China
- current passport which is still at least 6 months valid
- two? pictures of yourself

They will then arrange everything for you and charge you 18 EUR which is fine considering you don't have to run to the consulate by yourself. Besides the service fee you should keep in mind that the visa itself will cost you something between 20 - 100 EUR....