1. Application

Before coming to China, consular officer, administrative or technical personnel, service personnel (hereinafter referred to as the member of the consular post) and the accompanying family member should present a note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the sending state to the local Chinese embassy or consular post to apply for the one entry W visa valid for three months and with unspecified period of stay (unless otherwise agreed upon in the relevant bilateral agreement).

2. Replacement

Within three working days since their arrival in China, the member of the consular post and the accompanying family member should present a note of the consular post to the Foreign Affairs Office to apply for multi-entry visas.

3. Renewal

In case of extension of posting, the member of the consular post and the accompanying family member should present a note of the consular post to the Foreign Affairs Office to renew their visas fifteen days prior to the expiry.

Note: In this Guide, the Foreign Affairs Office refers to the Foreign Affairs Office at the provincial level if the consular post is seated in the capital city of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the central government. Otherwise, it refers to the Foreign Affairs Office of the city where the consular post is seated.

Editor: Wing