Which Chinese visa do I need?

Class  Description of Visa

F:        Exchanges, visits, study tours and other activities: Issued to those who are invited to China for exchanges, visits, study                     tours and other activities.

M:      Commerce & Trade :Issued to those who are invited to China for commercial and trade activities.

L:       As a tourist :Issued to those who are going to travel to China for tourism.

Q1:    Family reunion, foster care or visiting relatives with permanent residence in China:Issued to those who are family                            member of Chinese citizens or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence and intend to go to China for a long-term              family reunion, or to those who intend to go to China for the purposes of foster care (intended duration of stay in China                  exceeding 180 days)."Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters,                          brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

Q2     Issued to those who intend to visit relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with permanent                        residence in China; the intended duration of stay is limited to no more than 180 days. Visiting relatives working or studying            in China or other private affairs

S1      Issued to relatives of foreigners working or studying in China for the purpose of long-term visit, or to those who intend to              visit China for other private reasons (intended duration of stay exceeding 180 days). “Relatives” refer to spouses, parents,              sons or daughters under the age of 18 years and parents-in-law.

S2      Issued to those wishing to visit family members that are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to            go to China for other private reasons. The intended duration of stay in China is limited to no more than 180 days.

         "Family members" refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters,                                  grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

Z       Employment/ Commercial performances:Issued to those taking up a post or employment, or giving commercial                               performances, in China.

G      Transit :Issued to those who are going to transit through China EnRoute to a third country (or region).

C       As a crew member or a motor vehicle driver:Issued to foreign crew members of aircraft, trains and ships, motor vehicle                 drivers engaged in cross-border transport activities, and also to the accompanying family members of the above-                             mentioned ships’ crew members.

X1    As a student: Issued to those intending to study in China for a period of more than 180 days.

X2    Issued to those intending to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.

R      As an introduced talent:Issued to those who are high-level qualified talents or whose skills are urgently needed by China.

J1     As a journalist: Issued to resident foreign journalists/media staff of foreign news organizations stationed in China. The                    intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days.

J2     Issued to foreign journalists/media staff on temporary news coverage missions. The intended duration of stay in China is              limited to no more than 180 days.

D     Permanent Residence: Issued to those who are going to reside in China permanently.