Apply for a cultural visa (F visa) for China

Are you a scientist, university professor, athlete, teacher, participant in a scientific trip, representative of culture, or in another professional position in China? The cultural visa (F visa) is suitable for you. It allows you to participate in conferences, excursions, and events in the fields of culture, science, sports, or technology.

In order to apply for a cultural visa, you need an invitation from the host country. Depending on your intentions, it can be issued by the cultural department, university, event organizer, non-profit organization, or research institute. It is important that your intention to make the trip is non-commercial. Individuals engaged in commercial activities in industry or trade in China must apply for a business visa (M visa) or work visa (Z visa) in China. F visas are clearly different from M visas on the Chinese embassy application form. It is often mistakenly stated online that the F visa is a type of business visa, as it was also valid for business travelers until 2013. At that time, the M visa did not yet exist.

A visa F can be issued for single, double, or multiple entries for a period of 30 to 90 days. As with most other types of visas, the actual duration depends on the information provided in the host's invitation.