How to apply for a visa?
We would be honored if the 14th International Otter Congress in Sichuan is the reason for your first, and hopefully not the only, visit to China.
Before travelling to China, you will need to secure a visa. But don’t panic! The application process is very straightforward. The normal processing time is only four working days.

Please follow the tips below:

Chinese Embassies and Consulates: You can apply for a visa to China easily from the Chinese Embassies and Consulates within the region of your residence. You can even do it through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers in some countries. Please make sure to follow the instructions provided by these institutions of your specific region, as information provided on this page is referring to the general rules.

Types of visa: You can choose from these two types of visa depending on the main purpose of your trip: (1) the academic exchanges / non-profit cultural exchanges visa (F visa); (2) the tourist visa (L visa). They require the same basic documents and slightly different supporting materials.

Basic documents

(1) Passport
Please provide your passport and a photocopy of the passport’s personal information page; and if your photo is on a separate page, please also provide a photocopy of that page.
Please note that your passport must have at least two blank pages and must be valid for at least six months from your entry date to China. For example, if you are entering China on April 8, your passport must be valid until October 8, otherwise your entry would be rejected.

(2) Visa Application Form
A completed Visa Application Form.

(3) Photo
A recently-taken color passport photo against a light background. Click here for details.

(4) Proof of legal stay or residence status (only for applicants living outside their country of citizenship)

Supporting materials

Requirements for Academic Exchanges / Non-profit Cultural Exchanges Visa (F Visa)
An invitation letter issued by Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve.
The invitation should contain:
(1) Personal details of the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)
(2) Information on the planned visit (purpose of visit, arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, relationship between applicant and congress organizer, financial source for expenditures)
(3) Information on the inviter (name, contact telephone number, address, official stamp, signature of the legal representative or the inviting individual)

If you request an official invitation letter issued by Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, please click here to provide us with these information.

Requirements for Tourist Visa (L Visa)
Itinerary proof (Examples: round trip air ticket booking record and hotel booking record)
OR
An invitation letter issued by a relevant party in China (e.g. a friend or a tour operator like China Bird Tour). Refer to invitation letter required for F Visa above.
Invitation letter is not necessary if booking records of the entire planned duration of stay is provided.
Visa officers might require additional supporting materials like bank statements as proof of sufficient funds for the tour.

FAQs

Q: Which of the two visas do I need?
A: In practice, both visa types normally grant at least a 30-day duration of stay, hence both should enable you to attend the six-day congress.
The tourist (L) visa is recommended if you plan to travel extensively within China (e.g. outside of Sichuan) before or after the congress. You can also book your trip and apply for a visa via a travel agency which will prepare all necessary documents on your behalf.
The academic exchange (F) visa is a relatively cost-effective option, as you only need to provide an official invitation letter and the visa application form. Please remember to inform the visa officer that being invited to the International Otter Congress is the purpose of your visit to China.

Q: Can I apply online?
A: Sorry, online or electronic visa application is currently not available. You must submit hard copies of all your application materials, and the Chinese embassies/consulates in some country/region would require the applicants’ biometric input so one must apply in person.

Q: When to apply?
A: Normally about one month but no earlier than three months before entering China. The visa is typically valid for three months. If you apply for a visa too early, the visa may expire before your trip to China.
Please note there are three different key specifications on the visa: validity period, duration of stay, and number of entries. One can enter China when the visa is valid and can stay for the maximum period allowed by the duration of stay while holding the visa after each entry. The number of entries is dependent on your itinerary, you must imply the number of entries on your application form and it will be the visa officer’s decision to grant all the entries or not.
Example: Holder of a double entry visa valid till May 1, 2019 with 30-day duration of stay can enter China on April 30, 2019 and stay until May 31, 2019 but cannot re-enter after finishing the first stay, as the validity of the visa would expire.

Q: Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong / Macau?
A: Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions (SAR) in China, hence different immigration laws apply. Hong Kong grants at least seven-day visa-free stays for nationals of about 170 countries; while Macau has visa exemption for nationals of 76 countries and accepts on-arrival visa applications.
For details, please visit the official Immigration Department info pages of Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR.
But note that because of the special administrations, if Hong Kong / Macau is not the first or last stop of your planned itinerary in China, you will need a double or multiple entry visa instead of single entry visa for mainland China when you re-enter mainland China after visiting Hong Kong/ Macau, please plan your trip and visa application accordingly.