A practical guide for newcomers
China, without the guesswork.
Whether you are visiting for a week, moving for work, enrolling as a student, or joining family — this site walks you through visas, paperwork and daily life, one plain-English step at a time. Every key fact links back to an official Chinese authority.
Sources: official Chinese authorities · reviewed 13 October 2026
New to China?
The 10-minute beginner walkthrough: first trip, first steps, first week.
Applying for a visa
L, M, Z, X, Q, S, R — who qualifies, what to prepare, how to apply.
Moving for work
Work permit + residence permit, employer sponsorship, and the Z visa.
Studying there
Applying to universities, CSC scholarships, X visas and enrolment.
Where should I start?
Pick your situation
Everyone arrives differently. Choose the path that sounds like you — each one has a dedicated guide.
Just visiting
Tourism, business trips and family visits. Do you even need a visa? What do you prepare, what happens at the border?
Visa guides →Moving for work or study
Employer sponsorship, the work permit, residence permits, university applications and scholarships.
Work & residence → Study in China →Already in China
Accommodation registration, bank accounts, mobile numbers, medical care, driving, schools and day-to-day life.
Live in China →The fast path
Your first five steps
Check if you need a visa at all
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for tourism or transit. Read the dated policy page.
Get the right visa
Pick your type in the visa hub, gather the documents and apply through the official channel.
Prepare before you fly
Passport checks, medical exam where required, notarized documents, insurance. Pre-departure checklist.
Register and settle in
Accommodation registration within 24 hours of arrival, then bank, phone and the rest. Living guides.
Ask your questions
The beginner FAQ covers the questions everyone asks first — with honest, sourced answers.
Why you can trust this site
Accuracy is the whole point
Official sources only
National Immigration Administration, visaforchina.cn, CSC, MOHRSS, government portals. No agencies, no blogs, no guessing.
Verified vs summary
Verified means we checked the official wording; Summary means general guidance — confirm with the authority.
Dated and honest
Every page says when it was checked. Rules change — we tell you to verify, and we flag what we could not confirm.
Voluntary support
No paywalls, no ads. If the guides help you, you can support the webmaster — any amount, entirely optional.