Visas · Business & trade
The M visa: business and trade trips to China
The M visa is China's visa for commercial and trade activity. It covers meetings, negotiations, trade fairs, supplier and factory visits and market research — short business trips, not employment. This page explains who qualifies, the invitation letter you must obtain, and how the application works.
Checked against official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. Sources at the bottom.
At a glance
The M visa in one table
Start here, then read the detail below. Anything marked "summary" is general guidance that varies by nationality or by the visa officer's decision — confirm it with the center handling your application.
| What it is | The M visa is issued to people who come to China for commercial and trade activities. Verified · official source |
| Who can apply | Business visitors: meetings, negotiations, trade fairs, exhibitions, factory and supplier visits, and other commercial exchanges. It is not a work visa — if you will be employed and paid in China, you need a Z visa instead. |
| Key extra document | Documents on the commercial activity, issued by your trade partner in China (usually an invitation letter). Verified · official source |
| Validity (window to enter) | Set case by case. Frequent business visitors may be issued a multiple-entry M visa with a longer validity window; first-time applicants often get a single entry. Summary — officer decides |
| Duration of stay (per entry) | Set by the officer. If an M stay is extended inside China, the stay can be extended for a maximum of 180 days from that entry. Verified · official source |
| Number of entries | Single, double or multiple — the officer decides. Summary — officer decides |
| Where to apply | The China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn), or the Chinese Embassy/Consulate that covers where you live where no center exists. |
Who this is for
Who can apply for an M visa
If your trip is genuinely commercial, the M visa is the right category. The line that matters most is work: the M visa does not authorize employment in China.
Meetings and negotiations
Sitting down with a partner, client or investor in China, signing agreements and attending internal meetings of a company you work with.
Trade fairs and exhibitions
Attending or exhibiting at a trade show, sourcing event or industry expo — a very common reason the M visa is issued.
Supplier and factory visits
Visiting factories, warehouses and suppliers, checking production, and doing market research before placing orders.
What you need
M visa materials
The invitation letter is the heart of an M application — China's regulations say M applicants submit the letter provided by the commercial or trade partner in China. Get that, and the rest is routine. Exact lists vary by center and nationality.
| Document | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Present the original. It must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay, with at least 2 blank visa pages. Upload a copy of the bio-page and a blank page. | Verified · official source |
| Application form + photo | Complete the form through the official online system and print the page with the barcode. One qualifying passport photo is required. | Verified · official source |
| Commercial-activity documents from your Chinese partner | Usually an invitation letter. It should follow the official template and include: the invited person's details (name, gender, date of birth, passport number); the reason for the visit, arrival and departure dates, place of visit, the relationship with the inviting unit, and who pays; and the inviting party's name, address, phone number, official seal, legal representative's signature and date. | Verified · official source |
| Business license of the inviting company | A copy of the Chinese partner company's business license is commonly requested alongside the invitation. Summary — often requested | Summary — varies |
| Travel and accommodation | Round-trip flight booking and hotel reservation, or an itinerary. Some centers ask for these, and some do not. Summary — varies by center | Summary — varies |
| Proof of legal residence | If you are applying in a country where you are not a citizen, proof of legal residence there may be required — for example a residence card or long-stay visa. | Summary — varies by country |
| Previous Chinese visa or permit | A photocopy of your most recent Chinese visa or Chinese residence permit, if you have held one. | Summary — varies by country |
The most common confusion
Validity vs duration of stay
These are two different things, and China's entry regulations define both. A multiple-entry business visa is easy to misread — the validity window and the days per entry are separate.
Validity (the entry window)
The period during which you may enter China. Unless the issuing authority says otherwise, a visa is valid from the date it is issued until 24:00 Beijing time on the last valid day. A long validity window does not lengthen your stay.
Duration of stay (days per entry)
How long you may remain in China after each entry, counted from the day after you enter. On a multiple-entry visa you get the same number of days each time you enter, not a single block for the whole validity.
| Term | What it means (official definition) | On an M visa |
|---|---|---|
| Validity of entry | The period in which the visa holder may enter China. Valid from the date of issue until 24:00 Beijing time on the expiring day, unless the issuing authority specifies otherwise. Verified | Printed as "valid from / valid until". A multiple-entry M visa can carry a much longer window than an L visa. |
| Duration of stay | How long the holder may stay in China after each entry, beginning from the next day after entry. Verified | Printed as a number of days per entry. If extended inside China, the M stay can be extended up to a maximum of 180 days. Verified |
| Number of entries | How many times the holder may enter China within the validity period. Verified | Shown as "1", "2" or "M". Frequent business travellers are often granted multiple entry. Summary |
| Replacing the visa inside China | A visa can be replaced in China to change the purpose of stay or to move to a new passport. Verified | An M visa replaced inside China may be issued with a validity of entry of up to 5 years and a stay of up to 180 days. Verified |
How to apply
From zero to visa sticker
The M visa is applied for from outside China, through the China Visa Application Service Center or the embassy/consulate that covers your area. The sequence below is the common shape.
Check whether you need a visa at all
Business travel is one of the purposes covered by China's unilateral visa-free entry for eligible nationalities and by the 240-hour visa-free transit. Check the dated policy page before you apply.
Secure the invitation from your Chinese partner
Ask your trade partner, customer or the fair organizer for the commercial-activity documents. Check that the letter follows the official template and carries the company seal and signature.
Complete the form and gather originals
Fill in the online application, print the page with the barcode, and prepare your passport, a photo and the invitation. Add the company's business license copy, travel bookings and proof of residence if your center asks. Summary — list varies
Submit, give biometrics and pay
Submit at the center or embassy, complete any biometrics they require, and pay the visa and service fees. Fees differ by nationality and by number of entries — see the note below. Summary — fees vary
Collect and check the sticker
Processing is usually several working days; the Chinese Embassy in the US, for example, states 4 business days for regular service and 3 for express service. Check the validity, the days per entry and the number of entries the moment you collect your passport. Verified · official source
Keep reading
Related pages
Compare every visa
See how the M visa sits next to L, Z, X, Q, S and R — and pick the right one for your trip.
Visa hub →If you will actually work
Taking a job in China means a Z visa, a work permit and a residence permit — not an M visa.
Work & residence →Visa-free and transit
Dated updates on visa-free entry for business travel, the 240-hour transit policy and more.
Policy updates →Enjoyed this guide?
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Sources & disclaimer
Facts on this page are linked to the official sources below, checked on 13 October 2026. Requirements, fees and timelines change — always confirm with the issuing authority. This page is for reference only — official sources prevail; always check the latest version with the relevant Chinese authority. General information, not legal advice.
- Regulations of the PRC on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637, as amended by State Council Decree No. 814, effective 1 October 2025, which added the K visa for young science and technology talent) — defines the M visa for commercial and trade activities, the trade-partner invitation letter, and the meaning of validity, duration of stay and number of entries (Articles 6, 7 and 36)
- State Council — Decision to Amend the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 814, promulgated 14 August 2025, effective 1 October 2025): adds the K visa for young science and technology talent; the L, M and R provisions and the Article 36 definitions are unchanged
- Embassy of the PRC in the United States — Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (updated September 2025): the M-visa document on commercial activity, the invitation-letter template, the passport 6-month/2-page rule, and the 4/3-business-day processing times
- National Immigration Administration — Guide on Visa Extension, Replacement and Reissuance for Foreigners: M-visa extension up to 180 days, and replacement with a validity of entry up to 5 years and a stay up to 180 days
- China Consular Service Network (MFA) — FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China: the list of 50 visa-free nationalities, the 30-day limit, and the exclusion of work and study
- National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) — Visa-free transit policy: 24-hour transit for nationals of all countries, and 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for 57 nationalities entering via 65 ports in 24 provinces
- China Visa Application Service Center — official application portal; each center publishes its own checklist and Schedule of Fees