When you apply for a visa, the following items are needed:
1. One completed application form
2. One recently taken passport size photo (subject must be bareheaded and facing forward)
3. A Valid passport with ample blank pages
Chinese Embassies or Consulate, Hong Kong travel agencies and the Airport are convenient for you to apply for visas. According to different purposes, visa could be marked with different phonetic letters and issued to different aliens. Visa D： To aliens who are to reside permanently in China.
Visa Z： To aliens who come to China to take up posts or employment and to their accompanying family members.
Visa X： To aliens who come to China for study, advanced study or job-training for a period of six months or more.
Visa F： To aliens who are invited to China on a visit or study, lecture or business tour, for scientific-technological or cultural exchange, for short-term refresher course or for job-training, for a period of more six months.
Visa L： To aliens who come to China for sight-seeing, visiting relatives or other private purposes. A group visa may be issued to a group of nine or more aliens on a sight-seeing trip to China .
Visa J-1：To resident foreign correspondents in China;
Visa J-2： To foreign correspondents who make short trips to China on reporting tasks.

Most People enter China on a single-entry Tourism Visa (L) (three months validity), which is later converted to a multi-entry Employment Visa upon obtaining a Health Certificate and Work Permit. After the Employment Visa is obtained, you may apply for dependant visas for your spouse and children.