Despite the fact that since May 2021 the Republic of Kazakhstan has been among the 59 states whose citizens have the right to travel to the Middle Kingdom (to Hainan Island - up to 30 days and to Hong Kong - up to 14 days) without a visa, in other cases, a visa to China for citizens of Kazakhstan in 2021 is required.
Types of visas to the PRC
The answer whether a visa to China is needed for Kazakhstanis is on the official web resource of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Here are 16 types of visa permits for residents of Kazakhstan to legally cross the Chinese border.
The categories of visa passes differ depending on the reason for the visit and the length of residence in the state.
The diplomatic mission of China in Kazakhstan issues visas of the following categories:
- C - provided for employees of the crews of international road transport, ships and aircraft.
- D - issued for persons wishing to obtain a residence permit and permanently reside in the PRC.
- F - intended for foreigners whose purpose of travel is to study for an exchange, take educational courses or participate in training tours.
- G - a transit visa to China for citizens of Kazakhstan - gives holders traveling to a third country with a transfer at one of the Chinese airports the right to stay in the PRC city for more than 24 hours (for Ukrainians, transit is 144 hours in many cities). At the moment, the issuance of category G passes is temporarily suspended. If your international flight is in transit through the PRC, you have the right to stay in the republic for up to 24 hours without a visa pass. For a visa-free stay, a tourist, upon arrival, draws up a temporary permit to enter China from the Chinese border control authorities: he presents his passport, travel document, fills out a migration card and is interviewed by border control officers.
- J - is provided for foreign journalists and other media representatives cooperating with Chinese news channels: J1 visa gives the right to stay in the republic for more than six months, J2 visa - up to 180 days.
- L - tourist visa to China for Kazakhstanis - at this time, it is issued only to citizens traveling in a group of at least 5 people. On the basis of such a stamp, rest, entertainment, meetings with family and friends, pilgrimage or treatment are allowed; any activity that generates profit is prohibited.
- Q - are received by relatives of Chinese citizens or Kazakhstanis who have a residence permit in China who intend to travel abroad to reunite with their families or obtain guardianship: the Q1 visa gives the right to reside in China for more than 6 months; Q2 - up to six months.
- R - issued to applicants with special talents or abilities.
- M - business visa to China for Kazakhstanis in 2021 - is designed for persons engaged in trade, establishing relationships with business partners, participating in seminars or business events in Shanghai, Hong Kong or other cities.
- S - issued for relatives wishing to visit a family member working or receiving education in China, as well as for persons arriving for personal reasons. S1 visa gives the right to stay for more than six months, S2 - up to six months.
- X is a study visa to Guangzhou for Kazakhstanis (or to other megacities popular for education). X1 visa allows you to stay in China for more than 180 days, X2 visa - maximum 6 months (for example, to attend training courses.
- Z - work visa. On it, you can stay in the Celestial Empire for six months or a year.
Immigration laws of the PRC establish the ability to issue an electronic visa pass. To do this, use the site service of an authorized travel company.
Two or more visitors who arrive at the airport of Urumqi and depart through the same air hub are entitled to receive an electronic permit. An online pass to Beijing and other localities is issued for transit purposes only.
Documents for a Chinese visa
The PRC Embassy in Kazakhstan has established a general list of documents required for the issuance of any type of visa stamp. The main package of documents includes:
- copy of the national passport;
- foreign passport - original, valid for more than six months, with 2 blank sheets for affixing a stamp, a copy of the page with personal data and a photograph;
- application form - for travel to Hong Kong or Macau, it is filled out in Russian, English or Chinese.
For trips to the mainland of the Middle Kingdom, an electronic application is filled out online on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in English or Chinese;
- color passport photograph - the applicant is photographed full face, without a headdress, against a light background. Photo size 33x48 mm;
- certificate of permanent residence permit - applicants for a visa pass registered in Astana or Akmola, Kostanay, Atyrau, Mangistau, Karaganda, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, West Kazakhstan, Aktobe and Kyzylorda regions, apply only to the embassy in the city of Astana. Applicants for a Chinese visa registered in Almaty, Shymkent or in the East Kazakhstan, Almaty, Turkestan or Zhambyl regions are geographically distributed to the Consulate General in the city of Almaty;
- proof of legal stay in Kazakhstan - for citizens of other countries living in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan: an original and a copy of a residence permit, a visa stamp, a document on work or training, or other are submitted;
- copies of past visa passes to the PRC and Chinese passports - are presented by former citizens of the Celestial Empire who have become citizens of another state.
The applicant is obliged to be present in person at the embassy or consulate general in order to be fingerprinted in addition to the required documents. If another person undergoes fingerprinting, the applicant will be denied entry into the PRC.
Additional papers for the main categories of Chinese visas:
- Tourist (L):
- confirmation from an accredited tour operator about the organization of the group;
- letterhead from work;
- an extract from the current account on the availability of the required amount of money (at least 1,000 dollars);
- hotel room reservation;
- international medical insurance;
- round trip tickets (printout of the electronic form).
- To work (Z):
- certificate of no criminal record;
- short-term work permit (if the employment will last no more than 3 months);
- invitation letter from the employer;
- an official work permit for a foreigner;
- certificate of registration of the company that invited the Kazakhstani to work.
- For business visa (M):
- letter of invitation from a Chinese business organization;
- certificate of employment or data from a bank account with a balance of at least $ 5,000;
- certificate of good conduct.
- For student (X1, X2):
- information about the absence of a criminal record;
- original and copy of the invitation to study from the university on its letterhead;
- confirmation of a grant for training or a certificate from a bank about the presence of an amount of $ 2,500 or more on the card.
- For a visa for treatment (S2):
- a copy of the invitation letter from the clinic;
- data on the financial solvency of the visitor (the amount of money on the card in the amount of $ 10,000 or more);
- a certificate from the hospital and proof of family ties (for accompanying persons in the composition of no more than 2 people).
- For minors (Q1, Q2 and S1, S2):
- birth certificate;
- foreign passport;
- consent to cross the border from the father or mother (if the child visits the republic with one parent) or permission from both parents (if the child is accompanied by a third person);
- death certificate, court decision on deprivation of parental rights, if the child is brought up by one parent.
- To the guest room (S1, S2):
- letter of invitation from the inviting person to the PRC;
- data on the availability of accommodation at the host or hotel room reservations;
- a printout of the availability of money on the account of the guest or the inviting party.
- For an electronic visa permit:
- scanned passport (all pages);
- scanned copies of tickets to the city of Urumqi and back through Urumqi;
- a scanned form for booking a hotel room.
Related documents for other types of individual visas are listed on the official website of the PRC Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The ambassador or consular staff have the right to demand additional papers to clarify the data of a foreigner.
Instructions for applying for a visa to China
To know how to independently apply for a visa to China, you should first determine the type of visa that corresponds to the purpose of travel.
The next step is to fill out an online application form on the PRC Foreign Ministry's website, print and sign the form. Using the serial number of the application form, the applicant makes a reservation for the submission of documents and makes an appointment online.
An electronic visa to China for citizens of Kazakhstan is also issued through the official website of the embassy with uploading scanned copies of documents.
By the date indicated on the electronic record, the applicant collects a confirmation sheet, an application form, a passport, accompanying documents for a visa, and appears at the diplomatic mission.
If a tourist wishes to travel to Hong Kong or Macau, an electronic application form and an online appointment will not be needed.
Where to apply for a visa
You can apply for a visa to China from Kazakhstan through the embassy, the Consulate General or a private travel company (if it is difficult to go through the procedure yourself).
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Kazakhstan is located at: Astana city, Kabanbai Batyr Avenue, 28.
You can become the owner of a visa to China in Almaty after submitting an application to the General Consulate of the People's Republic of China, located at: Almaty, st. Baytasova, house 12.
Processing time and cost
A visa to China is issued for a certain number of entries:
- single entry - with the right to one trip to the country, valid for 30 days;
- double entry - valid from 3 months to a year, intended for two entrances;
- multivisa - an annual visa to China (with a stay in the republic from one to three months during the year) is often issued for business travel.
A multiple-entry visa stamp makes it possible to cross the Chinese border without a limit on the number of entries.
The procedure for obtaining an entry permit lasts up to 7 days.
An urgent visa to China in Astana is issued within two working days or on the day of submission of the application (express) by the decision of the ambassador, subject to an additional fee for services.
The answer to how to get a Chinese visa urgently is quite simple: to prove the urgency of the trip; for example, present round-trip tickets with a departure date the next day.
You can find out how much a visa to China costs for citizens of Kazakhstan on the page of the official website of the embassy.
The price or amount of the consular fee depends on the multiplicity of the visa:
- single entry - 14,000 tenge;
- double entry - 19 600 tenge;
- multiple entry - 28,000 tenge;
- group permission - 5 600 tenge.
For an urgent visa, the applicant pays an additional $ 20, for an express visa - $ 30.
Reasons for refusing to issue a Chinese visa
Documents are returned to the applicant who submitted the visa application if:
- the applicant is sick with a dangerous illness (tuberculosis, mental illness, etc.) or was in the next month in an area with a high risk of contracting a dangerous infection;
- revealed violations of migration laws during past trips to the PRC;
- the ambassador's decision during the last appeal to the department was negative;
- the applicant has a criminal record.
To avoid rejection, answer the questionnaire honestly and submit only valid forms.
Actions in case of a visa error
If you find a typo in the visa (incorrect spelling of the first or last name), immediately contact the consular department to cancel the pass.
Due to the discrepancy between the data on the visa and the rest of the documents, border officials may prohibit a foreigner from entering the PRC.
After contacting the department and correcting the error, the visa officer will paste a new visa stamp for the applicant.
Conclusions
Residents of Kazakhstan who know the basics of the immigration legislation of a neighboring republic will take the opportunity to go to China without a visa or successfully apply for a visa of the required category. There are 16 categories of visas, differing in the purpose of entry and the frequency of visits.
