1. For all applications for visa, your original passport, a complete visa application form and one recent passport photo should be provided.

2. For tourist "L" visas, a letter of confirmation of the tour arrangement made by a travel agency is preferable but not compulsory.

3. For visitor / business "F" visa, an invitation letter from China is required (the letter could be sent to you by mail or fax). For internship or traineeship, "F" visa is required and the invitation letter from the company or hotel in China, which contains the name, date of birth, purpose of visit and duration of stay of the trainee should be provided.

4. For work "Z" visa, the working permit from Chinese Ministry of Labor and an official visa notice from authorized Chinese organizations as well as health certificate are required.

5. For student "X"/"F" visa, Form JW202 or JW 201 issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the admission notice from the receiving university are required, for student "X" visa also health certificate. An "X" visa is issued for those who study in China over 6 months and "F" visa for those less than 6 months.

6. You may apply for single, double or multiple-entry visa according to your travel schedule, and the fee for visa defers by different types of entries.

7. For multiple-entry visa (valid for 6 months or 1 year), an official invitation letter from Chinese government or government-authorized companies or organizations is required. Those who have been to China for more than 2 times during last year are also qualified for multiple-entry visa.

8. For travel to Tibet, please contact your local travel agency to obtain approval from the Tourist Bureau of Tibet before applying for a visa. You may also apply for travel permit to enter Tibet when you are in China. (Tibet Tourist Bureau, Lhasa, Tibet, China, Telephone: (0086-891 633 4313 Facsimile: 0086-891-633 4632.)

9. For tourist group visa, the group should be composed of at least 5 members. A confirmation letter from a Chinese provincial tourist bureau or a government-authorized Chinese travel agency, a name list of the whole group in triplicate (the form of the name list can be obtained from the Chinese Embassy) and all the passports should be provided.

10. Please make sure that your passport is valid over 6 months with blank visa pages. Suggested time to apply for a visa is one month before your departure (to avoid expiration of the visa).

11. The applicant cannot apply by mail but can authorize other people to apply for him or her. Foreigners residing in Switzerland may also apply to the Chinese Embassy in Bern or consulate general in Zuerich for visas to visit China.

12. Four working days are needed for regular processing. An additional 50 CHF urgent fee per person is charged for one day service (the visa can be ready in one hour), an additional 35 CHF per person for two days or three days service.

13. For swiss passport holder, 50 CHF is charged for a single entry/transit visa, 75 CHF for double entries/transits visa, 100 CHF for multiple entries visa valid for 6 months and 150 CHF for multiple entries visa valid for 12 months.

14. Visa fee should be paid by cash when you pick up your visa. Once the visa has been issued, it can never be refunded.

15. Please check your visa carefully when picking up. After you leave the Chinese Embassy, we will not be responsible for any loss caused by mistake of visa.

16. Persons suffering from mental disorder, leprosy, AIDS, venereal disease, contagious tuberculosis or other infectious diseases shall not be allowed to enter China.

17. The Chinese Embassy reserves the right to refuse any application and withhold disclosure of the reason. All regulations and costs are subject to change without notice. If you still have any question, please call 031-3514593 (automatic) or the same number (manual, only available between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on working days), fax to 031-3518256 or send E-mail to visasection@bluewin.ch

18. No right can be derived from the above mentioned. The Chinese Embassy reserves the right of explanations of visa regulations.