Most foreign business visitors to mainland China need a visa before travel; the M (business) visa is the standard category for trade fair attendance and commercial negotiations. Applications require a passport, photo, itinerary and, in many cases, an invitation letter from the Chinese host or exhibitor. Consular rules and any visa-free transit or unilateral visa-free arrangements vary by nationality - check the Chinese embassy or consulate for your passport before booking.
Estimated cost: Not stated in captures - consular fees are nationality- and service-centre-specific; confirm with your local Chinese visa application centre.
Processing: Not stated in captures - confirm standard versus express processing at your local Chinese visa application centre.
Official Chinese embassy notice sets out current visa application requirements and procedures; the Chinese MFA consular portal (consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/) and the State Council VISIT CHINA page are the other authoritative starting points. Fees and processing times are nationality-specific and change, so confirm at your local visa centre rather than relying on third-party fee guides.
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