Most foreign attendees from outside the visa-free list need a Chinese M (business/commercial) visa, applied for before travel at a Chinese embassy/consulate or Visa Application Service Centre (visaforchina.cn), usually with an invitation letter from the organiser or a Chinese business partner. As of the latest published rules, citizens of many countries (most EU states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Malaysia and others) may enter visa-free for short business trips, and a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit applies to citizens of 55 countries transiting to a third country via Shenzhen Bao'an airport or Shenzhen ports. Passports should be valid 6+ months with blank pages. Apply at least 3–4 weeks ahead (standard processing 4–7 working days) and verify current eligibility with the Chinese embassy and China National Immigration Administration before booking.
Estimated cost: Varies by visa type and nationality (check official site).
Processing: Varies by nationality; apply several weeks before travel.
Fee shown is the approximate US-passport consular fee (about USD 185); most other nationalities pay roughly USD 60–140 plus service-centre charges. Apply via visaforchina.cn or the nearest Chinese embassy/consulate. Stay length and eligibility are published by China's National Immigration Administration and are periodically updated; confirm your nationality is still listed close to travel.
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