Most international visitors need a visa for China, and the M (business and trade) visa is the standard choice for attending SALON DU CHOCOLAT Shanghai — applications go through a Chinese visa application centre with biometrics, typically taking 4 working days and costing USD 185 for US passport holders and roughly USD 60–140 for most other nationalities. Citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and most other EU and Schengen states can currently enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 days under China's unilateral visa-free scheme, while travellers from 54 eligible countries who are transiting to a third country can use the 240-hour visa-free transit rule when arriving at Pudong or Hongqiao with a confirmed onward ticket. US, UK and Canadian passport holders should apply 4–6 weeks before departure, and exhibitors shipping samples or stand equipment should arrange an ATA carnet listing China through their chamber of commerce.
Estimated cost: Varies by visa type and nationality (check official site).
Processing: Varies by nationality; apply several weeks before travel.
US passport holders pay USD 185 for a single-entry M visa; applicants from most other countries pay roughly USD 60–140 depending on nationality and number of entries. Multiple-entry visas valid 6–12 months are routinely issued to repeat trade-fair visitors. Same published fee schedule as the M visa for US applicants; a hotel booking confirmation and return flight itinerary are normally requested.
Official
