As we all know, Chinese visa is subdivided into many categories, foreigners want to come to China for different reasons, first need to apply for the corresponding visa, if the type of visa applied is not consistent with the purpose of coming to China, the visa application is likely to fail. In this article, SFBC takes a brief look at what type of visa foreigners should apply for when visiting China for business.

The answer is to apply for an M visa, which is mainly issued to people entering China for business and trade visits. So what is the difference between the F visa, which is also a visitor visa? Who meets the requirements for an M visa and who should apply for an F visa? SFBC takes a look at each of these issues below.

答案是应该申请M字签证，M字签证主要签发给入境中国进行商业贸易访问的人员。 那么同为访问签证的F字签证与之又有什么区别呢？哪些人符合M字签证的申请条件，哪些又应该申请F字签证来华呢？下文SFBC将对这个问题进行逐一解析。

1. The difference between business visa (M) and visitor visa (F)

一、商务签证(M)和访问签证(F)的区别

In fact, in China's visa system, there was only F visa before, and there was no M visa. In September 2013, China began to divide the F visa into M(business) and F(other invited to visit, study, lecture, science and technology and cultural exchanges). The F visa is for foreigners invited to China for exchange, visits, study Tours, and other activities, and the M visa is for foreigners invited to China for profit-making activities or business.

事实上在中国签证制度中，以前只有F签证，还没有M签证。2013年9月中国开始将F签证分为M（商贸）与F（其它应邀来中国访问、考察、讲学、进行科技文化交流）。F签证是针对受邀请来中国交换的外国人，以及来中国访问参观，游学，以及其他活动，M签证则是针对因营利性的活动或贸易往来而受邀请来中国的外国人。

In simple terms, the M visa is a new category set up from the original F visa, which is mainly to separate the "business personnel" in the original F visa for more targeted management. Therefore, M visa is a specific type of business personnel, issued mainly to foreigners who come to China to engage in business and trade activities. Foreigners applying for M visas shall, in accordance with the requirements of the visa authorities, provide invitation letters issued by commercial and trade partners in China, which is mainly to facilitate the visa authorities to verify the authenticity of the applicant's purpose of coming to China.

简单来说，M签证是从原F字签证中分设出的新类别，主要是将原F字签证中“商贸类人员”剥离出来，以便进行更有针对性的管理。所以M签证是特定的一类商贸人员，签发对象主要是来华从事商业、贸易活动的外国人。外国人申请M字签证，应当按照签证机关的要求，提供中国境内商业、贸易合作方出具的邀请函，这主要是为了便于签证机关核查申请人来华事由的真实性。

II.Difference between business visa (M) and short-term work visa (Z)

二、商务签证（M）和短期工签（Z）的区别

此外中国签证中还有一种与工作相关的短期签证，来华短期工作和进行商务访问又该如何进行区分呢？以下就是短期工作签证（Z）和商务签证（M）的区别：

The following are short-term work assignments (short-term Z visas) :

下列情况属于短期工作任务（短期Z签证）：

1. To complete a certain technical, scientific research, management, guidance and other work in the domestic partner

1.到境内合作方完成某项技术、科研、管理、指导等工作

2. Trial training in domestic sports institutions (including coaches and athletes)

2.到境内体育机构进行试训（包括教练员、运动员）

3. Shooting films (including commercials and documentaries)

3.拍摄影片（包括广告片、纪录片）

4. Fashion show (including car models, shooting print advertisements, etc.)

4.时装表演（包括车模、拍摄平面广告等）

5. Engage in foreign-related business performances

5.从事涉外营业性演出

III. Scope of business visa application

三、商务签证申请范畴

The following circumstances are clearly within the category of short-term business visas (M visas) :

下列情况明确属于短期商务签证范畴（M签证）：

1. Purchase of machinery and equipment supporting maintenance, installation, commissioning, disassembly, guidance and training (M visa)

1.购买机器设备配套维修、安装、调试、拆卸、指导和培训的（M签证）

2. Guide, supervise and inspect the winning project in China (M visa)

2.对在境内中标项目进行指导、监督、检查的（M签证）

3. Those who are sent to domestic branches, subsidiaries or representative offices to complete short-term work (M visa)

3.派往境内分公司、子公司、代表处完成短期工作的（M签证）

4. Participating in sports events, including athletes, coaches, team doctors, assistants and other related personnel (M visa)

4.参加体育赛事的，包括运动员、教练员、队医、助理等相关人员（M签证）

IV. Business Visa application Process

四、商务签证申请流程

Finally, let's talk about the process of applying for a business visa (M) for foreigners:

最后我们再来聊一聊外国人申请商务签证（M）的流程：

Step 1: Prepare application materials such as business activity documents and invitation letters such as trade fair invitations issued by trade partners in China. The invitation letter must contain the following:

第一步：准备中国境内贸易合作方出具的商务活动文件、经贸交易会请柬等邀请函件等申请材料。邀请函须包含以下内容：

1. Personal information of invitees: name, gender, date of birth, etc

1. 被邀请人个人信息：姓名、性别、出生日期等

2. Visit information of the invited foreign applicant: purpose of coming to China, date of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting unit or inviter, source of expenses, etc

2. 被邀外国人申请人访问信息：来华事由、抵离日期、访问地点、与邀请单位或邀请人关系、费用来源等

3. Information of the inviting company or inviter: name of the inviting company or inviter, contact number, address, company seal, legal representative or signature of the inviter

3. 邀请单位或邀请人信息：邀请单位名称或邀请人姓名、联系电话、地址、单位印章、法定代表或邀请人签字

Step 2: Apply for a Chinese visa at the local Chinese embassy abroad

第二步：到所在地中国驻外大使馆申请中国签证

The steps of China visa seem relatively simple, as long as you prepare the corresponding materials, you can apply. However, there are many details that need to be noted in the process of preparing materials and submitting applications. For example, how to prepare all the required materials, how to issue an invitation letter to be approved by the visa officer, how to communicate with the visa officer when applying for a visa, etc. As a professional organization, SFBC has a very good understanding of the application points of Chinese business visa, and has a large number of application experience and successful cases, and has a series of complete solutions to the unexpected situations that may occur in the application. If you need to apply for a visa in China, please consult SFBC.

中国签证的步骤看似比较简单，只要准备好相应的材料，就可以进行申请。但其实在准备材料以及递交申请的过程中有许多需要注意的细节要点。例如如何准备好所有需要的材料、开具出来的邀请函怎样才能被签证官所认可、签证申请的时候如何与签证官进行沟通等。SFBC作为一家专业的机构对于中国商务签证的申请要点非常地了解，同时拥有大量的申请经验与成功案例，对申请中可能遇到的突发状况都有一系列完备的解决措施，如您有需求申请来华签证，敬请咨询SFBC。