J2 short-term journalist visa

Who it is for

Foreign journalists going to China for short-term reporting.

Where it is filed

Chinese embassy, consulate, or Chinese Visa Application Service Center outside mainland China. The office that covers your place of residence decides the case.

What we do not promise

The visa office decides the category, entries, validity, and stay. A complete file does not mean a visa will be issued.

Documents the agent will ask for

• Passport with at least six months of validity beyond the intended stay, blank visa pages, and a copy of the bio page.
• Completed online visa application form for the People’s Republic of China.
• One recent front-facing photo on a white background.
• If you apply outside your country of citizenship: proof of legal stay in the country where you apply.
• Former Chinese citizens: previous Chinese passport and prior Chinese visa copies, plus a name-change document if the name differs.
• Visa notification letter from the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another authorized unit.
• Official letter from the media organization you work for.

Official source (2026-05-25): https://se.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw_0/swe123/202303/t20230314_11041349.htm. We last reviewed this page on 2026-09-23. Rules on the official page win if they differ.