Visa Application
For most foreigners, you need a visa before visiting China. An easy way to do it is to apply for a tourist visa (strongly recommended). If for reasons you need a business visa or other types of visa, you can write to us for an appropriate invitation letter (see detailed information below) and specify what kind of visa you are applying for.
Please note that it is the conference attendee's responsibility to obtain an appropriate visa on time. The conference organizers will provide assistance (such as invitation letters) and suggestions during the process however please understand we are not associated with any visa office or agency and have no control over the outcome of the visa application process.
Applicants should initiate the process as early in their travel plans as possible, adequate time (> 1 month) should be allowed for processing visa applications.
Visa types
To travel to China, you may request a tourist visa by submitting travel reservation information only, including itinerary and booked tickets to enter and exit the country. Typically, nothing else is needed, and this is the simplest and fastest visa.
You can apply for a tourist visa of China all by yourself. Such visa is issued to foreigners for sightseeing and visiting relatives or any other personal affairs, it belongs to visa category “L”. We strongly recommend applying for a tourist visa to attend the conference (an invitation letter is NOT required for "L" visa), all you need is an itinerary including a round trip air ticket booking record and proof of a hotel reservation.
If you receive explicit instructions or orders to apply for a non-tourist visa, you will need an invitation letter from us (see below). As such, it may require more procedures/materials than the invitation letter itself and the situation varies from case to case, please consult with your local Chinese consulate/embassy or visa agency for detailed instructions.
Please always refer to the official webpage of the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in your country for the most up-to-date procedures and requirements。
Invitation letter
A registered attendee may request an invitation letter by emailing xiaohua.chen@sjtu.edu.cn. Please indicate your request with an email subject line "SJTU-invitation-letter". Please also include the following information:
- Name as it appears in your passport
- Position and Institution
- Passport number
- Gender
- Nationality
- Birth date
- Arrival and depart dates
- The name of the embassy you plan to apply for a visa
- Address to receive a hard copy (if requested)
A letter of invitation for the conference will be sent in PDF format to the supplied email address. If you need an original hard copy, please notify xiaohua.chen@sjtu.edu.cn.
Please be advised that the invitation letter is to assist you in your visa application to attend the workshop. SJTU is not responsible for the issuance of a visa. You are advised to submit your visa application to the appropriate authorities as early as possible.
