Guide

Visa Letter Request

For those needing a visa invitation letter, please refer to the instructions on this page

INSTRUCTIONS

Before asking for a visa invitation letter, please check out the website of Chinese Visa Application Service Center for the visa application in your city.

Please pay attention to the latest visa policy of China:

  1. 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy

China has resumed the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows people from certain countries to enjoy six days of travel to select areas of the country without applying for a visa beforehand.

  • To obtain this visa exemption, the foreign national must have a valid passport from one of the 53 countries, which includes: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

  • As per the requirements of China’s National Immigration Authority (NIA), people applying for 144-hour visa-free transit must have:

    • A valid passport or another international travel document that is valid for more than three months from the arrival date;
    • An interline ticket (connecting ticket) with the confirmed departure date and seat number leaving for a third country or region within 144 hours;

  • Visa-free entry ports applicable for this event:

    • Individuals who meet the above conditions may enter or exit visa-free through any of the following ports in Shanghai: Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai Port International Passenger Center, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, or Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. They are allowed a visa-free stay of up to 144 hours within the administrative regions of Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province.
    • Note: The venue for CommunityOverCode Asia 2024 is located within the aforementioned administrative region of Zhejiang Province. If you plan to visit other provinces/cities/regions beyond the aforementioned areas, such as Beijing or Shenzhen, you will still need to obtain a visa before entering China.

  1. China’s visa-free policy for passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia:

From December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia coming to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives, or transit for no more than 15 days may enter visa-free.

!! NOTE: The information provided above is for reference only. For specific visa policies applicable to you, please check out the website of Chinese Visa Application Service Center.

If, after understanding all the information above, you believe you still need an invitation letter, please send the following information to Willem Jiang, at ningjiang@apache.org. If all of your information is present, you will receive an invitation letter within 3 business days.

INFORMATION NEEDED

  • Complete name
  • Passport ID
  • Gender
  • Nationality
  • Date of birth
  • The name of the Chinese embassy or consulate where to apply for a visa.
  • The company represented and the person’s position
  • The person’s address and telephone number
  • The date the person intends to visit China