Beijing Visa & Entry Guidance
IMPORTANT DEADLINE
All invited participants and travel grant recipients must submit proof of a valid visa or entry permission by September 15, 2026. Failure to submit proof by this date will result in the cancellation of your invitation or grant coverage.
Determine Your Visa Requirement
Entry requirements for China vary by nationality. Please review the options below to determine which applies to you and verify them with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your region, as the situation is subject to change at any time:
- Option A: Visa-Free Entry
China offers unilateral visa-free entry (allowing stays of 15 to 30 days) for citizens of select Asian, European, and Oceanian countries.
Action:
Check with your local Chinese Embassy/Consulate or official government channels to verify if your nationality qualifies and the maximum stay permitted. - Option B: 144-Hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV)
If your country is eligible for the 144-hour (6-day) TWOV scheme, you may enter Beijing without a visa provided you are transiting through Beijing onward to a third country or region (e.g., USA → Beijing → Japan or USA → Beijing → Hong Kong).
Note:
You must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third international destination within 144 hours. - Option C: Standard Visa Application
If you do not qualify for visa-free entry or the 144-hour TWOV scheme, you must apply for a standard Chinese Visa (typically F/M visa for academic/business conferences).
Tip:
Check processing times with your local Chinese Embassy or Visa Application Center early. For example, U.S. citizens should allow up to 2 months for processing. We strongly recommend submitting your visa application by July 2026.
Requesting an Official Letter of Invitation
If you need a visa, ISAD can issue an official Letter of Invitation to support your application through its partners in China.
To get your letter of invitation (expect at least one week of delay minimum), please provide us with the following data:
- A clear color copy of your passport (photo/biodata page).
- Your Registration ID/Order Number (for self-registered / regular attendees only).
- The following details (one column per item):
- Family Name (in ALL CAPS)
- Given name
- Email Address
- Phone Number (including international country code, e.g., +1)
- Nationality
- Date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD)
- Passport issue date (YYYY-MM-DD)
- Passport expiry date (YYYY-MM-DD)
- Passport number
- Arrival date (YYYY-MM-DD)
- Departure date (YYYY-MM-DD)
Important Policies & Special Cases
Accompanying Persons / Family Members:
Accompanying individuals must apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa) on their own. ISAD can only issue invitation letters for registered conference attendees; we cannot issue letters for accompanying guests.
Self-Funded / Regular Registrants:
Invitation letters are only processed after your registration is complete and payment is verified. Please ensure your Registration ID is included in your email request.
Visa Refusal or Urgent Support:
If your visa application is delayed or unexpectedly refused, please contact us immediately at visa@isad.org so that we can assist you. IMPORTANT NOTICE: To assist you, we require the contact details of the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application.