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
Three different types of letters can be required by your workplace / embassy or consulate:
1. Letter of Invitation from the ISAD Society
- Invited Speakers and Chairs:
This letter is included in your mail of invitation, please contact us if necessary at beijing2026@isad.org - Presenters selected through the call for abstract:
The document is downloadable on the platform in the submission’s page of the accepted abstract.
2. Letter of Invitation from the local host, the Beijing Children’s Hospital in China
If you require a local letter of invitation to apply for your Chinese visa, our Host in Beijing can issue an official Letter of Invitation to support your application through its partners in China. Please allow at least one week for processing.
首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院
Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University
FIRST SOLUTION (FASTEST)
Download the template of the letter of invitation, fill it, save it and send it back with a very clear and flat scan of your passport attached, to Dr Mutong ZHAO (mutong.zhao@isad.org) ; you will receive your document officially stamped back by email.
Please follow the instructions from the second solution to fill the document.
SECOND SOLUTION
To get your document, please provide them with the following data in the online form:
- Your point of contact in China:
Dr Mutong ZHAO, dermatologist (shuishitong@126.com ; +8618600116126)
Beijing Children’s Hospital
No. 56, Nanlishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China - The venue:
China World Hotel Beijing
1 Jianguomen Outer St, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 100020
- A very clear and flat color scan of your passport focused on the photo/biodata page, (no photo taken with your smartphone).
- Your Registration ID/Order Number (for self-registered / regular attendees only), and enter “itg” if you are supported by an International Travel Grant from ISAD or the local committee.
- The following details (one line per item):
- Family Name (in ALL CAPS) as in the passport
- Given Name as in the passport
- Email Address (from the workplace is more efficient)
- 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)
- The embassy/consulate the letter should be addressed to
Please also join the Authorization of the meeting, delivered by the Chinese authorities (CAST):
3. Travel Endorsement (TE) Letter from the local Government
The local organizer cannot provide the TE letter type right now, please contact Dr Mutong ZHAO at beijingtravelendorsementletter@isad.org for any enquiry.
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.